The Lorton Community Action Center's Purse and Prom Dress Extravaganza is This Weekend

You can support the cause by dropping off an old prom dress or purse.

The Lorton Community Action Center is in need of donations for their food bank, which feeds thousands of Lortoners in need. Those donations can be made in may ways - even by visiting Lorton's Attic - LCAC's Thrift Store, which is hosting a purse and prom dress sale this weekend.  By the way, the LCAC food pantry also needs canned fruit, canned chicken, canned tuna and granola bars. LCAC Events:  Purse and Prom Dress Sale When: Friday, April 26 - Sunday, April 28 Store Hours: Friday - 10am – 5pm; Saturday - 11am – 4pm; Sunday -12pm – 4pm (Drop-off deadline for old purses and dresses is Wed., April 24) Food Drive at the Workhouse Arts Center When: Sat., April 27 Time: 10-4pm  The food drive will be held at Clean Fairfax's Springfest. Guests …

• Photos (1)

Lorton Community Action Center Gives Christine Herbstreith Founders Award

The LCAC presented the award earlier this month.

Lortonian Christine Herbstreith is the recipient of the Lorton Community Action Center's Founders Award. Herbstreith, a Lorton resident since 1954, was honored at the LCAC's “Spring into Action” Gala on Saturday, March 2, 2013. More than 200 people attended the event, which generated $120,000 for the area nonprofit.  Herbstreith was pivotal in starting the LCAC in 1975 after noticing the additional number of Free and Reduced Lunch program students at Gunston Elementary School.  Upon receiving the award, Herbstreith praised God, and thanked her friends associated with the LCAC. Are you following us on Facebook and Twitter? You should. 

• Photos (1)

South Fairfax Chamber Dedicates New Lorton 'Welcome' Sign

Drivers have a new introduction to South County.

Lorton's new eight-foot-tall "welcome" sign was unveiled on Thursday, along northbound Route 1 near Gunston Road. The sign carries the logos of 10 Lorton-area organizations and boldly reads "Lorton, Virginia - 1875."  "It's here to stay," said Shep Crow, a founding member of the South Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, who led the effort to get the old sign removed and replaced.   Crow and Lorton's Ray Rainwater took down the former sign, and Crow spent two years raising support and gaining County approval for the new sign. Each community organization listed on the sign contributed funds for the project. Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland complimented Crow at the dedication ceremony. "Without your efforts in spearheading this project …

• Photos (3)

Allen Holder Passes Go and Wins Lorton's Annual Monopoly Championship

The tournament raised more than $5,000 for the Lorton Community Action Center

West Virginia's Allen Holder, emerged the winner at the sixth annual Monopoly Game Tournament held recently at Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton.   “I’m very excited to have won,” said Allen, who took home the top prize of $500. “This was my first time attending this tournament and it’s great to be the top prize winner. Knowing when to make the right trades and deals is the key and this year, it worked out for me”. The tournament, sponsored by Ron & Susan Associates, a leading real estate team with Re/Max Gateway, was organized to benefit the Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC), whose mission is to break the cycle of poverty and prevent homelessness.   More than 100 contestants participated in the three-round tournament. The top six …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (6)

Lorton's Sixth Annual Monopoly Tournament to Benefit LCAC

Do not pass Go: Go directly to Lorton Prison!

Lorton's Workhouse Arts Center was the Lorton Reformatory for nearly a century, and on Saturday, Feb. 23, it will once agin witness people going straight to jail — at the unlucky roll of the dice. The sixth annual Lorton Monopoly Tournament will be tense, and more than 100 players at multiple tables are anticipated. The top prize is $500.  Are you following us on Facebook? Twitter?  Lorton Realtors Ron Kowalski and Susan Borrelli of ReMax Gateway have raised nearly $25,000 for numerous charities since starting the event in 2007. All proceeds of this year's tournament will go to the Lorton Community Action Center.  "Every year, Susan and I take a break from selling real houses for real money, and have fun playing with little green houses …

• Photos (2)

Lorton Community Action Center Adds Electronic Sign

Drivers along Route 1 will now know what to donate, and where the LCAC is located.

The Lorton Community Action Center can be hard to find - tucked behind the Lorton Library along Route 1. The non-profit recently unveiled a new electronic sign to educate the public about the needs of their food pantry, and where it's located.  "For some folks they have no problem finding us, but for donors and volunteers and families who need services, it has been a challenge," said LCAC executive director Linda Patterson to Patch. "I'm just thrilled that we were able to use special capital improvement funds to make it all happen."  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! The new LCAC sign cost $10,000, and was made by Stewart Signs, the same company that made the electronic sign for South County High School.  The Fairfax County Board of …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

LCAC Provides Winter Coats for Hundreds of Lorton Families

"You can't put a price on warmth."

The Lorton Community Action Center provided more than 1,250 winter coats to 245 Lorton families at the Woodbridge Moose Lodge #583 on Tuesday night. The coat drive was held on the busiest night for the LCAC's food pantry.   "You can't put a price on warmth," said Elizabeth R., who found coats for her husband and two children. "I was an executive assistant at Georgetown University Hospital and I was laid off four-and-a-half years ago, and since I'm not working I can't even shop at T.J. Maxx."   Many families are swallowing their pride to get help from the LCAC, said executive director Linda Patterson. "Many of our families don't want their friends and neighbors to know that they need help," she said. "We are having more and more famlies who…

• Photos (5)

LCAC Stuffs Backpacks For Back To School Campaign

The nonprofit filled hundreds of backpacks with school supplies.

Last Friday, the Lorton Community Action Center filled backpacks for 475 Lorton and Fort Belvoir kids. Donations for the nonprofit's back-to-school initiative included two-inch binders, clipboards, dividers, glue sticks and pencil pouches.  The LCAC event was held between 10 a.m. and noon at the Moose Family Center at 9612 Fernedge Ln. in Lorton. Keep up with all things Lorton with the Lorton Patch email newsletter and breaking news alerts. Learn more here.

• Photos (4)

Obituaries

Mason Neck Champion Gerald Lyons Dies

Lyons, 74, gave decades to community organizations, including LCAC, Gunston Hall Plantation and the Mason Neck Citizens Association Board.

Gerald Lyons, that staunch Mason Neck advocate, untiring volunteer and friendly neighbor, died on Thursday, Aug. 16. He was 74. "He was a dear," said Sallie Lyons, of her husband of 42 years. "He loved to do his art and share his ideas with people. He wasn't happy if he wasn't doing something artistic for a good reason."  Lyons, a talented graphic designer with a wickedly sharp wit, passed away after suffering from a stroke on Aug. 10. "Jerry", as his friends called him, was born on Feb. 1, 1938, in Springfield, IL. He studied architecture at Southern Illinois University and Washington University in St. Louis, before he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1961. Lyons served two years in the Army, and it was there that he got a penchant for …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (14)
• Documents (1)

Dick Kennedy

10:11 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012

This is a beautifully written tribute to a real gentleman who made extraordinary contributions to our community in many different areas, and charmed everyone he met along the way with his laid-back manner, wit, and extraordinary sense of humor.   more ›

Giant Food Store Drive Raises $3,000 for Lorton Community Action Center

LCAC pantry still needs cereal, snacks for kids and mac 'n cheese.

The Lorton Community Action Center was hit hard after losing power in last month's "derecho" storm, and Giant Food answered the call for help with a food drive that has raised $3,000 worth of non-perishable items.  "This community is amazing!" wrote LCAC Executive Director Linda Patterson. "I am moved that managers at the store took it upon themselves to respond to our need. I have had volunteers and donors call me and share how much it means to them that the Lorton Valley Giant is helping to feed so many families." Managers at the Lorton Valley Giant started the food drive with a $3,000 goal, and after reaching it, decided to continue it indefinitely.  "We're happy to help," said Susy Zeballos, one of the store managers. "Our cashiers ask…

• Photos (2)