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September 2014 News   


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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
[email protected]

ACCA Website www.accacares.org

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.  

Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on 
  Oct. 7
St. Barnabas' Episcopal
4801 Ravensworth Rd.
Annandale, VA  
 
Refreshments and fellowship 
7:30 p.m.
Meeting
7:45 p.m. 
Open to all visitors.   
  

ACCA Members
Annandale United Methodist

Braddock Baptist

Calvary Church of the Nazarene

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Annandale Ward
and
Little River Ward

Cornerstone Evangelical Free

Culmore United Methodist

First Presbyterian

Friendship United Methodist

Holy Spirit Catholic

Hope Lutheran

John Calvin Presbyterian

Lincolnia United Methodist 

Mt. Pleasant Baptist

Peace Lutheran

Providence Presbyterian

Queen of the Apostles Catholic

Ravenworth Baptist

Sleepy Hollow United Methodist

St. Alban's Episcopal

St. Anthony Catholic

St. Barnabas Episcopal

St. Michael's Catholic

St. Paul's Episcopal

United Baptist

Warner Baptist    

Day to Serve Food Drive September 13
A  volunteer accepts a food donation for the ACCA Food Pantry during last year's Day to Serve.
A volunteer accepts a food donation for the ACCA Pantry during last year's Day to Serve. 
Members of ACCA Churches are invited to participate in a Day to Serve food drive on Sept. 13 to benefit local food pantries (see flyer). Volunteers will be collecting food donations at five nearby cooperating supermarkets including the Giant on Columbia Pike, Safeway on Little River Turnpike, Giant at Loehmann's Plaza, Shoppers Food Warehouse at Landmark Plaza, and Shoppers Food Warehouse at Seven Corners. Donations will go to the ACCA Food Pantry and the Dar Al-Hijrah Pantry. Both provide emergency food to needy persons without regard to race or religion. 

Day to Serve is an annual event. This year, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe has designated each day between Sept. 11 - 28 as a Day to Serve. He encourages Virginians to make a concerted effort to feed the hungry, clean up neighborhoods, and improve communities by participating in Day to Serve activities. Locally, the Clergy and Leadership Council of Fairfax County has called on faith communities to work together to commemorate this year's Day to Serve with an interfaith effort. Among those participating in the food drive are Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, John Calvin Presbyterian Church, the Baha'i Faith, Ravensworth Baptist Church, St. Albans' Episcopal Church, and the Annandale VA Stake of the LDS Church.

ACCA President Gail Coleman said, "ACCA is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Day to Serve and for the gifts of shoppers to our food pantry." Food supplies in the ACCA pantry are low.

Please consider shopping at the cooperating stores on Sept. 13 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. and making a food contribution. If you have an hour or two and would like to get involved, volunteers are needed at several stores and to restock pantry shelves. Please contact Marie Monsen [email protected] or one of the participating churches.

2014 CROP Hunger Walk 

CROP Hunger Walk Mark your calendars for the annual Annandale CROP Hunger Walk on October 18 at Lake Accotink Park. The walk raises money for Church World Service (CWS) to fight poverty and hunger here and abroad. Last year, the Annandale CROP Hunger Walk raised more than $20,000; of this, CWS gave more than $5,000 to ACCA to serve our local community.

 

The 10K walk (about 6.2 miles) takes place on a scenic trail around Lake Accotink. Walkers enjoy beautiful fall colors and a view of the Lake. Refreshments are provided. Online registration is available.  

 

A poster contest will also be held for youth through grade 12. Posters should be 14' x 22' or smaller, focus on fighting poverty and hunger, and include the CROP Walk date and place. Contact Camille Mittelholtz [email protected] for more information.

Child Development Center 

Rising kindergarteners graduated from the Child Development Center on August. 27. View more 2014 graduation pictures by clicking the image above.

On August 27, the ACCA Child Development Center (CDC) graduated 41 children who are entering kindergarten this month. We are deeply grateful to Century 21 for donating backpacks and supplies for all rising kindergarteners for the new school year. Good luck to all our graduates! 

Family Emergency Assistance 

During July and August, ACCA served 104 households providing about $45,000 to people who needed emergency assistance to pay for rent, utilities, medical expenses and other costs. Among those served was a homeless woman who was living in her car. She found affordable housing, but needed help with the first month's rent. We also provided gas money so that a single mother living in a motel with her three children could search for housing. And we helped pay for asthma medication for a two-year old child whose parents are looking for work. Thank you to our generous donors who made all of this possible. 

Furniture Ministry

Despite being officially "closed" in August, the Furniture Team completed an impressive number of pick-ups and deliveries over the past two months, serving 25 households in all and making 28 pickups of donated furniture. Among those served were a formerly homeless family living in an empty apartment and a refugee family who had just arrived from Honduras. Of special note was the receipt of 29 mattresses from the Algonkian Regional Park in Sterling, VA.

 

The Furniture Ministry counted 208 volunteers this past year (a record) and delivered donated furniture items to 321 households. Among our valued partners who helped make this possible were the KEYS for the Homeless  Foundation, M. Quinn Designs, Inc., National Demolition and Environmental, Inc., Annandale Shopping Center, Goodwin House, Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross, and Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services. Thanks to all!  

Food Pantry  

Volunteers had a busy summer, making 75 deliveries in July and 88 deliveries in August. In these two months, they served 465 individuals. On behalf of all who were served, we say "Thank You!"

 

As a result of high demand, the supply in the Food Pantry is very low. We encourage everyone to participate in the food drive on Sept. 13 (see above).

 

In addition to food donations, we need volunteers willing to serve one week every three months as a food captain. Food captains receive food requests and coordinate with volunteers who make the deliveries. Training will be provided. If you are interested, contact Jean Rackowski [email protected] or Theresa Speake [email protected].

Transportation and Meals on Wheels 
Meals on Wheels volunteers prepare to make deliveries in the Annandale area.

Transportation volunteers provided 7 rides to 3 clients in July and 6 rides to 6 clients in August. Meals on Wheels volunteers delivered meals to 20 clients in July and 19 in August.  

 

A ride to the doctor's office or a hot meal means a lot to those who receive them. Thank you to our dedicated drivers.  

 

If you know of someone who could benefit from Meals on Wheels, please contact Cheri White [email protected].

Pastors and Partners Annual Luncheon

Rev. J. P. Hong of Culmore UMC, Carol Weber and Nancy Hall at last year's Pastors & Partners luncheon.

The Pastors and Partners annual luncheon with ACCA clergy (both senior and associate) will take place on Thursday, October 16, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. in Wright Hall, Annandale United Methodist Church, 6935 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA.