e-Pathfinder | May 2022
We had a great opening day at the Annandale Farmers Market at Mason District Park last Thursday! Our volunteers assisted community members who receive SNAP/EBT benefits to double their benefits to shop for fresh produce at the market. We also enjoyed the opening ceremony with Fairfax County Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross.

We're grateful to our volunteers and to Fairfax County Park Authority, Fairfax County Farmers Markets, FRESHFARM and LEAP for partnering with us to help our neighbors enjoy fresh, healthy foods while supporting local producers. We'll be at the market all season, and are seeking more volunteers to help! You can also help by sharing Fairfax County's SNAP Flyer to help get out the word that SNAP/EBT users may use their benefits at Annandale and three other Fairfax County markets.

Britepaths is also preparing to send Our Daily Veggies farmers market vouchers to our clients to supplement the food support we provide with fresh produce and proteins from the Fairfax County Farmers Markets and the Fairfax Community Farmers' Market. So far, we have 16 participating Our Daily Veggies vendors who will accept the vouchers this season. If you shop at the markets, please support them! Several have CSAs or pre-order options. More info in the link below.
Artful Living: May 19, 2022
Join Us! Artful Living: Connected is Next Thursday! We hope to see you there.

Thursday, May 19, 2022
7 p.m.-10 p.m.
Country Club of Fairfax

Juried Art Show & Sale · Live Music by Batida Diferente · Live Auction · Silent Auction · Exquisite Food, Wine & Beer
Hear from Our Clients

Proceeds help our families on their journeys to self-sufficiency.

Get Involved! Seeking:

Questions? Contact Sidney Arrington at events@britepaths.org or 703.273.8829.

Click Here to learn more

Live Auction Preview! Visit the Event Registration Page for a sneak preview of the items up for bid in our Live Auction. Includes the fabulous "Graceful Lee" vacation house rental in Carolina Beach (above), which accommodates 12. Thank you to Board Member Karen Wheeler for this donation.

Previews of Silent Auction and Art Work Also Coming Soon to This Page!

Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Click Here to Register and Preview Live Auction Items
Coming Soon: Back to School
Britepaths will once again partner with Fairfax County's Collect for Kids initiative to provide school supply kits and backpacks to 2,500 students needing assistance at schools in the Fairfax High School and Justice High School Pyramids.

We hope you will keep our kids in mind this summer. Donation link and more details coming in June on our Back to School page. Contact Sidney Arrington at 703.273.8829 with questions.
Get That Job, Newcomers Lunch & Learn and More at FECSoCo
We're excited to offer our second session of our new Get That Job virtual workshop tonight! Britepaths and the Financial Empowerment Center at South County (FECSoCo) are partnering with Suited for Change for this three-part series that discusses reading job descriptions, identifying transferable skills and preparing and dressing for interviews. A special thanks to our volunteer speakers, Michelle Brown (pictured at right), Chris Westbrook and Michael Gracey.
View Flyer: English; Spanish

We're also pleased to launch Newcomers Lunch and Learn Sessions on Work and Finance Topics to help people who are new to the U.S. or could use refreshers to better understand our financial systems and job search/workplace customs. These free, virtual sessions will be offered on Tuesdays, June 7 through July 12, 12-12:40p. Click Here for Flyer
Personal Finance, Workforce Development and More at FECSoCo

Britepaths partners with United Way of the National Capital Area and Fairfax County to offer a variety of free virtual services and workshops through FECSoCo. Services include free and confidential Financial Coaching, Workforce/Job Readiness Consulting, Small Business Consulting and Tax Preparation Consulting. 

Click Here to learn more
Click Here to read/subscribe to the FECSoCo Monthly Enews
Volunteer
Special Thanks!
Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
Thank you to Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in McLean for providing funds for grocery store gift cards for us to send to our 30 Food Bridge families for their May 29 food delivery. They have helped our families for many years and we're grateful for their ongoing support.

Our Food Bridge Delivery Calendar is EMPTY for This Summer! Click Here to learn how your organization can help.


PBMares Financial Empowerment Program Grant
We're so grateful to PBMares for providing a $20,000 PBMares Cares grant to help us offer more free Financial Coaching, Financial Mentoring, classes and workshops to help Northern Virginia families on their journeys to self-sufficiency. Read More about their grant awards.

Lyle Keegan Food Drive
A huge thank you to Lyle Keegan for running a food drive to help stock our Emergency Pantry. Lyle is 13 years old. Her mom delivered the 197.6 pounds of needed food and supplies to our office on April 29.

Can You Help Stock Our Pantry, Too? Click Here for details.
Helaine Weissman of PBMares (center) presented a check to Britepaths' Shannon Bryant and Lisa Whetzel on April 13
Lyle Keegan's mom with their wonderful Food Drive donations
Britepaths
Our Mission is to provide our neighbors in need with short-term safety-net services and empower them to work toward long-term self-sufficiency.