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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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Next Meeting |
The next meeting will be on
Refreshments and fellowship 7:15 p.m.
Meeting 7:30 p.m. Open to all visitors.
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Rebuilding Together: Grace in Action
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More than 70 volunteers helped cleanup and repair two local homes on April 26. Click the photo above to see additional pictures of our volunteers sharing their gifts with the homeowners.
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Volunteers from nine ACCA member churches, the United Bank and John Harley Associates wielded paintbrushes, hammers, saws and garden tools for the benefit of two local homeowners as part of this year's Rebuilding Together day on April 26. ACCA Rebuilding Together Chair Marie Monsen summed up the spirit of the volunteers saying, "When we help our neighbors, we build community and God's grace flows to us and through us."
This year marked ACCA's 25th year of participation in the program that was previously known as Christmas in April. The anniversary will be marked by a special celebration and recognition of the program leaders at the ACCA meeting on June 3 at 7:30 pm at St. Anthony's church. All are invited.
At a home in Falls Church, volunteers under the leadership of Ken Mittelholtz and Frank Spink made major repairs to a deck and steps, painted and replaced the roof on a shed, repaired a broken window, replaced downspouts, gutters and drainpipes, and yard cleanup. Inside, they painted the kitchen, installed several electric outlets, and smoke alarms, and made other minor repairs.
At the home of a 75-year-old window in the Pimmit Hills neighborhood, the team led by Brad Moffett and Jim Stewart installed a new toilet and grab bars in the bathroom, repaired and painted the deck and shed, installed insulation, and hauled away 13,000 lbs. of trash from the yard. The homeowner's daughter was most appreciative saying, "Thank you so much for all you've done. Now my family and I can help Mom take care of it; before it was just so overwhelming."
A huge round of applause is owed to all who worked, provided lunches, and contributed financial support to this year's effort. You are truly God's love in action.
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Human Trafficking: A Local Problem
 | Kristine Grow with ACCA VP Neal Mohlmann at the May ACCA meeting. |
Kristine Grow, a member of the United Methodist Church Human Trafficking Task Force, briefed ACCA members about human trafficking at the May ACCA meeting. The metro D.C. area, including Fairfax County, has a high volume of sex trafficking, she said. This crime is becoming one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises, in part because it is so lucrative.
Traffickers often get to know their victims online; teens who are vulnerable, alone and isolated are at greatest risk. The Fairfax County police and schools are working with other partners on a public awareness campaign to expose the prevalence of teen sex trafficking in Northern Va. Teens, parents and community members can get more information from the campaign website, Just Ask Prevention Project. Help is also available by calling a national toll-free hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or sending a text message to BeFree (233733).
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Letter Carriers Collect Tons for Pantry
 | Food Pantry Chair Jean Rackowski, right, helps volunteers load the donated food onto an ACCA truck for delivery to the food pantry. |
The National Association of Letter Carriers' annual food drive "Stamp Out Hunger" took place on Saturday, May 10. The ACCA Food Pantry received an estimated 20,000 lbs. of food items donated by local postal patrons. ACCA is grateful to all our neighbors whose generous donations made it to our shelves. Among those helping to transfer the donated food from the Post Office to the Food Pantry were a group of students from Annandale High School, Dick Magleby and his grandson, and Don and Mary Lee Di Spirito. Many thanks, to all.
In April, the pantry made 108 deliveries, helping to feed 355 people.
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Sowing Seeds of Success
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Children tend their garden at the Child Development Center. Click the image above to see more photos of the children in action.
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The ACCA Board approved the nomination of Joyce Savage to the board of directors for the Child Development Center (CDC). Ms. Savage has extensive experience in human resources management and alternative dispute resolution. She also serves as Secretary of the ACCA board of directors.
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Do More 24 on June 19
ACCA will join hundreds of other local non-profit organizations participating in an area-wide fundraiser called Do More 24 on June 19. The United Way of the National Capital Area is sponsoring this second annual online giving marathon with the theme "Give where you live." Watch your email and the local news for more information. We're counting on your support!
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Family Emergency Assistance
In April, ACCA assisted 40 households, making payments for rent, utilities and medical expenses. Among those served was a pregnant woman who experienced complications requiring hospitalization. She has been unable to work and fell behind in the rent. Another recent mother, a victim of domestic violence, is on unpaid maternity leave and fell behind in her rent. On behalf of all who were served, thank you for your donations that make this assistance possible.
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Furniture Team Delivers
ACCA Furniture crews made deliveries to 24 households and picked up donated furniture from 32 households in April. All four trucks are in operation, which increases our production and decreases the amount of volunteer time needed each Saturday. We are especially pleased by the number of student volunteers who are lending a hand. Currently, there is a shortage of bed linens for twin, full and queen-size beds (no king), including blankets. If you have linens in good condition to donate, please drop them off on Saturday mornings between 8 a.m. and noon at the ACCA warehouse at Annandale United Methodist Church, phone (703) 256-1991, or call the Di Spiritos at (703) 256-9513 to arrange a drop off. |
Transportation and Meals on Wheels
In April, transportation volunteers provided 21 rides to 9 clients. The Annandale Meals on Wheels program served 25 clients and made 443 deliveries. Each client also received an Easter bag containing chocolate bunnies, jellybeans and gifts donated by the Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild. On behalf of all who were served, we thank our dedicated volunteer drivers.
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Congregation Celebrates 150 Years
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Lincolnia UMC Pparishioner Ralph Ware made this rolling bin to hold food donations for ACCA.
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Congratulations to members of Lincolnia United Methodist Church who celebrated their congregation's 150th anniversary on May 11, 2014. As part of the celebration, they set a goal of collecting 150 bags of food for the ACCA Food Pantry this year. The church website has a history of the congregation, which was chartered in 1864. You can learn more, including the origins of the name "Lincolnia," on the Lincolnia UMC website.
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