Responding with Overwhelming Generosity

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Kim Brewer, a member of the Mission Commission, shares her thoughts on Saint Peter's involvement with VOICE — Virginians Organized for Interfaith and Community Engagement. Learn what VOICE is all about at an organizational meeting this Sunday, right after the 10:15 a.m. service.

“I was hungry and you gave me food … I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” — Matthew 25:35

As people of Saint Peter’s, we are called to extend God’s care and generosity to our neighbors. And we are doing just that. Rising food and gas prices, uncertainty about the future, and a loss of safety-net support are hitting local immigrant families hard.

To help our Arlington neighbors manage these soaring living costs, the Mission Commission hosted a special collection drive on Welcome Sunday, September 13, 2026.

This drive was launched in collaboration with other churches from Virginians Organized for Interfaith and Community Engagement (VOICE). In March 2026 the Saint Peter’s Vestry voted to join this non-partisan coalition of faith and community groups to advocate for our local low-income and marginalized communities. (Learn more about VOICE.)

Saint Peter’s parishioners stepped up with overwhelming generosity to support families along the Columbia Pike corridor. Thanks to your kindness, we collected wagonloads of food such as vegetable oil, beans, rice, cereal as well as diapers and twenty-nine ($50) gift cards to Aldi and Giant. Nineteen gift cards were donated by parishioners and ten were purchased with loose plate collection funds. 

Diane and Rusty Hazzard and I delivered the generous supplies of food and diapers as well as the Aldi and Giant gift cards to Janeth Valenzuela for distribution. Ms. Valenzuela is a co-founder of the Arlington Schools Hispanic Parents Association (ASHPA) and a vibrant, active member of VOICE.

You can see the immediate impact of your generosity in the photos, which show local residents picking up these resources.

What you gathered on Welcome Sunday has now been sent and given away. May we keep walking this road together — doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).

Thank you again, Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church parishioners. Your extraordinary kindness is deeply felt, appreciated, and valued by our neighbors!

Kim Brewer, Member of the Mission Commission