Local Restaurant Exemplifies Community Spirit

When you yearn for homestyle food, what longtime Herndon restaurant comes to mind? If you said “Virginia Kitchen”, you wouldn’t be alone. Family-owned and operated since 1973, Virginia Kitchen specializes in foods reminiscent of grandma’s savory cooking—scrambled eggs and bacon, sausage gravy and biscuits, country fried steak, open faced hot roast beef sandwiches, and more. Exemplifying the spirit of a hometown restaurant, Virginia Kitchen, normally only open for breakfast and lunch, extended its hours to make a difference with Herndon Cares.

On Tuesday, April 21st, Virginia Kitchen owner Linc Krueger and four of his employees held a late afternoon “Herndon Cares party”, during which they made takeout dinners for struggling Herndon/Reston community members. Nearby, Amphora’s Diner Deluxe, Charcoal Kabab, Enatye Ethiopian Restaurant, Mr. Pepperoni, and Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern, as well as Famous Toastery of Ashburn which donated meals, were making similar efforts, and, together, they helped Herndon Cares feed over 800 people. This is nearly double the number of people from the previous week, and, on Tuesday, April 28th, Herndon Cares hopes to provide takeout dinners to 1,100 community members.

“Our staff felt so fortunate to be able to work for such a wonderful cause”, shared Krueger. When a community comes together to serve those most in need, it becomes stronger! Thank you again to all the local churches, leaders and volunteers for ... creating Herndon Cares. Our small family business has known for decades what a special community this is.”

Spearheaded by the First Baptist Church of Herndon, Herndon Cares provides Herndon/Reston area families experiencing food insecurity with takeout dinners from local restaurants. With its innovative mission of helping the hungry and local businesses at the same time, Herndon Cares has already grown to involve seven local congregations in addition to First Baptist. These include Christ Fellowship Church, Herndon United Methodist Church, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, St. John Neumann Catholic Community, Trinity Presbyterian Church, and Washington Plaza Baptist Church. Additionally, businesses continue to join the program, and they now include local favorites such as Amphora’s Diner Deluxe, Anita’s, Apple Spice, A Taste of the World Restaurant, Charcoal Kabab, Country Oven, Enatye Ethiopian Restaurant, Great Harvest Bread Company, Guapo's Restaurant, Houlihan’s, Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern, Mellow Mushroom, Mr. Pepperoni, Paisano's Pizza, Virginia Kitchen, Willard’s BBQ, and 100 Bowls.

Herndon Cares invites all residing in zip code areas 20170, 20171, 20190, and 20194 to join in this grassroots campaign to help keep the community viable. To request a meal, become a partner or participating business, or make a donation, please visit www.HerndonCares.org.