Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA)

Annandale Christian Community for Action

Although we can't attend Easter services as usual this year, we remember the gift of hope surrounding the holiday. Thank you so much for your support of ACCA through your donations and service as we move through these challenging times together.

ACCA Operations During the COVID-19 crisis, ACCA is continuing to help our low-income neighbors with child care, food, rent, and other types of assistance. The simplest, fastest, and safest way to help our efforts is to  donate to ACCA on-line . ACCA will use your donation to provide urgent assistance to your needy neighbors.  The Family Emergency Assistance (FEA) Program raised the monthly family limits, and now allows the payment of two months of rent in any 12 month period.  The ACCA Child Development Center (CDC) was closed from March 16 through March 18 and reopened on March 19 after implementing the new guidance from the Commonwealth of Virginia for childcare centers. Enrollment is sharply down for a number of reasons including the reduced classroom size required to follow the new guidelines. The priority for childcare centers is to serve first-responders and the excellent CDC staff under the leadership of Maria Isabel Ballivan continues to provide much needed services during this pandemic. The Food and Nutrition Program is responding to a large increase in clients. The program has been re-engineering operations to protect its volunteers and serve its clients. Access to the pantry is limited to volunteers bagging groceries for drivers. Please contact pantry@accacares.org with any questions. The Furniture Program has been suspended until further notice because of the pandemic. The safety of our volunteers and clients was paramount in this decision.We look forward to resuming operations and working with our volunteers as they strive to Do What Jesus Would Do in helping our neighbors and community. Rebuilding Together has been cancelled and will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

Portrait of a Teacher The staff at the Child Development Center continues to provide a safe, nurturing environment for 40 students during this difficult time. Mr. Jhordan (pictured right) is one of our amazing teachers. In addition to providing high-quality care to the children of the program, last week he went the extra mile and bought ice cream to share with his kids. Thank you for everything you do to make the  ACCA Child Development Center  be what it is - a great place in our community!

Afternoon Help Needed at the Food Pantry We continue to see increased demand for food from our neighbors and thankfully have also seen increased interest in food donations. We have redesigned our normal procedures to help maintain the health and safety of our volunteers and clients. Here are five opportunities to help with the food program:   Donate securely online through our website at https://www.accacares.org or drop off or mail a check made out to ACCA, Inc. at the pantry located at 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale Monday through Friday from 1 until 5 p.m. Bag orders and stock groceries. Work inside the pantry preparing orders for food deliverers. Monday through Friday from 1 until 5 p.m.  Work from 1-3, 3-5 or the entire time. If you can help, please email pantry@accacares.org  Deliver groceries. Pick up pre-bagged orders and deliver to clients. Some people have been able to fit two orders in their vehicles. If you can help, please email pantry@accacares.org  Receive food donations. M-F from 12:45-5:15. Work from 12:45-3:15, 3-5:15 or the entire time. Please sign up here https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054AADAC23A31-food Donate food to the pantry. Food can be dropped off at 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale Monday through Friday from 1 until 5 p.m. If you'd like to donate food to the pantry, here is a list of items needed:   canned tuna and other meats canned vegetables and fruits soup cereal spaghetti sauce dried spaghetti and other pastas crackers rice dried beans flour Maseca peanut butter jellies and jams sugar and syrup soap and detergents toilet paper

Homeless Shelter Needs Volunteers to Make Lunches Bailey’s Shelter has become a “stop-in center” for un-sheltered homeless adults. While encouraging social-distancing, individuals can enter the shelter for a short time to receive a bagged lunch, meet with a case manager, and do laundry. If you’d like to help by making lunches, please contact Sami Smyth at ssmyth@newhopehousing.org or 703-799-2293 ext11. Thank you!

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Pizzas for Local Families During this unprecedented time, there are more people than ever who are wondering where their next meal will be coming from. We are planning to help in a way that we have not done before. We are excited to be offering complimentary pizzas to families from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm, on Saturdays and Sundays through May . Real Food For Kids Chefs Feeding Families is collaborating with Pizzeria Paradiso to distribute whole grain, veggie pizzas on Saturdays and Sundays in the Annandale area. Pizzas will be distributed from 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. at ACCA Child Development Center 7200 Columbia Pike #2, Annandale on Saturdays and at John Calvin Presbyterian Church 6531 Columbia Pike, Annandale on Sundays from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm. Pizzas will be served as long as supplies last.

Ministries Updates for March

Food Ministry - 134 deliveries were made to families consisting of 462 people. Volunteers are needed to keep up with demand as families suffer during the COVID-19 crisis. Family Emergency Assistance - $30K in emergency funds for rent, utility, medical and other needs were provided to 40 families that included 120 clients. There has been a huge increase in requests during March and April so far and this will likely continue for several months. Rebuilding Together.- We are sorry to report that this program has been postponed. Organizers are hoping for a summer date. Furniture Ministry - Prior to suspending operations on March 14, we were able to complete 8 deliveries, 1 pickup and 10 warehouse donations. We are grateful to our reliable volunteers and plan to resume operations when it is safe to do so. Transportation - provided 41 rides to clients during March.

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.”

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