Mount Olivet welcomes hundreds of men, women and children each month, as part of our Community Assistance program. Our guests come from neighborhoods across Northern Virginia and beyond. They receive fresh, seasonal produce and other food items, including frozen chicken, from the Capital Area Food Bank. The food bank items are supplemented by church purchases from local vendors. We make distributions on the second Saturday of every month from 10 am to 12 pm. While with us, we strive to ensure our guests experience God’s love and a recognition of our shared humanity. The program is powered by financial contributions, staff support and volunteers from Mount Olivet, in partnership with Walker Chapel. For volunteers, Community Assistance is an opportunity to make connections across our community, while serving others.

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‍Building Partnerships
‍Community Assistance began as a ministry of Mount Olivet United Methodist Church in 2007. Then it affiliated with GRACE Ministries, which made it part of a network of United Methodist-supported organizations. Now, it is supported by a diverse group of faith communities, individuals, local businesses, foundations and social service organizations. Generous financial contributions and hands-on help from our partners make it possible to serve a growing population of low-income residents from our community.

Why volunteer for Community Assistance? Here's what Mount Olivet members have to say:‍

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"For me and my family, one of the reasons we joined Mount Olivet – other than the food and Pastor Jeff’s Dad jokes in The Way –  was that Community Assistance on Saturdays feels like a tangible way to share God’s love." - Mount Olivet Family

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‍"We are serving families whose children may be in the same classrooms as your children at Glebe Elementary School, Dorothy Hamm Middle School, W-L, and other local schools. We are serving people who work or have retired in the area, but can’t quite make ends meet. We are serving people who are brand-new to Arlington, as well as people who have been residents for many years. We serve all - and our guests have shared that CA is a dignified way to receive help." - Mount Olivet Family

Community Assistance needs financial contributions to sustain its ministry. Financial contributions are tax deductible.