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Crops Don't Walk! But People Do
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Camille Mittlehotlz, left, Sally Norris and Sharon Bulova, Chair, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors at the Oct. 15 CROP Walk. View our online album for more photos of the event.
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Dozens of hearty souls ... from babies to the elderly ... walked the Lake Accotink Trail on October 15 to raise funds for CROP Walk. The event raised money for Church World Services, an international agency that helps the needy in developing countries, disaster areas in the U.S., and Fairfax County.
Supervisors Sharon Bulova, Penny Gross, and John Cook kicked off this 31st annual event with comments about hunger within Fairfax County and thanks for what ACCA volunteers do to reduce suffering through our programs and County partnerships. Colorful posters made by children from ACCA churches decorated the staging area.
CROP Walk coordinator Camille Mittelholtz presented Sally Norris with a CROP Walk sweatshirt in recognition of her phenomenal efforts throughout the years to support this cause, including raising almost $6,000 this year alone!
See more photos from the CROP Walk here.
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Challenge Grant Underway
ACCA is kicking off its 2011 Challenge Grant campaign this year by participating in Give to the Max Day:Greater Washington on Nov. 9. The goal is to get 35,000 people to support their favorite regional charity through an online donation during this 24-hour period. Click the Give to the Max logo to learn more.
ACCA has received a $30,000 challenge grant: $15,000 from the Washington Forrest Foundation and $15,000 from anonymous donors for a total of $30,000. Our goal is to raise $4 for each $1 of Challenge. A successful Challenge Grant campaign will enable ACCA to continue responding to our needy neighbors.
All monies raised on through Give to the Max Day on Nov 9 will count toward this effort. Other ways to give include by sending a check, or making an online donation through the Catalogue for Philanthropy. The Challenge ends January 31.
Checks should be made payable to ACCA Inc., with Challenge Grant noted in the memo line. Mail to 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003.
Stay tuned for more information on Give to the Max Day, and considering joining thousands of area donors in making a contribution that day.
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Save These Dates
This year you can choose between two ACCA-related Thanksgiving services: the first at Peace Lutheran Church on Tuesday, November 22; and the second, on Thanksgiving eve, November 23, at First Presbyterian Church for the 'Ravensworth Road' ACCA churches. More detailed information about these services will be forthcoming in the November issue.
This pop art festival will be on display at Peace Lutheran church. Its purpose is to raise funds for the Village of Hope School in Haiti.
Ron Maree, the church's representative to ACCA, invites attendees to participate in the show's raffle. "You don't have to be present at the raffle prize drawing to win," he adds.
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Pastors & Partners Lunch and Learn
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Les Whitmore and Don Di Spirito at ACCA's Pastors & Partners Lunch and� Learn. View more pictures here
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More than 65 people attended this annual event at Annandale United Methodist Church, where Associate Pastor Eduardo Castillo welcomed participants in several languages and led us in prayer. The theme this year was "Portrait of ACCA," with a focus on those who receive support from ACCA and the volunteers who deliver ACCA services.
Lieu Lai described how her family came from war-torn Vietnam with nothing and received assistance with housing, food and furniture through ACCA. Since then, they have achieved the American dream of establishing successful restaurants at Seven Corners and Merrifield. In gratitude, Lieu's family has provided generous support for ACCA.
Abraham Gebreselassi and his wife Akubay, immigrants from Eritrea, testified that they were able to work because their four children could attend ACCA's Child Development Center. Abraham expressed their deep appreciation for this support, and Akubay described the Center as "like a loving and caring home" to which they entrusted their children.
Marie Demarest, Community Liaison at Baileys Elementary School, reported on how she has worked with parents for 20 years from a trailer located behind the school. She expressed thanks for all of the support received from ACCA over the years--such as donated sewing machines, which she has used to teach skills to parents, and the deliveries of food from the Pantry before holidays when the children would not be fed at school.
Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross claimed that the the County could not deliver services as efficiently and effectively without the help of ACCA volunteers-- who work from their homes, cars and offices. And Deputy County Executive Patricia Harrison shared information about the increasing levels of poverty and homelessness in the County as a result of the recession.
Don DiSpirito spoke about hundreds of volunteers who provide help and hope to our needy neighbors and the motivation that comes from knowing how they are transforming people's lives. He then presented an outstanding volunteer, Les Whitmore, with a plaque marking his 30 years of service with the Furniture Ministry.
Fr. Kevin Walsh, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua, described plans for strengthening their food distribution ministry and led the closing prayer. See the online album for additional pictues.
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Family Emergencies Continue
During the month of September, 92 clients were served; 22 of the families we helped had children under the age of 18.
- A client needed anti-seizure medication to retain his job. ACCA was able to assist by paying for the medication.
- A single mother with two children had a newborn baby that died a day after birth. ACCA helped by paying for a burial plot.
- Another single mother with two children was moving into a new apartment. Although she receives rental assistance from Fairfax County, the first month's rent was being charged at the normal market rate and included a security deposit. ACCA assisted with the first month's rent.
- ACCA provided utility assistance to another mother whose income was not enough to meet her family's needs.
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In Memoriam Harold Ottoson of Hope Lutheran Church died on September 29 of natural causes. Harold was active in ACCA for more than 30 years, including several terms as Treasurer and President. Mona, his wife of 57 years, managed the finances of ACCA's Child Development Center and served as CDC Board Chair. We send our love and condolences to Harold's family, who request that memorial donations be made to ACCA or Hope Lutheran Church.
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Furniture Program Report - September
Because of the Labor Day holiday, we operated only three Saturdays in September. Deliveries were made to 31 households, including 128 individuals (28 were children under 18). We completed 17 pickups of donated furniture. In addition:
- Weekday crew members picked up more than 200 dining chairs donated by Goodwin House Baileys Crossroads, on a referral by Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross.
- ACCA gathered 20 mattresses through a county effort involving eight local community-based organizations.
Thanks to Goodwin House, Supervisor Penny Gross, County Manager Telly Whitfield, and Fairfax Auto Parts for their support of ACCA, and to our faithful volunteers during the month of September from St. Anthony Church, Rotary Club of Annandale, Latter Day Saints Annandale Ward, Peace Lutheran Church, Cornerstone Evangelical Church and St. Barnabas Church.
There is still a need for sofas, chests of drawers, tables, mattresses and box springs. Call the Di Spiritos at 703-256-9513 to arrange for a pickup.
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Food Pantry in Good Shape Food Pantry chair Jean Rackowski reports that fooddeliveries were slightly down during September, to 54deliveries assisting 176 individuals. Donations have remained stable and the Latter Day Saints (Annandale Ward) made a very generous donation, so there has been no problem meeting families' needs. In addition, the Boy Scouts are conducting their annual food drive in October. What the Food Pantry does need is volunteers to deliver food from the Pantry in Annandale to needy families. If you can help, please call 703-750-1955.
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Three Stars for the CDC
The ACCA Child Development Center (CDC) continues to hold a 3-star rating from the Virginia Star Quality Initiative. Before school started in September, a tremendous effort was made to clean the building and get ready for the children and staff.
You can now help support the Center while you groceryshop! Just sign up at the cash register to have 5 percent of your purchase of Harris Teeter brands go to the Child Development Center (CDC). The code is 8684. For details, contact Geneva Pope at 703-569-4751 or [email protected]. This is an easy and painless way to help!
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Share the Blessings of the Season ACCA welcomes individuals and families (or even your office colleagues) to adopt a family at Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. You provide a box of food suitable for cooking a holiday meal and deliver it to the recipient household. At Christmas, the donor would also provide the food to cook a holiday dinner and add gifts for the children in the family.
Mary Lee Di Spirito (703-256-9513 or [email protected]) will provide the names and the profile of the family for you. The deadlines for adopting a family are November 13 for Thanksgiving and December 16 for Christmas.
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