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| Reminder - support ACCA through your workplace: | 
Combined Federal Campaign
CFC #58934
United Way
#8058
Commonwealth of Virginia
#8233
Or Give Online:
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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's Mission |
The Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA), is a non-profit coalition of 26 Annandale-area churches which has been helping the needy in our community for more than 44 years. To learn more about ACCA, visit our website at www.accacares.org.
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Annual Report for
FY 2013.
Click to View
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| Next Meeting |
No meeting in January. The next meeting will be on
February 4 at
Refreshments and fellowship - 7:30 p.m.
Meeting - 7:45 p.m. Open to all visitors. |
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Furry Companion Makes Life Brighter
 | | Kaylie, a service animal, was recently acquired by a very grateful ACCA client. |
Meet Kaylie, a service animal, who was recently acquired by a very grateful ACCA client. Service dogs are specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual difficulties, hearing impairments, mental illness, seizures, diabetes, autism, and more.
ACCA does not provide service dogs, but recently we were able to assist a client with a month's rent so that she could afford a service dog. She sent a note of thanks with photos of Kaylie saying, "You have no idea how your actions have affected my life in such a positive and meaningful way, for already don't know what I'd do without my little Kaylie!" It's wonderful to see how ACCA made a difference for this person.
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'Who is My Neighbor?'
ACCA's "Dear Neighbor," letters are in the mail, offering you an invitation to be the Good Samaritan to people in need in our community. Our goal is to raise $156,000 by January 31, to take advantage of a 3-for-1 matching grant from the Washington Forrest Foundation and several anonymous donors. The funds will be used to provide services to neighbors in need, including preventing evictions, ensuring that utilities stay on, helping with food, medications, and household furnishings, and providing quality child care to low-income families at the Child Development Center.
Please be a good neighbor and respond generously to the Challenge Grant. Send a check to the ACCA Challenge Grant, 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003 or make an online donation through the Catalogue for Philanthropy, which named ACCA "One of the Best Nonprofits in the Washington DC Area."
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New Officers Elected
The ACCA Board of Directors elected officers for 2014 at its December meeting. Congratulations to Gail Coleman, elected President, and Neal Mohlmann, Vice President. The following officers were reelected to their current positions: Homer Christensen, Treasurer; Joy Savage, Recording Secretary; and Sue Meekins, Corresponding Secretary.
Outgoing President Ken Mittelholtz expressed his appreciation to all the ACCA volunteers, and especially the chairs of ACCA's ministries for their time and service.
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What a Difference a Bed Makes!
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An ACCA volunteer loads a mattress for delivery to a local family.
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"A simple bed is a coveted prize for those who don't own one." That was the title of a recent article in The Washington Post, which profiled Flavia Ford and her now 7-year old daughter. After two years of homelessness, Flavia and her daughter are now moving into her an apartment of their own with help from an organization similar to ACCA.
ACCA's furniture ministry regularly serves people who are transitioning from homelessness to homes of their own. During November, our furniture crews made deliveries to 25 households, most of which included children under 18 years old. If you have gently used sofas, beds or dining chairs, please let ACCA give them to a family who will cherish them. Your cash donations help us pay for storage, truck maintenance and repair, among other items. Call (703) 256-9513 or email ddmld@verizon.net.
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Annual Outerwear Distribution
On Friday, December 6, volunteers distributed winter outerwear at several locations, including sites for day laborers on Little River Turnpike and Culmore, the Baileys Crossroads Community Shelter, and ACCA's Child Development Center.
Donations of warm winter clothing were received from
St. Mark Catholic Church in Vienna, VA, Providence Presbyterian, St. Anthony's and St. Michael's Catholic Churches. A second collection and distribution will take place in February. Watch for details.
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Rebuilding Together Date: April 26
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A volunteer re-caulks a leaky window during the 2013 Rebuilding Together event.
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Next year marks ACCA's 25th year of participation in Rebuilding Together (formerly Christmas in April). Over the past twenty-four years, we have repaired and rehabilitated the 113 homes and non-profit housing facilities and provided over 33,000 volunteer hours to insure that low-income seniors, persons with disabilities and families with children have a safe and decent place to live.
Currently we are seeking homeowners who need help to repair and spruce up their homes, volunteers to work with us, and funds to cover the cost of sponsoring a house. If you know a homeowner who might be able to use our help, please encourage them to contact Patti Klein at (703) 528-1999.
At a time of increased economic stress, many homeowners are faced with difficult choices regarding necessary home repairs or paying for health care, food or utilities. They need our help.
The cost to sponsor a house is $3,500. Please consider a donation to ACCA to help us cover the cost of materials and other expenses. Checks should be made out to ACCA, noting Rebuilding Together. For more information, contact Marie Monsen, (703) 354-9408 or mamonsen@verizon.net.
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Family Emergency Assistance
During November, ACCA served 41 families, providing more than $21,000 in assistance for rent, utilities and other costs. Many low income families lack the financial resources to recover when an employer cuts their hours, their car needs major repairs or they have an unpaid medical leave. Because of your support, ACCA is able to prevent families from facing eviction or having their utilities cut off when facing these economic setbacks.
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Child Development Center
 | | Peace Lutheran Church volunteers donated doll clothing and handmade blankets to the CDC this month. Click the photo to see more happenings at the CDC. |
Congratulations to Isabel Ballivian, director of the Child Development Center, and her husband on the birth of their son, Mateo, in November.
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Thanks to CROP Walk Donors
The 2013 CROP Hunger Walk raised more than $17,700 in donations to Church World Service (CWS) to prevent fight hunger globally and locally. This year's top fundraisers included Sylvia Campbell of Ravensworth Baptist, Sally Norris of United Baptist and Nancy Boxall of John Calvin Presbyterian. CWS is among the organizations working in the Philippines, offering food and shelter assistance to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan. A portion of the funds will be returned to ACCA for use locally.
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Food Pantry and Meals on Wheels
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Thank you to Lockheed Martin for donating food for Thanksgiving. Volunteers from The Business Bank and ACCA Child Development Center Board packaged the food for donation to local families.
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The Food Pantry has recently received generous donations from Lockheed Martin, the Boy Scouts and the Franconia District Police Station. In November, the Pantry made 116 deliveries and providing 57 Thanksgiving baskets.
Meals on Wheels volunteers served 20 clients in November, providing 520 meals. Volunteers also made Thanksgiving deliveries to 31 individuals. Included with their holiday meal were favors provided by the Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild.
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Transportation
ACCA volunteers provided 16 rides for 6 clients to medical appointments in November.
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