With the steadily dropping temperatures and the soon-to-be dropping leaves, Arlington Diocesan Catholic Charities is bracing for a rise in the number of requests for utility assistance and food this winter.

“We just know that given the climate of the economy, we expect our requests to be doubled compared to what it was last year,” said Steve Luteran, executive director of Catholic Charities. “Early indicators are that more people are calling us and it’s only October. Another indicator is we’re having more and more people in our diocese, especially in the further reaches, calling for requests for Christ House on Wheels to deliver food.”

Catholic Charities offers financial assistance each month to families unable to pay utility bills if they have received a cut-off notice. On average, a maximum of $300 per household is available per month from Catholic Charities, but energy assistance funds are often the first to run dry, according to Luteran.

If Catholic Charities cannot cover an entire bill for a family requesting aid, they will try to connect the client with a county social service agency or other assistance organization.

“We haven’t turned any of those requests away yet,” Luteran said. “But I can’t promise that will be the case in January.”

Peak season for requests for help to keep the heat on generally runs from November through March, according to Luteran.

But Catholic Charities’ Christ House in Alexandria, which includes a homeless shelter for men in addition to a food pantry, has already seen an increase in requests for help.

“We’ve had many more requests for food,” said Sally O’Dwyer, associate director of community services, who said she sees the increase as an indication that more people may be choosing between buying food and paying their utility bills.

In the last six months, Luteran said Christ House on Wheels has made more than 30 trips to 11 counties, mostly on the outskirts of the diocese, and supplies are running low.

Luteran said food drives to benefit Christ House would be welcome in addition to financial donations to Catholic Charities’ Good Samaritan Fund and the annual Christmas collection in December.

Find out more

To request utility assistance from Arlington Diocesan Catholic Charities call 703/548-4227. Clients must have received a utility cut-off notice. Consultation appointments may be scheduled at Christ House in Alexandria, or Catholic Charities’ regional offices in Leesburg and Sterling.

How to help

For information about donating food to Christ House, call 703/841-3835 or 703/841-3838.

For information about financial donations to Catholic Charities’ emergency assistance funds go to ccda.net.

Other assistance may be available through county social/family services offices:

Arlington: 703/228-1350

Clarke: 540/955-3700

Culpeper: 540/727-0372

Fairfax: 703/324-7500

Fauquier: 540/347-2316

Frederick: 540/665-5688

King George: 540/775-7181

Lancaster: 804/462-5141

Loudoun: 703/777-0353

Madison: 540/948-5521

Northumberland: 804/580-3477

Orange: 540/672-1155

Page: 540/778-1053

Prince William: 703/792-7500

Rappahannock: 540/675-3313

Richmond: 804/333-4088

Shenandoah: 540/459-6226

Spotsylvania: 540/507-7898

Stafford: 540/658-8720

Warren: 540/635-3430

Westmoreland: 804/493-9305