Annandale Christian Community for Action |
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Food Drive Saturday October 9
The ACCA food pantry will receive donations collected in the buses parked at George Mason Regional Library and Belvedere Elementary.
What can you do?
- Drop off food at George Mason Regional Library or Belvedere Elementary between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday October 9.
- George Mason Regional Library is located at 7001 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA
- Belvedere Elementary School is located at 6540 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA
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Stuff a Barrel October 16
In response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Haiti, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church will be collecting much-needed supplies which will be delivered to Haiti in large barrels in the upcoming weeks. Please drop off items on Saturday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the church parking lot at 6477 Lincolnia Road in Alexandria. Donations may also be dropped at the church on weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Following are the most needed items:
Over the counter medicine, Water Purification Tablets, Water Bottles, Gatorade, Shoes, Clothes, Hand Sanitizer, Sleeping Bags, Feminine Hygiene Products, Hygiene Products, Disposable Wipes, Flashlights, Toiletries, Bed Linen, Diapers, Baby Bottles, Tools
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CROP Walk
The 2021 CROP Hunger Walk will be held October 16 at Lake Accotink Park, starting near the marina. There will be a very short send-off rather than the usual opening ceremony, to reduce time waiting for the walk to start. Registration for in-person walkers will start at 8 a.m. and the walk will begin at 8:15 a.m. Any walker preferring to walk virtually will have the option to walk at a time and place of their choosing.
Our work to raise funds for Church World Service (CWS) is supporting their work with disasters in U.S. and Haiti, and resettling Afghan refugees in the U.S. and their continuing work to fight hunger and poverty around the world. Church World Service shares part of the funds raised by CROP Hunger Walks with local hunger and poverty-fighting organizations ACCA. CWS gave ACCA $4871.25 based upon funds raised by the 2020 Annandale CROP Hunger Walk.
The 2020 Annandale walk was ranked 82nd among the top fund-raising walks in the country for 2020. Our local walk raised $19,485.00. For information, questions, or CROP Walk materials, please contact accacrop@gmail.com . Information is available and walkers can register online.
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Drivers Needed
Drivers are needed to provide rides to medical appointments, grocery shopping, and food banks for persons age 50 or older who cannot drive themselves. Volunteers are asked to strive to drive at least once per month, unless there are extenuating circumstances, but dates and times are flexible. Drivers must be at least 21 years old with 3 years driving experience. If interested, please contact the Shepherd's Center at 703-941-1419 or shepherdscas@vacoxmail.com.
The joint ACCA-Shepherd’s Center of Annandale-Springfield transportation program has had a huge increase in requests for rides to medical appointments. Because of the high volume of ride requests, the transportation program is badly in need of new volunteers.
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ACCA Board of Directors Openings
ACCA Inc. is looking for leadership for 2022 to help shape the organization’s goals and objectives for the year ahead. After an unprecedented four years of faithful service to ACCA, Debra Schrag and Dave Donahue are stepping down as ACCA’s president and vice president, respectively, of the ACCA Board of Directors. Now ACCA has the difficult challenge of replacing these key individuals. We need your help in finding candidates willing to lead the organization.
The president is the chief operating officer of ACCA, with assistance from the vice president, and leads the monthly ACCA Board of Directors meetings to review and guide ACCA programs. The positions are open to interested individuals, including ACCA volunteers and supporters, members of ACCA churches, current Directors, and community members. There may also be opportunities for willing participants to sit on ACCA’s Board of Directors.
To find out more about the ACCA Board’s open positions, please contact Camille Mittelholtz, Chair of the Nominating Committee, at kcmittelholtz@gmail.com or 703 573 0074.
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Neighbor to Neighbor: Welcoming New Immigrants
We have come up with a new name (for the Homework Club) which we think better reflects our work of welcoming families and helping them navigate a totally different culture and language. We have started meeting in person again, outdoors, at Peace Lutheran Church. We have met twice, September 11 for a “meet and greet” and again on September 25 when we offered tutoring and games for the kids, English conversation for the adult women, and discussion with the men about job seeking.
Most of the families coming to our program are holders of Special Immigrant Visas; they are here legally and eligible to work. However, due to limited financial assistance, finding a job is a priority. One of our biggest challenges is transportation. If you're interested in finding out more and volunteering, please contact Nadia Fitzcharles at nadia@sharingpeace.org
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Child Development Center has Openings
Our program is open to children ages 3 months through 5 years of age, regardless of race, creed, color, or national origin. We currently have openings for children age 3 - 5.
We welcome interested parents to tour our early learning campus as a requisite, first step in the enrollment process. Please contact us to schedule an appropriate date and time by calling 703-256-0100 or emailing admissions@accacdc.org.
The ACCA Child Development Center is currently seeking early childhood educators for our program. Interested applicants may email a cover letter (specifying desired position) and resume to: jobs@accacdc.org.
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Rebuilding Together
On a cool but sunny early Fall morning twenty-one volunteers led by Ken Mittelholtz and Brad Moffett gathered at a group home for women in Annandale to perform a variety of repairs. This was our first ACCA workday after cancelling National Rebuilding Day projects in 2020 and 2021 due to concerns about health and safety.
The primary task was to repair two sections of privacy fencing and remove/dismantle fencing around the property. Volunteers also improved a ramp, reinforced the front deck, repaired a downspout, improved a split rail fence, painted the shutters, and power-washed the siding. Inside, they painted one door frame and installed two self-supporting shelves.
Volunteers included: Ravensworth Baptist: Brad & Beth Moffett, John Baskin, Marshall Marks, Fran Watkins, Adell Blankenbaker & Patti Brockmeier. John Calvin Presbyterian: Sheila Sperry (registration), Hank Chiles, Jim Lewis, Steve Webster, Marie Monsen. Providence Presbyterian : Woody Woodburn. St. Barnabas: Ken & Camille Mittelholtz & Frank Spink (registration) Annandale United Methodist: John Clarke, Carolyn Stayman, Gary Sherfey, Jerry Beyer & Eldon Hildebrandt. We were very happy to have Sean McGinnis, Executive Director of Hartwood House, working with us all day.
Coffee, doughnuts & bagels were provided by Brad & Beth Moffett. Marie Monsen brought muffins. Lunch was provided by Nancy Moy & others from Lincolnia United Methodist Church. Ken and Camille Mittelholtz supplied water & sodas. Betsy Clevenger brought brownies & cookies.
Many thanks to all who supported the project and helping to provide a safe home for the residents.
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Family Emergency Assistance
In September, households received financial assistance from ACCA for rent and utilities. The total amount provided for the month was $44,399 which assisted 26 households including 77 clients.
Food Pantry
In September, ACCA provided 80 food deliveries to 209 individuals.
Furniture Ministry
The furniture ministry operated on two Saturdays in September and served 17 households with 33 persons. An Afghan family that arrived in May needed additional furnishing for their apartment and their family including five children now enjoy a very comfortable living situation. Contact furniture@accacares.org for more information. Acceptable donations are listed here.
Transportation
In September, the joint ACCA-Shepherd’s Center of Annandale-Springfield transportation program provided 97 two-way rides, compared to our previous high of 67 in February 2020, just before the pandemic. This included 3 rides to former ACCA clients. Because of the volume of requests, we were unable to provide rides to 8 clients. Drivers are needed. If interested, please contact the Shepherd's Center at 703-941-1419 or shepherdscas@vacoxmail.com.
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In its 54th 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. |
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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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