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| Next Meeting |
The next ACCA board meeting will be April 5
Refreshments and fellowship
7:30 p.m.
Meeting
7:45 p.m.
Open to all visitors. |
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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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About ACCA
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Get our 2015 annual report.
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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.
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ACCA Receives United Way Grant
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Marie Markey, second from right, Chair of the Family Emergency Assistance program, represented ACCA at a presentation for the grant recipients at the Fairfax Government Center on March 1.
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ACCA was one of seven organizations in Fairfax County to receive a United Way Community Impact Grant. The grants are part of a five-year, $10 million dollar investment to address the education, financial stability and health of residents throughout the National Capital community.
For ACCA, the funding will provide critical support for families facing eviction and other crises. "The Community Impact Grant offered for 2016 will enhance ACCA's ability to offer rent assistance to prevent eviction and provide funds to assist some homeless neighbors leaving a shelter or transitional housing program and entering permanent housing. A household may also call for assistance to have the electricity or gas turned back on. These are critical needs in Fairfax County," said Neal Mohlmann, President, ACCA Board of Directors.
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Nominate a Worthy Teen
Nominations for the ACCA Making a Difference award are now open. The award is given to a graduating senior at Annandale High School each year in recognition of their volunteer service to the community. An adult who is familiar with the teen's volunteer service, but not an immediate family member, should submit the nomination using this form. Nominees will be asked to submit an essay describing the importance of volunteering and the impact of their volunteer service on the community. The award is presented at the school's annual Awards Day and includes a monetary prize. The nomination deadline is April 6.
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Challenge Campaign Exceeds Goal
ACCA's 2015-16 Challenge Campaign raised a total of $182,000, thanks to many generous donors. The campaign raises money for our core ministries, including emergency food, furniture, cash assistance, and quality child care for low-income families.
This substantially exceeded our goal of raising a total of $160,000, including $3 for every dollar in the $40,000 base pledged by several anonymous donors and the Washington Forrest Foundation. To all who gave, a heartfelt Thank You! for helping us change lives in our community.
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Rebuilding Together - April 30
 Saturday April 30 will mark the 27th year that ACCA has participated in Rebuilding Together, a national effort that brings volunteers and communities together "to improve the homes and lives of low-income homeowners."
This year ACCA will be working on two homes in Annandale. One is owned by a widowed senior citizen and the other is a group home for two learning disabled adults. The work will be planned and organized by experienced house captains Ken Mittleholtz and Frank Spink of St. Barnabas Episcopal, Brad Moffet of Ravensworth Baptist, and Jim Stewart of Providence Presbyterian.
As always, we will need lots of volunteers to tackle carpentry and repair work, painting, and outdoor clean-up. For more information, to volunteer, or to donate money to the ACCA Rebuilding Together effort, please contact your ACCA representative if you are a member of a sponsoring church ( Annandale United Methodist, John Calvin and Providence Presbyterian, Ravensworth Baptist and St. Barnabas Episcopal). All others should contact Marie Monsen, ACCA Rebuilding Together coordinator, at mamonsen@verizon.net or 703-354-9408.
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ACCA Child Development Center
Children at the ACCA Child Development Center recently learned about sewing from the members of the Holy Spirit sewing group. In this photo, one youngster gets a hands on experience feeding the cloth through the sewing machine. See more photos of the children learning about sewing.
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Stuff the Bus Restocks Pantry
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Volunteers inside the Giant Food collected donations for the ACCA Pantry. Click the photo above to see more photos and a short video on the ACCA Facebook page. Photo courtesy Tuan Nguyen.
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The Food Pantry shelves were recently replenished, thanks to customers who donated $704 in cash and 60 boxes of food during February's Stuff the Bus food drive at the local Giant Food in Annandale. We appreciate the efforts of Mr. Joe Carter, the store manager, who had prepared bags of food costing $5 and $10 for shoppers to purchase. Among the many volunteers were Annandale High School students who worked at the store, unloaded the bus, and helped to shelve some of the food. It was a team effort to benefit local needy families. Thanks to all who volunteered and participated.
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Update on ACCA Ministries
Family Emergency Assistance served 19 households in February, providing $14,378 in assistance, nearly all for rent. One family was unable to pay the rent because immigration officials detained the father. Snow days reduced the paychecks for some families, while unemployment left another family unable to pay their water bill.
The Food Pantry assisted 166 people in 60 households in February. In addition to the food donations received during the Stuff the Bus food drive, we received a large donation of food from the Lafayette Village Homeowners Association. Other generous benefactors include the youth groups at Cornerstone and John Calvin Presbyterian Churches, who collected food on Super Bowl Sunday. The Lions Club of Annandale and Falls Church donated three cases of apples. Thank you to all the volunteers and donors who make the Pantry successful.
The Transportation Ministry provided four rides for four different clients. Watch next month's newsletter for news about changes to the Transportation program.
Meals on Wheels served 25 clients, delivering a total of 828 meals.
The Furniture Ministry made 31 pickups of donated furniture and 28 deliveries to needy households.
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Winter Clothing Distributed in February
In February, volunteers distributed winter clothing at two day-laborer sites, one on Little River Turnpike and the other at Culmore Shopping Center. The five participating churches were Providence, John Calvin, St. Paul, Ravensworth Baptist and St. Anthony.
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Free Tax Prep Assistance
Taxpayers can get assistance in filing their returns at two locations in Annandale this year. The AARP Foundation is offering income tax preparation assistance by trained volunteers at the Mason District Government Center. The free service is available for low- and moderate-income taxpayers, with special attention to those 60 and older.
Volunteers are available on Monday and Thursday from 1 - 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Call
(703) 658-0216 during the hours above for more information.
Free tax preparation is also available through the county-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The Office is located at the Fairfax SkillSource Center, 7611 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, open Tues and Thurs 4 - 7 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. until April 16. For more information call 703-323-7280 of visit the VITA website.
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Volunteer Opportunity
If you enjoy working with kids, the Annandale United Methodist Church has tutoring opportunities available. They are looking for people to assist with homework assignments and/or to read to students. Speaking Spanish is welcomed but not required. Tutoring takes place at the Annandale UMC Heritage Drive Campus, 7901 Heritage Dr., Annandale on Wednesdays, 3:45 - 5:45 p.m. Contact Jerry Beyer, 703-399-1395, or the AUMC church office, 703-256-8330, to volunteer or for more information.
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