Nearly $30,000 goes to help area individuals, families

“There are genuinely sufficient resources in the world to ensure that no one, nowhere, at no time, should go hungry,” noted Ed Asner, Emmy Award-winning actor. And this is exactly what community members and staff at Ashby Ponds, an Erickson Living community in Ashburn, Va., worked to accomplish with their recent six-week fundraising campaign for Loudoun Hunger Relief.

“The roots of the project lie in our recognition that the pandemic has intensified a nationwide shortage of food for a large number of people,” says Dr. Roshan Chaddha, a member of the Ashby Ponds’ Diversity & Inclusion Committee who spearheaded the project. “I read a story that people in our neighboring communities were running short of food. I reached out to both Will Nance and Tom Channon, our executives, regarding an effort to raise funds for hunger relief in our county. They were both very supportive of the idea, and we are full of gratitude for their leadership.”

The Diversity & Inclusion Committee, comprised of both residents and staff, supports a variety of initiatives designed to improve community living through an acknowledgment of unique thoughts, cultures, and talents.

Helping hunger relief

Reverend Kate Jacobs, a committee co-chair, enlisted the help of a local ministry to identify an organization working to meet the needs of the hungry in Loudoun County. Loudoun Hunger Relief, a local organization with a stellar record of service and over a decade of support from Ashby Ponds, was selected as the beneficiary of the community’s efforts.

The Diversity & Inclusion Committee sprang into action, organizing a food and donation drive. To kick off the campaign, Rev. Jacobs invited Jennifer Montgomery, executive director of Loudoun Hunger Relief, to appear on the community’s TV daily show, Ashby on Air.

“For more than a decade, the Ashby Ponds community has extended a helping hand to our neighbors in need through donations to Loudoun Hunger Relief,” says Montgomery. “The community has stood with us in good times and bad, and this support is so important to us and those we serve.”

Pat Lund, an Ashby Ponds resident, interviewed Jennifer, who explained to viewers that since the arrival of COVID-19, the number of families supported by Loudoun Hunger Relief jumped from 250 to over 900 a week.

“The need is great,” she says. “The pandemic has touched everyone, including former donors, families, seniors, a whole mix of people who through no fault of their own, have found themselves in need of extra help.”

Donation boxes were placed on campus to collect both canned food items and monetary donations.

Giving back

“Our generation was raised in a culture of giving back to the community,” Pat explains. “The pandemic has not stopped this desire to give. I’ve been happy to promote this campaign in any way I can.”

The importance of this dedication to helping others cannot be overstated. “Our campaign raised nearly $30,000 and food donations filled countless boxes, all of which we happily presented to Loudoun Hunger Relief,” says Rev. Kate.

Throughout the campaign, Ashby Ponds staff from a wide variety of departments jumped in to support the efforts. Housekeeping staff picked up and stored the food donations, and the transportation staff delivered the food to Loudoun Hunger Relief headquarters in Leesburg.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Ashby Ponds residents and staff,” says Jennifer. “From food donations, monetary support, and kind notes, we can feel the love of community and are sharing it with those we serve. Thank you for caring and for giving to ensure no one is hungry in our community.”

Looking forward

Plans are already underway to continue supporting local families through Loudoun Hunger Relief. “I believe there will be a strong desire to continue our efforts next year because, even when we have moved beyond the pandemic, the need will continue,” says Rev. Kate.

Roshan agrees. “Loudoun County’s need for hunger relief is long-term,” he says. “It is my hope that the campaign will become a continuing annual feature, as it illustrates Ashby Ponds’ support of the community we live in.”

If you’re interested in living in a vibrant and active senior independent living community, request an Ashby Ponds brochure today.

Photo: (Left to right) Jennifer Montgomery, executive director of Loudoun Hunger Relief; Rev. Kate Jacobs; and John Jacobs rallied Ashby Ponds community members' support for the hunger relief campaign earlier this year. Thanks to the generosity of residents, the campaign yielded nearly $30,000.

About Ashby Ponds: Ashby Ponds, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities managed by Erickson Living®, is situated on a scenic 132-acre campus in Ashburn, Virginia. The not-for-profit community of more than 1,650 residents and 550 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, Inc., who provide independent financial and operational oversight of Ashby Ponds. Additional information can be found at AshbyPonds.com.

Written by Kelly Shue