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Touched by an Angel

One of our food pantry volunteers reported on a recent delivery to a single middle-aged man. "I gathered the food on Wednesday morning and went to the neighborhood around noon. It was a nice neighborhood of single-family homes. The client met me at my car and we carried the groceries into his home together." On entering the home, she noticed the interior was in considerable disrepair, including broken floor tiles and damaged walls. After they deposited the food on the kitchen table, the client thanked the volunteer. She wished him well and left. The man had reminded her of her own brother who had lost a good job during the recession and had barely scraped by.  

That night, she says, "As I was preparing for bed around 9 p.m., I got a call on my cellphone." It was the man from the nice-looking house. "He told me that it was his birthday and that I was like an angel bringing him food. I replied that it was the work of ACCA."  

We couldn't have said it better! Thanks to all the angels who make this work possible. 

Family Emergency Assistance  

Thanks to our grant from United Way, ACCA was able to expand its Family Emergency Assistance program to serve an additional 28 households. In all, we served 74 households and provide more than $35,000 in assistance with rent, utilities and medical costs.

One ACCA client has a new smile, thanks to our United Way grant. This senior needed dentures, but couldn't afford them. ACCA helped with the cost. We also helped a family of five who are struggling with cancer. The mother is undergoing chemotherapy and unable to work. The father has had to reduce his hours in order to take her to medical appointments. ACCA was able to assist this family by paying their rent due.

Food Pantry

The pantry has been quite busy. Although we had a successful food drive called "Stuff the Bus" on February 1, most of the food collected has already been given out. In all, volunteers made 116 deliveries assisting 387 individuals in February.

Furniture Ministry

ACCA furniture volunteers made at least one family very happy last month: they were able to furnish a rented apartment for a formerly homeless mother and her two children. The family had used all available funds to move in and could not afford furniture. ACCA provided them with a refreshing start in their new home after a long shelter experience. In all, volunteers made 57 pickups and deliveries, despite the inclement weather. We served 30 households representing 117 persons. If you have gently used furniture to donate, please contact Mary Lee Di Spirito at ddmld@verizon.net.

Calling all handymen and women, gardeners, painters, food servers, and young people seeking volunteer hours. On April 26th ACCA is participating in the national Rebuilding Together program. Volunteers will be assisting two local homeowners with basic home repairs and sprucing up. For more information on this year's program, please contact Marie Monsen, (703) 354-9408 or mamonsen@verizon.net.  

AARP volunteers are providing free tax preparation assistance at George Mason Government Center through April 17. Volunteers are available Mondays and Thursdays, 1 - 8 p.m.; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.; and Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The government center is at 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale. For more information, call 1-888-227-7669.