Lorton Community Action Center was founded and began operation in 1975. Our services included emergency food assistance and an inventory of human services we could provide to the Lorton community.
In the beginning, we worked out of a classroom, then moved into a shed, and then in 1984, a house. As we moved into each new location the scope of our services would increase.
The founder of LCAC, Christine Herbstreith, dreamt of Lorton one day having a “supermarket of human services”, combining a library, community center, LCAC, and more. This dream would be realized in 2022 when we moved into the newly built Lorton Community Center and Library Building.
With more working space, our staff has grown steadily for the past two years, increasing our capacity for the work and clients we take on. In this new building, we now offer more class offerings for workforce development, English language learning, and enrichment for children.
Even with our growth as a nonprofit we are working hard to meet the needs of our growing clientele and community as rent increases and necessities are more expensive.
The idea for our organization came to Christine when she joined the PTA at Gunston Elementary School.
Realizing there was a real need to help clothe and feed the youth of the Lorton area, her idea took shape.
When we began forming, there was consistent help from local churches most notably, Cranford United Methodist and Shiloh Baptist.
These churches, as well as many others who would soon join, collected food items and clothing for LCIC to distribute.
At LCIC’s first health fair in June 1975,
200 adults received physicals. This was thanks to the National Institutes of Health and LCIC Volunteers.
From Information to Action!
On January 9th, 1978 LCIC become LCAC.
This name change was to describe the goals and evolving services of the organization.
The services we offered back in the early days look similar to many of the ones that are still offered today.
Back then LCAC offered
– Emergency referrals for services
– Emergency food help
– A thrift shop
– An inventory of human services
Before LCAC was in the Lorton Community Center and before we were in the yellow “Herbstreith House”, LCAC was housed on the grounds of Gunston Elementary School, where in December of 1978, construction of a small new building on the school property began.
For years Lorton did not have a library, only a County Book Mobile that visited Lorton every Tuesday. The closest Fairfax County Library was more than 25 miles away for some residents.
People could request books to be dropped off at LCAC between Book Mobile runs, but this was not a permanent solution.
In 1980, the former Engleside Library relocated to the Williamsburg Square shopping center in Lorton. The new Lorton Library Storefront (aka Lorton Mini Library) finally provided a physical location for residents of Lorton to borrow books.
This was a result of 4 years of work by LCAC, passionate locals, the Fairfax County Library Board and the Board of Supervisors.
After years of searching LCAC found a location to centralize their operation. It was the “Murphy Property”, located along Route 1 in Lorton.
Using a $94,000 block grant as down payment and reaching an agreement with Fairfax County, the Board of Supervisors, and the County Library Board, LCAC received rights to half of the property. The second half of land went to the Library Board for construction of a library in Lorton.
LCAC used other block grant funds to renovate the location. And continued their work in the “Butler Building” at Gunston Hall Elementary until they moved into the new house in September of 1984. The thrift store would remain in the Butler Building.
This is the land LCAC, the Lorton Library, and the Community Center sits on today.
In partnership with the Fairfax County Library and Fairfax County Park Authority the Lorton Library began construction on the Murphy Property sometime in 1987. The library had its grand opening on April 6th, 1990.
The First Annual Fall Festival was held on October 20th, 1991 at Gunston Hall. This was LCAC’s biggest fundraiser at the time and included food, music, and a silent auction.
This event became the Annual Gala LCAC holds today.
In January of 1993, LCAC’s Board of Directors made the decision to hire the first paid staff member, Lillian Haynes, Assistant to the Director.
In May of 1993, the number of staff increased by two. LCAC hired a Thrift Shop Manager, Shyria McKelleget and after the retirement of Christine Herbstreith, Jeannine Deem Purdy was hired as a part-time Executive Director.
Act II Thrift Store opened in Williamsburg Square on March 8th, 1997.
Until this point, LCAC’s thrift store had been operating out of the “Butler Building” (aka Gunston Shed). This new thrift store location previously housed the Lorton Mini Library.
LCAC’s Thrift Store is still in Williamsburg Square at 9506 Richmond Hwy.
The Lorton Community Resource Center opened on April 27th, 2002.
The LCRC was made possible through a partnership agreement with the Fairfax County Police, LCAC, and the Department of Family Services.
Together, these agencies strove to work within the Lorton community by providing outreach services to benefit children, individuals, and families.
Have something to share about LCAC’s history? Email Sofia@LortonAction.org to share your stories.
Special thank you to Pam Chase, Lynn Nestor, and Joshua Henry
LCAC provides food, clothing, emergency financial assistance and outreach programs to southeastern Fairfax County.
Monday – Friday:
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Monday – Friday:
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Monday – Wednesday:
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday – Friday:
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday:
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
