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Successful CROP Walk Raises Funds to Fight Hunger and Poverty
On a beautiful fall day October 16, about 80 walkers and volunteers gathered at Lake Accotink Park for the Annandale CROP Hunger Walk. More than $10,000 has been raised and donations are still coming in.
 | Fairfax County Supervisors (from left) Sharon Bulova, Penny Gross and John Cook and CROP Walk Coordinator Camille Mittelholtz kicked off a successful walk to support local and international relief efforts.
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Sharon Bulova, Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Braddock District Supervisor John Cook, and Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross participated in the opening ceremony. The supervisors thanked the group for the action the walkers were taking to fight poverty worldwide and in Fairfax County. They also spoke of the partnership between Fairfax County and ACCA to help people in need in our community and expressed gratitude for the support of ACCA's volunteers, churches and donors.
ACCA President Mary Anne Lecos and walk coordinator Camille Mittelholtz also greeted the walkers. Eduardo Carrillo, Associate Pastor at Annandale United Methodist Church, led the group in an opening prayer.Ted Farrar of Church World Service visited with walkers as they arrived at the walk's end.
The CROP Hunger Walk raises funds for Church World Service, which works with Christian organizations around the world. CWS funds response to disasters such as the floods in Pakistan and refugee assistance. CWS also funds development programs to help people improve their lives, by drilling wells, providing seeds and tools, and providing training. CWS returns part of the funds raised to community groups for their local efforts to fight poverty, and ACCA benefits from the Annandale CROP Walk.
Sally Norris of United Baptist Church had the highest pledges reported by walkers. As of the day of the walk, Sally had raised $6,734. This is the highest amount ever raised by a single walker in the Annandale CROP Walk. ACCA thanks Sally for her extraordinary efforts to raise awareness about hunger and raise funds for Church World Service.
For more information on Church World Service, see www.churchworldservice.org and for information on the Annandale walk, contact Camille Mittelholtz at kmittelholtz1@cox.net.
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Bring Some Holiday Cheer
The Holiday Basket/Adopt a Family program is expecting many more families to be referred to the program this year. Families, individuals and groups who would like to adopt a family for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas should contact Mary Lee Dispirito at 703 256-9513 or ddmld@verizon.net. She will match you with a family waiting to be adopted. For Thanksgiving baskets, the sponsor delivers food for a Thanksgiving dinner. At Christmas, sponsors provide gifts for the children as well as the food. Most of the referrals come from social workers at the county or schools.
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CROP Walk Poster Contest Winners
Congratulations to all the participants in the CROP Walk poster contest. The winning entries were made by the following artists:
Pre-k through grade 2
First place: Mercer Thomas, Ravensworth Baptist
Second place: Jacob Dugger, St. Barnabas Episcopal
Third place: Hollman Smith, Ravensworth Baptist
Grades 3-4
First place: Garrett Patterson, St. Barnabas Episcopal
Second place: Lindsey Gradoswski, Ravensworth Baptist
Third place: Katie Pope, Ravensworth Baptist
Grade 6
First place: Genevieve Phillips, St. Barnabas Episcopal
Group Poster
First place: entry by Lauren Ibanez, Jordan Ibanez, Jewel Mootz and Grace Webster, John Calvin Presbyterian
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Challenge Grant Campaign Begins
ACCA has begun its annual Challenge Grant Campaign to help raise funds so we can continue to serve neighbors in need. The Washington Forrest Foundation has pledged $18,000 for the challenge and anonymous donors have pledged additional funds for a total challenge grant of $30,000. Our goal is to raise $5 for each $1 of the challenge or $150,000 from now through the end of January. Please consider a donation to ACCA toward the challenge. Checks may be made payable to ACCA, designating "Challenge Grant." Please mail checks to ACCA at 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale VA 22003.
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