Loudoun Now
Fr. Daniel Velez Rivera, of St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Leesburg, took a call from Loudoun Cares in mid-March asking for his help aiding the Latino community as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were first felt stateside. His job? Working through Catholic Charities to provide rental assistance to Loudoun residents.
As a pastor, Velez Rivera already had a nontraditional work schedule, usually working six days a week. Now, he works seven days a week spent in large part supporting the rental assistance program. And those days can be long, sometimes close to 20 hours.
“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into,” he said, following a 14-hour workday. “I pray that I would’ve said yes even knowing what I know now.”