December 2015 News


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Next Meeting
No Board meeting in January. The next meeting will be Feb. 2 Refreshments and fellowship 7:30 p.m. Meeting 7:45 p.m. Open to all visitors.

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Our Benefactors Include:

Combined Federal Campaign

CFC #58934

United Way

#8058

Commonwealth of Virginia

#8233

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

Get our 2015 annual report.

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

Giant's Pies Feed Many Families

Mary Lee Di Spirito, center, with Giant Food store manager Joe Carter and a sampling of the pies donated to ACCA for Thanksgiving. Photo courtesy of Tuan Ngyuen

Store Manager Joe Carter at the Annandale Giant Food on Columbia Pike was instrumental in making sure that many local families had a sweet dessert on their Thanksgiving menu. Mr. Carter contacted ACCA with a donation of 300 sweet potato pies during Thanksgiving week. Volunteers distributed them to families via the ACCA Food Pantry and Child Development Center, as well as Safe Haven Homeless Day Program and the Patrick Henry Shelter.

Wish List Spurs Challenge Campaign

ACCA has a Christmas wish list. Can you help us check something off our list?

We're asking for funds to purchase fresh foods for the pantry, pay bills for those facing utility cut offs or eviction, and put gas in the trucks that pick up and deliver furniture to families moving into permanent housing. Our wish list includes raising $3 for every dollar committed by the Washington Forrest Foundation and several anonymous donors. Our goal is to raise $120,000 on top of the $40,000 already committed by January 31.

View our wish list and make an online donation through the Catalogue for Philanthropy or send your check to ACCA, 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003. Please note "Challenge" on the memo line. You can also donate to ACCA via PayPal.

Winter Coats Find New Wearers

Day laborers gather behind the ACCA truck to receive warm coats for the winter. See more photos online.

Despite relatively balmy weather so far this December, a crowd quickly assembled when ACCA volunteers began distributing winter coats on Dec. 16. Nine churches helped collect 70 bags of winter clothing for men, women, and children. Day laborers, families at the Child Development Center, and residents of Bailey's Community Shelter were the beneficiaries of the warm outerwear. Don't worry if you still have unused coats hanging in a closet -- we will hold a second winter clothing drive for day laborers will in February.

New Officers for 2016

ACCA elected new officers at its December board meeting. Taking over the President's role is Neal Mohlmann (Annandale United Methodist). Neal has served for two years as Vice President.

Diane McEldowney will serve as Vice President; she is currently the Official Representative from John Calvin Presbyterian. Treasurer Homer Christiansen (Ravensworth Baptist), Recording Secretary Joy Savage (Culmore United Methodist) and Corresponding Secretary See Meekins (Annandale United Methodist) were re-elected to their current positions.

We commend all who agreed to serve. ACCA is also very grateful to outgoing President Gail Coleman for her leadership and countless hours of service to ACCA over the past two years.

Update on ACCA Ministries

Here's a snapshot of how ACCA served our community in November:

The Furniture Program completed deliveries to 19 households representing 60 persons, including 12 families with children under the age of 18. We served a Syrian refugee mother and her three children who were delighted to receive furnishings for their new apartment/home.
Meals on Wheels provided two meals per day for 21 clients.
Family Emergency Assistance served 35 households, providing more than $21,000 in assistance with rent, utility bills and medical expenses. ACCA prevented disconnection of the electric service for a single mother of five children, paid a portion of the bill for a single mother who needed emergency dental services, and paid a portion of the rent due for a pregnant woman who is on bed rest due to pregnancy complications and unable to work.
The pantry made 77 deliveries assisting 213 people. We also helped supply food for 30 Thanksgiving baskets, which were given to needy families in the area by members of the Calvary Church of the Nazarene.

On behalf of all who were served, thank you for your support! We could not have done it without our volunteers and generous donors.

Thanks to all who donated to ACCA on #GivingTuesday on December 1. Your contributions will help add to our Challenge campaign and provide essential support to local families.

Volunteer Opportunity

Click to view and share this flyer.

The Positive Aging Coalition, in partnership with Fairfax County Public schools (FCPS), is recruiting Grandparents and boomers as classroom volunteers for Parklawn Elementary School in the Lincolnia area. Volunteers will serve as mentors, reading and math helpers, and assistants. No experience needed. Contact Afifa Bolte at abolte@fcps.edu, or call (703) 914-6900 for a volunteer application.

Holiday Shopping Tip

Your holiday shopping on Amazon Smile can result in a small donation to ACCA at no extra cost to you. Just designate ACCA as your charity of choice. The Amazon Foundation will donate a half percent of your eligible purchase to ACCA. Good for you and good for ACCA.

Share the ACCA Video

A new 5-minute video showcases ACCA's many ministries and its impact on our community. Member churches and community partners are invited to share our video by placing a link on your website or social media pages. Ask your webmaster or social media manager to use this link: https://youtu.be/XiaVuel27ZI