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Pantry Restocked by Local Shoppers

Volunteers outside the Giant Food in Annandale on September 29. They passed out wish lists to shoppers who purchased items needed by the ACCA Food Pantry. You can see more photos from the Loehmann's Giant and the Annandale Giant food drives online. All photos: Tom Petersen

ACCA volunteers collected food and other items donated by shoppers at two local Giant supermarkets on two Saturdays in September. Hundreds of people also participated in a 3-K walk that benefitted the ACCA Food Pantry. In all, volunteers collected more than 870 bags of food and $442 in cash. Thank you to the volunteers and the shoppers and walkers. The donated food and hygiene items that will go to needy families in our community.  

An entry in the CROP Walk Poster Contest

Don't forget the annual CROP Hunger Walk this Saturday, October 13, at Lake Accotink Park. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The walk benefits Church World Service and a portion of the proceeds are returned to our local community. You can sponsor a walker by  giving cash or a check, or you can give online at http://www.cropwalkonline.org/annandaleva.        

The Pastors and Partners annual luncheon for ACCA member church pastors, partners, and board members takes place Thursday, October 18, 11:30 a.m., at the Annandale United Methodist Church/Wright Hall.
For more information, please call or email  Mary Lee Di Spirito, 703-256-9513.

Child Development Center  

A volunteer from Nordstrom reads to children at the CDC. Click the photo to see more photos of the volunteers in action.

  More than 30 Nordstrom employees volunteered at the Child Development Center recently. They helped in the classrooms, played with the children and performed minor repairs. See more photos of the volunteers in action on the CDC Facebook page.

If you happen to drive by the CDC on October 20, you will see more than 200 USA Today employees installing new equipment on playgrounds and in the infant/toddler classrooms. USA Today pledged $15,000 toward the purchase of the new playground equipment, which is needed to comply with standards for early childhood centers.

The CDC Board welcomes Kathryn Fernandez Brown of Alexandria to the Board. Ms. Brown retired from Danya, Inc. where she was a Head Start Reviewer. She is a former Head Start Director and directed the first child care center in Rochester, NY for children with special needs.

Family Emergency Assistance    

Job loss or illness can push families to the brink. That's when ACCA steps in. Emergency assistance can stop the electricity from being cut off, make the rental payment to prevent eviction, or pay for the prescription so health is restored. In September, ACCA provided $19,880 in emergency assistance to 38 households. Of these, 27 households included children under age 18 and 12 included elderly or disabled persons. Thank you for your support, which enables ACCA to make a difference in the lives of these families.  

Furniture Ministry

The furniture ministry was back in full swing in September, thanks to crews from Providence and John Calvin Presbyterian Churches, Latter Day Saints, St. Alban, Annandale United Methodist, St. Barnabas, and Cornerstone Evangelical Churches. Also thanks to Ravensworth Baptist Church for a donation of more than 40 stackable chairs. In October, we welcome new volunteers from the Sambo Group, a Bolivian cultural group associated with the CDC staff, who will begin fielding a team on a regular basis. To make a furniture donation, call 703-256-9513 or email ddmld@verizon.net.

Food Pantry

The pantry made 75 deliveries in September, assisting 286 individuals. Unfortunately, there has been an increase in people living in their cars in our area. One of our deliveries this month was to a mother and her 19-month old child who were living in a car. She was able to obtain necessary items for and county personnel are helping her locate housing. 

Food Pantry Tote Bags    

Fran Watkins and Debbie Caffrey hold a reusable ACCA Food Pantry bag produced by United Baptist Church. The  bags are available, free to anyone who wants one, while supplies last. You can pick them up at the United Baptist Church office, 7100 Columbia Pike, Annandale. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you would like information on ordering similar bags for your congregation, call the United Baptist office at 703-256-5900.

Transportation and Meals on Wheels    

ACCA volunteers provided rides to 17 clients and delivered 654 meals to home bound individuals in September.