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Volunteers Needed: MLK Day of Service
 Calling all volunteers! Saturday, January 19 has been designated a National Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King by the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee. One of the sponsored events, under the leadership of ACCA volunteer Sue Clark, a member of Peace Lutheran Church, involves cleaning up the gardens and landscaped areas at the ACCA Child Development Center in downtown Annandale. Volunteers are needed between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Please come, even if only for a couple of hours, and invite others!
If you have tools, such as shovels, rakes, mulch forks, clippers, gloves, etc. bring them. We will also have tools to share. Sign up online or contact Sue directly at chezclark@verizon.net.
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ACCA Seeks to Meet Challenge
 To date, ACCA has raised at least one dollar for-every dollar of $30,000 our Challenge Grant. But we still need your help to meet our goal of raising $3 for every dollar of the challenge. Donations can be made to the ACCA Challenge Grant campaign through the end of January. You can donate online via the Chronicle of Philanthropy, or by sending a check payable to ACCA to 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22203.
On behalf of the many people served by ACCA, thank you to all who have given to the campaign!
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Child Development Center
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Click the photo to see more photos of Santa's visit to the CDC.
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Many individuals, companies and organizations shared their blessings with the Child Development Center (CDC) families over the holidays. Among those to whom the families and staff of the CDC are grateful are:
- Lockheed Martin and the Adult Day Care Center for Thanksgiving dinners.
- Burlington Coat Factory for the donation of 140 children's jackets.
- Residents of the Parliaments Apartments for toys and winter clothing.
- Little River United Church of Christ and Mr. James Groody for donating gifts for families.
- Lincolnia United Methodist Church for gifts for all 183 children in the CDC.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Montessori School of Northern Virginia, Friendship United Methodist Church, the Rotary Club, and the Adult Day Care Center for adopting classes and providing gifts as well as visits by Santa.
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Truck Breakdown and Recovery
During the very first delivery on the final Saturday of operations in December, ACCA's fully loaded, 25-year-old truck gave out. Fortunately, volunteers from Providence and John Calvin Presbyterian were able to mobilize two pickup trucks, transfer the furniture from the cargo truck, and complete eight deliveries to needy households in the Culmore neighborhood. It was a triumphant recovery for the crewmembers on duty that day. The cargo truck, ACCA's primary delivery vehicle, was given to ACCA by Fairfax County from its surplus truck pool and has been in constant use for the past ten years. But we continue to patch it up and are pleased to report that it is back in operation for the New Year.
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Family Emergency Assistance
 Blood clots can be deadly serious. In December, a single mother of two experienced a blood clot. Her doctor prescribed a costly injectable blood thinner, but she could not afford it. Other sources of aid would not cover an injectable prescription. ACCA helped the client avoid another life-threatening clot by paying for the prescription.
In another instance, ACCA helped a single homeless father with two children by providing the security deposit and first month's rent so that the family could move into an apartment. Altogether, ACCA served 53 local households in December, providing more than $26,600 in rental assistance, utilities and medical costs.
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Food Pantry  The pantry made 62 deliveries assisting 214 individuals in December, in addition to making 66 Christmas baskets.
Currently, the pantry is low in rice, dried beans, Jello, puddings, cookies, spaghetti sauce, and personal hygiene articles. Feel free to drop these items off at participating ACCA churches or bring them to the Child Development Center, 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Va. 22003, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 p.m..
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Furniture Ministry  During December, volunteers delivered donated furniture to 26 households, encompassing 113 individuals; almost 90 percent of these households included children less than 18 years old. Volunteers also made 24 pickups of donated furniture. We are grateful to volunteers from Providence Presbyterian, John Calvin Presbyterian., St. Anthony Catholic, the Rotary Club, the Latter Day Saints and Peace Lutheran.
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Meals on Wheels
Volunteers made deliveries on 18 days in December, and delivered 696 meals to homebound elderly, disabled, or convalescing individuals unable to cook for themselves.
The Baileys Meals on Wheels program is seeking two or three more drivers to make deliveries to elderly shut-ins. Drivers pick-up food at the Baileys Crossroads Community Shelter located at 3525 Moncure Avenue, just off Columbia Pike near the Fire Station. As this is a small route (usually 2 or 3 deliveries) the time commitment is brief, usually less than an hour.
Please call Mary Lee Di Spirito at (703) 256-9513 or email ddmld@verizon.net.
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Parenting Classes Offered
The Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Parenting Education Programs is enrolling families for several upcoming parenting classes. These programs are special in that both parents and children attend the classes, although children are taught in different classrooms than parents. Classes are for Fairfax County residents; meet from 5:30 to 8 p.m.; are free; and include dinner and childcare. Classes meet once a week for 12, 13, or 21 weeks depending on the curriculum.
You can download a list of all Parenting Education Program classes, which includes dates and locations and the curriculum topics. Click here for more information, including enrollment forms, online.
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January Events
 Tuesday, January 29, 7 - 8:30 p.m., Faith Community Information Session: Identifying Services and Resources for Older Adults including the Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) will be held at Inova PACE, 4027-B Olley Lane, Fairfax, VA 22032. To register, email NCSInterfaith@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-324-3453.
Thursday, January 31, 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Faith Communities in Action Domestic Violence Intervention: First Steps for Clergy and Faith Leaders, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Rd. Reston, VA 20191. Register online here.
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