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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).

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.

Sowing Seeds of Success

Children tend their garden at the Child Development Center. Click the image above to see more photos of the children in action.

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.

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! 

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.

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.