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September 2015 News   

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Next Meeting
The next meeting will be 
October 6
St. Alban's Episcopal
6800 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 

Refreshments and fellowship 
7:30 p.m.
Meeting
7:45 p.m. 
Open to all visitors.   
  


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 Our Benefactors Include:  
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

About ACCA
ACCA is a church-related voluntary organization providing day care,  financial assistance, food, furniture, and other support to needy families in the Annandale/Bailey's Crossroads area, regardless of religion, race or ethnicity. Except for the child development center, all ACCA services are provided by volunteers. To learn more about ACCA, visit our website at www.accacares.org.  

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 Sept. 26     
 
 
Volunteers collected food donations at a local supermarket during last year's Day to Serve.  
A "Day to Serve" food drive to benefit the ACCA Food Pantry will take place on Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Five grocery stores are expected to participate, including the Giant stores on Columbia Pike, Bradlick Shopping Center and Loehmann's Plaza; Safeway on Little River Turnpike; and Shoppers Food at Landmark Plaza.
 
Volunteers are needed for two-hour shifts to represent ACCA and receive customer donations at the participating stores. For more information, contact Bart Marcois,  bmarcois@gmail.com or Richard Magleby, 703-3548123, rsmagleby@verizon.net.
 
The Virginia General Assembly has designated each day from September 11 to October 11, 2015 as a Day to Serve to enhance our communities and help those in need. ACCA thanks the Annandale and Little River congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for organizing this food drive.
ACCA Leader Honored for Life of Service 
 
Ann Marie Hicks receives the Mother McGann award from Misericordia University President Tom Bozeman. (Photo: Norman Hicks)
Ann Marie Hicks, a past president and long-time ACCA volunteer, recently received the Mother Mary Catharine McGann Achievement Award from her alma mater, Misericordia University. The award recognizes a career of distinguished service to others. In accepting the award, Ann Marie urged incoming freshman to
embrace the charisms of Mercy, Service, Justice and Hospitality. She also told them the "secret of happiness is loving and serving one another wherever you may be." Read more about the award and Ann Marie's remarks online. Congratulations, Ann Marie! 
Child Development Center      
 
The CDC offered a three-week school readiness summer camp to prepare children who are entering kindergarten. The children worked with new teachers and classmates and took field trips to various museums and local businesses, including a bakery, grocery store, Laundromat, and Post Office. Click above to see more photos online.

The Virginia Star Quality Initiative recognized the ACCA Child Development Center for its commitment to continuous quality improvement with a 4-Star rating in a recent review. Congratulations to the leadership and staff who worked so hard for this recognition! 
CROP Walk Against Hunger        
You can count on cooler weather during the annual ACCA CROP Walk, as these walkers show.  
Plan now for a brisk 6-mile walk around Lake Accotink Park in Springfield, VA on Saturday, October 17, during ACCA's annual CROP Hunger Walk. Even if you can't walk, you can still support hunger relief by donating.

The walk raises funds for Church World Service, which works with local organizations around the world to provide disaster and hunger relief, refugee resettlement and sustainable development. CWS also works in the U.S. with local organizations, including ACCA.
For more information please contact your church recruiter or contact Camille Mittleholtz, 703-573-0074, or  accacrop@gmail.com. You can also register or donate online.
Food Pantry   
Part of a delivery of a week's worth of food to a local family.
The Pantry made 144 deliveries in July and August, assisting 371 individuals.

A local soccer club
came through for ACCA at a time when supplies were running low. They collected nearly 2,000 lbs. of food for the Pantry. We are extremely grateful.

Currently, the Pantry needs jelly, crackers, canned fruit, spaghetti sauce, soap bars and paper products (toilet paper and paper towels). Thank you in advance for your generosity to the Food Pantry. 
Family Emergency Assistance     
An older homeless man found a temporary job but needed money for gas to get to his worksite. A single mother needed assistance because her son, who was helping support the family, lost his job. Another single mother was subletting a room in the family's apartment; when the tenant moved out, she had difficulty paying the rent. 

In each case, ACCA came through with short-term assistance for gas, a past due utility bill, or rent. ACCA assisted 34 households with more than $18,000 in financial aid for rent, utilities, and other needs in August. On behalf of all who were served, thank for your generosity.
Meals on Wheels
There was an increase in the number of clients served by the Annandale Meals on Wheels program from 25 clients in July to 32 clients in August. Volunteers delivered a total of 2,026 meals in July and August. Well done!
Furniture Ministry
A 42-year-old disabled veteran who rents a room in a townhouse and a family of five who live in a single bedroom in a condo were among the families served by the Furniture team in July. They made 51 pickups and deliveries that month.

And, although they were officially "on vacation" in August,  furniture volunteers made 12 pickups and two deliveries, both to disabled clients in need. We thank our volunteer teams, who represent 13 churches and two civic organizations.
In Memoriam 
With great sadness, ACCA notes the passing last month of Carlos Alfredo Rackowski, son of Jean and Henry Rackowski. Jean chairs the ACCA Food Pantry ministry. We also mourn the loss of Derek Edward Mohlmann, son of Neal and Nancy Mohlmann. Neal serves as Vice President of ACCA. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the families via ACCA, 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003.
Upcoming Events
A triathlon and family fun festival to benefit the ACCA Child Development Center and Kisima Academy and Orphanage in Kenya will be held on Saturday, September 19, at the Lincolnia Park Recreation Club in Alexandria. Choose the Super Sprint Triathlon (adults and youth 12 and up), Kids Triathlon (ages 6-11), or the Stroll and Roll for older adults and parents with little ones. The festival will include food, beverages, moon bounce, carnival games, and ponies! More information and registration available online.
 
CROP Hunger Walk
benefiting Church World Service and ACCA, Saturday October 17 at Lake Accotink. See details above.  

Annual Pastors and Partners Luncheon, Thursday, October 22 at Annandale United Methodist Church (Wright Hall). For information, contact Mary Lee Di Spirito, ddmld@verizon.net