ACCA - Child Development Center in the News

Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA)

Annandale Christian Community for Action

Above photo: Vice President Kamala Harris and Maria-Isabel Ballivian, director of the ACCA Child Development Center at the White House on April 15, 2021. Photo Credit: New York Times

Recognition for the Child Development Center

“What you and your staff have done continues to be acts of heroism, it’s heroic. The care you provide makes it possible for parents to work, knowing that their children are safe and that they’re loved. It’s an incredible gift that you give, so thank you, thank you, and to all the childcare providers,” Vice President Kamala Harris.

The director of the ACCA Child Development Center, Isabel Ballivian, was invited to The White House where she listened as the VP deliver remarks on the implementation of the American Rescue Plan’s investment in child care. Read the full transcript. View the video.

The exemplary work of the ACCA Child Development Center (CDC) during the pandemic was recently highlighted in the New York Times. Read the article.

Congratulations to Isabel Ballivian, Director of the CDC, and her amazing staff for their continued dedication to the children of our community.

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Food Pantry Collections Continue

We collect food donations on weekdays with the exception of County Holidays and other scheduled closings from 1 – 5 pm at the food pantry located at 7200 Columbia Pike (trailer separate from the day care center) in Annandale.

We will continue to accept food at the pantry on Saturday April 24 from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Pantry volunteers are required to follow social distancing guidelines. While volunteering at the pantry we encourage visitors to keep the health and safety of our volunteers in mind when donating. An updated list of needed items is available. https://accacares.org/foodpantry/

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Volunteer Opportunity - Can you help out with this important mission on Thursdays in Annandale? Annandale United Methodist Church is working to provide food to local families at their Mission Center in Annandale. Volunteers are needed to work and food donations are also welcome.

Volunteers are needed for these tasks which provide bags of food to about 200 families each week. The location is at the Mission Center at 7901 Heritage Drive, Annandale.

Volunteer Opportunity - Time Slots available every Thursday

Crate eggs (1 - 3 p.m.)
Package bread, produce and grocery bags (3 - 4:45 p.m. )
Finish bagging and distribute food (4:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.)

Volunteers are required to wear masks and socially distance themselves. You must register on SignUpGenius by noon on the Thursday you wish to serve. Walk-ins are not allowed. Please familiarize yourself with our COVID-19 health precautions at this link. For more information, contact Betsy Clevenger at etclevenger@verizon.net or Bill Iwig at bethesda.duo@verizon.net.

Can't volunteer? consider donating some of the following items:

pasta, 1 lb box; spaghetti, 1 lb box/package; pasta sauce, 20 oz can; dried beans, 1 lb bag; white rice, 1 lb bag; chunky soup, 20 oz can; meal in a can, 15 oz (Chef Boyardee, chili, beef stew, etc.); tuna, 7 oz can; mac & cheese, regular box; cereal, regular box; peanut butter, 1 lb container; jelly, 18 oz jar; can of beans, 15 oz (no pork); can of vegetables, 15 oz (no green beans); can of corn, 15 oz; can of fruit, 15 oz; can of diced tomatoes, 15 oz; can of tomato sauce, 15 oz; ramen noodles, package; sturdy paper grocery bags with handles or nylon tote bags.

Drop off donations in the boxes near the red double doors at the Mission Center at 7901 Heritage Drive. Or contact Betsy Clevenger at etclevenger@verizon.net.

View this short video about this important work.

Ministry Updates

Family Emergency Assistance

In March, 40 households received financial assistance from ACCA for rent and utilities. The total amount provided for the month was almost $64,000. Here are a few examples of neighbors that ACCA has helped this month.

A divorced mother with one child requested assistance with a month’s utility bill because she couldn't work for three weeks when her father was sick from COVID and died. She has an extremely low income yet had additional, unexpected car repair expenses. ACCA paid the utility bill.
After a debilitating work injury the father of a household of four was unable to work for almost a year and received no unemployment benefits except health insurance. His wife lost her job in November due to COVID, reducing their income to less than $400 (food stamps) per month. ACCA paid the rent.
Our client, a 52 year old widow, had the misfortune to fall on ice requiring hospital care. As a result she lost two weeks’ work for which she did not get paid yet added more debt by incurring a hospital bill. She asked for rent assistance, which included utilities. ACCA paid the rent and utility fees.
A disabled senior citizen was unable to pay her rent after she had foot surgery and developed recurring infections. She had been diligently paying her bills while employed as a special needs worker until she was overwhelmed by her hospital bills and car repair costs. ACCA paid the rent and car repairs.
With zero income, not even food stamps, the sole provider for three children requested assistance. He had been able to earn $600 a week while working as a painter but has been unemployed for three months. Following a pay or quit notice this urgent request was granted and ACCA paid the rent.
An Urdu speaking family requested utility assistance because the father and his two adult sons were all unemployed. Their total income was solely from unemployment compensation. ACCA paid the utility bill, four months overdue.
A mother and her three children, including two adult children, all were sick with COVID for a month. Without being able to work there was no income for that time period. Even when returning back to work the family couldn’t catch-up even though they were in subsidized housing. ACCA paid four months rent that was in arrears.

Food Pantry

For March 2021, the food pantry made 128 food deliveries and 31 gift card mailings. The total households assisted were 159 with a total of 502 clients.

Furniture Ministry

The furniture ministry is working with its volunteer teams to partially resume its work in the spring.

Transportation

In the month of March the combined ACCA-Shepherd’s Center medical transportation program provided 41 two-way rides.

In its 53rd year, ACCA continues to provide high quality child care and serves as a principal source of emergency assistance, including food, furniture and financial support, for our vulnerable neighbors.

Make a Donation

ACCA remains committed to the challenge of Jesus, as described in Matthew 25:40: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”