Casa Chirilagua Needs Food and Household Item Donations

As the Arlandria community struggles with the highest infection rate in Alexandria, Casa Chirilagua is asking for donations to help low-income families.

The city’s Hispanic population is largely located in Arlandria and leads with positive cases at 533 and four reported deaths.

“Our Latino community members are suffering disproportionately with COVID-19,” Casa Chirilagua said in an email. “Casa Chirilagua in Del Ray is a hub of support for the community. Their needs are great, but not anything we can’t address with concerted action.”

Donors are being asked to drop off donated items at 2610 Terrett Avenue and at Casa Chirilagua at 4109 Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray by this Thursday at noon.

The Christian nonprofit located in Arlandria works with more than 120 families living below the poverty line, and so far the nonprofit has also paid more than $25,000 in rent and utilities for families impacted by COVID-19. At this time, the 22305 ZIP code, which includes the Arlandria, Potomac Yard and Potomac West neighborhoods, had the largest number of reported cases at 360, with an estimated population of 16,095 residents.

Additionally, last Friday, local groups demanded that Virginia Governor Ralph Northam authorize supplying 10,000 testing kits to the Arlandria area, and provide housing for poor COVID-positive patients living in jam-packed housing. It is not clear how many people have recovered from the virus, and an accurate count on the number of cases is difficult to maintain in Alexandria since the highest infection rates are in the city’s poorest areas.

Casa Chirilagua also conducts a donation drive from 1-4 p.m. on Thursdays and a weekly food distribution every Thursday at 5 p.m.

Here is a list of what they are looking for:

The most commonly needed household items for families in the community are the following:

• Laundry Detergent
• Body Soap
• Dish Soap
• Cleaning Supplies such as Windex and All-Purpose Spray Cleaners
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Dental Floss
• Mouthwash
• Diapers
• Masks
• Toilet Paper
• Paper Towels

The following food items are much needed in the community:

• Uncooked beans (black/pinto)
• Instant coffee
• Oil (canola, olive)
• Uncooked pasta
• Canned tuna/chicken
• Canned beans (black/pinto)
• Canned tomato sauce
• Canned soups
• Cereals
• Baby food
• Granola bars
• Maseca (corn flour)
• Packaged flour tortillas
• Packaged corn tortillas
• Baby formula
• Apple Sauce
• Mayonnaise/Mustard

Staff photo by James Cullum