2,500 Alexandria Area Families Helped By Stock The Block Volunteer Effort

MOUNT VERNON, VA — More than 2,500 families in the greater Alexandria area received a helping hand from the Stock the Block distribution event in Mount Vernon.

The Stock the Block distribution happened over a weekend in May at the Gerry Hyland Government Center in Mount Vernon. The distribution was organized by a committee of young adult congregations from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Lazera Ministries. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints primarily provided the donations.

"When we first started Stock the Block, we used to have to try to get the word out," said Yolonda
Earl-Thompson, executive director for Lazera Ministries. "Now, everybody knows what Stock
the Block is. I’m so excited for us to continue doing this over and over to let the community know
that someone cares."

Stock the Block was a drive-thru event, drawing cars lining up as much as a mile down Route 1. At the drive-thru distribution, recipients got household essentials and hygiene items such as cleaning supplies, diapers, formula, flour, toilet paper, toothpaste and more. Those without a car had a walk-up option to receive their box of goods.

According to organizers, many recipients came from the Franconia District, which includes part of the Route 1 corridor and other parts of southeastern Fairfax County. Supervisor Rodney Lusk (D-Franconia) said in a news release that the district is diverse and has wide-ranging socioeconomic needs.

"The government can’t solve all these problems that we have in this community alone," Lusk said. "To have nonprofits, religious, and others step up and to say, ‘We’re going to help you with some of these issues’ is so important and so significant."

About 300 volunteers supported the event by distributing items, providing translation services and directing traffic. Fairfax County Police assisted with traffic direction and ensuring cars moved efficiently through the drive-thru line.

"Everyone came together and brought their skillset and their expertise to make this a successful event," said Emma Cahoon, a co-lead for Stock the Block with the Church of Jesus Christ. "We are able to help provide resources and a bunch of volunteers, but we need all of those pieces and people who are really experts at what they do for us to be able to make this happen."