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| How You Can Support ACCA | 
Catalogue for Philanthropy
(Click above to make an online donation.)
Combined Federal Campaign
CFC #58934
United Way
#8058
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| Contact Information | Mailing Address
7200 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
Information
703-256-0100
Emergency
Assistance
(Fairfax County)
703-222-0880
Donations
(except furniture)
703-256-0100
Furniture Donations
703-256-9513
Email
accacares@verizon.net
ACCA Website www.accacares.org
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ACCA Members
| Annandale United Methodist
Calvary Church of the Nazarene
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS)
Cornerstone Evangelical Free
Culmore United Methodist
First Christian
First Presbyterian
Friendship United Methodist
Gracia United Methodist
Hope Lutheran
Immanuel United Methodist
John Calvin Presbyterian
Lincolnia United Methodist
Mt. Pleasant Baptist
Peace Lutheran
Providence Presbyterian
Queen of the Apostles Catholic
Ravenworth Baptist
Sleepy Hollow United Methodist
St. Alban's Episopal
St. Anthony's Catholic
St. Barnabas Episcopal
St. Michael's Catholic
St. Paul's Episcopal
United Baptist
Warner Baptist |
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| Next Meeting | Tuesday, Sept. 6 7:30 pm
Church of the Latter Day Saints
3900 Howard St Annandale, 3900 Open to all, visitors
welcome! |
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| ACCA's Mission | | The Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA), is a non-profit coaltion of 26 Annandale-area churches which has been helping the needy in our community for more than 33 years. To learn more about ACCA, visit our website at www.accacares.org. |
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Students Receive Ruffing Scholarships
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Emily Ruffing, center, with recipients of the Fred and Emily Ruffing Scholarships: Joshua Anton, Cassie Dalke, Afomena McKonnen and Julie Shaka.
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At the July ACCA Board meeting, four local students who have overcome disabilities were awarded $3,000 in scholarships for further study.
These scholarships, originally named for Fred Ruffing, one of ACCA's founders, will now be known as the Fred and Emily Ruffing Scholarships, in recognition of Emily's many contributions to ACCA and the child Development Center.
Scholarship Program chair Ann Marie Hicks presented the following winners, who received their scholarships from Emily Ruffing:
- Afomeya McKonnen
- Joshua Anton
- Cassie Dahlke
- Julie Shayka
The first three will attend NOVA, and Julie will be finishing at NYU. Josh's and Alfomeya's parents were eloquent in thanking ACCA for this support.
Mary Lee DiSpirito announced that Annandale H. S. graduate Lillian Springer had won the Making a Difference Award of $500 and a plaque for the essay about her volunteer service. This annual award, which also is recorded on a plaque at the school, was established three years ago by Jina Kim of the Korean business community.
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Inasmuch as you do...
From remarks prepared by Ron Zirkle for the recent ACCA program at the Annandale Ward of Latter Day Saints  There is a scene in the movie God's Army where a missionary turns to his companion and says, "It's not about you." It is about selfless service. The Savior taught us that we are to love and care for one another in whatever form that may take. When the call comes from the ACCA food captain to make a delivery, the reality of the client's circumstances comes into focus as we knock at the door. The delivery may be to a home whose darkened interior reveals only a mattress pushed into the corner of a room, where the only source of ventilation is an open window. Or it may be to a well-furnished home where there is a sudden budget crisis. Or it may be to a high-rise, where the client is standing by the doorman with his grocery cart ready to accept the much-needed food. This week a delivery was made to a family whose employer simply did not pay the worker his weekly wages. The family was without resources. They called their social worker, who in turn e-mailed the ACCA food captain. We made our way with the delivery up two flights of stairs, then under a hammock strung across the entry to a room to a small table against the opposite wall. The recipients are always appreciative of the visit with foods from the pantry. The food provides a lifeline for another week. As we participate with ACCA, we strive to follow the Savior's admonition to feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty. We support a community of churches in its role to make the principles of the Gospel real. This is selfless service. For the Savior taught us: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."
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ACCA Needs Your Help!
Opportunities for service
 Child Development Center
* Assist teachers in preschool or infant center
* Read to children
* Hold babies
* Donate a tuition scholarship (which may be paid in monthly installments
* Launder cot sheets over the weekend (once or twice a year)
Family Emergency Assistance
* Serve as Money Captain (for a week) to receive referrals by e-mail, and arrange for help
Food Pantry
* Serve as Food Captain to take calls and arrange for deliveries (1 week every 3 months)
* Deliver food and hygiene items from the Pantry to needy clients (as often as you agree to)
* Deliver food from an ACCA member church to the Pantry
* Help to organize the Food Pantry (as often as you are available; good for student service!)
* Shop for bulk items (probably requires a truck or van)
* Participate in the Holiday Basket Program at Thanksgiving and Christmas
Furniture
* Pick up and deliver furniture on Saturday mornings (4-6 times per year)
* Assist with administration and phone calls
* Donate and solicit gently used furniture, sewing machines, vacuums, bikes
* Interpret for clients whose English is limited
Transportation
* Drive elderly or needy people to medical or therapy appointments (once every 3-4 months)
* Coordinate a group of volunteer drivers from your church
Meals on Wheels
* Deliver prepared meals to the homes of shut-ins and the elderly
* Serve from home or office as a route or backup coordinator
If you can help ACCA with any of these tasks, send your list with name and contact information to ACCA at 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003, or to accacares@verizon.net. An ACCA representative will contact you shortly with details.
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Crop Walk Alert
 Who: Members of ACCA churches and other CROP supporters
What: The Annandale CROP Walk is a fund-raising activity supporting Church World Service hunger and refugee relief and development programs, and ACCA.
When: October 15, 8 am - registration and ceremony; 8:30 - walk
Where: The walk begins at Lake Accotink Park, near the marina. We will use the trail around Lake Accotink Park.
Why: Church World Service (CWS) works with Christian organizations around the world to sponsor programs for hunger, disaster, and refugee relief, and development programs to help improve peoples' lives.
The local share for the Annandale Walk goes to ACCA. In 2010, ACCA raised almost $20,000 for CWS, of which more than $4000 was returned to ACCA.
Through CROP Walks, we can help raise awareness about hunger and poverty, and respond to people in need around the world.
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Furniture Committee Receives and Gives
 Furniture chair Don Di Spirito announces the gift of 120 vitally needed dining chairs and 22 tables from the Hunter Hotel in Springfield, which is closing. This is the fourth large furniture donation from the hotel since January.
During the past fiscal year, 177 volunteers participated in the furniture program, a new record!
Interested in learning more? Attend the Furniture Ministry's annual meeting at St. Alban's Episcopal Church on August 27 from 10 am till noon.
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Save the Date: November 6
 For an interfaith dialogue sponsored by Interfaith Communities for Dialogue (ICD), a coalition of eight houses of worship representing Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. ICD's mission is to build community by promoting understanding, encouraging respect, and strengthening relationships within or culturally and religiously diverse neighborhoods.
The topic will be "The Immigrant Experience," and the discussion will be held at Congregation Olam Tikvah, 3800 Glenbrook Rd., Fairfax, VA 22031.
Register by e-mail at ciluser@fairfaxcounty.gov, or call 703-324-3453, by November 2.
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Family Emergency Assistance Has Been Busy
This summer, ACCA helped four clients who were in financial trouble:
* A client who recently had cataract surgery, needed new eyeglasses, and owed $600 for medical expenses. ACCA paid for the glasses. He has arranged to pay $10 per month on his debt, and has refinanced his mortgage to be able to meet living expenses.
* Another client had been unable to work since May, because of an ectopic pregnancy. Her spouse had moved out of the house, and she needed rental assistance, which ACCA provided.
* A woman had recently moved out of her apartment to protect her children from a bad situation involving her prior boyfriend and exposure to drugs. In addition, her car had broken down. ACCA helped her with the first month's rent for a new apartment.
* New dentures were the need of a fourth person, who deals with chronic mental illness and couldn't afford them. ACCA stepped in to help.
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