| |
|
Helping Neighbors in Need with Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help Since 1969
|
Herndon-Reston FISH, Inc. (FISH) is a volunteer, nonsectarian, nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help to local residents in short-term crises. Every year, FISH helps close to 5,000 people in all demographics in predominantly very low income levels. FISH responds to requests for rent, utilities, medical and dental support, household items, and other short term emergency needs. We help to prevent an eviction, keep utilities from being turned off, and pay for medical prescriptions.
If you or someone you know needs help, call
571-267-2980
.
We also have a variety of volunteer opportunities for all ages to give back and lend a hand.
|
|
A Message from the President
|
Happy New Year to All:
The fall t
o winter seasons at FISH have been very busy as you will see in this Newsletter. At Halloween we participated in the Bradley Farm Haunted House which was fun for all. For the last ten years, this group of neighbors has spent much time and effort on this event. Many, many thanks for the donation of event profits to FISH each of these years.
Our Holiday Food and Gift Program at Thanksgiving and Christmas provided food, grocery gift cards, gift cards, and toys for many families. Our community was very generous with food, toys, and monetary donations without which this program would not be possible. FISH thanks the many volunteers for their time and effort that allows us to run this program.
The Financial Literacy Class and financial mentoring for clients continues. We appreciate all the volunteer instructors and mentors. The financial one-on-one mentoring program is in need of mentors. Hope some of you will volunteer.
Our
Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2016 has been completed and is being distributed. Please take a look at all our accomplishments, all the neighbors in need for short term emergencies in our
community that
 |
|
|
Janet Hyman and other FISH Volunteers at the
Reston Holiday Parade |
we were able to help.
We are in the process of planning the FISH annual fundraiser that will be held this May. Stay tuned for details and please support FISH by participating in this event.
On behalf of FISH, I wish all of you a happy and healthy new year. Help us make this New Year a successful one for FISH. We cannot do it alone-we need all of you.
Karen A. Stevens
President, Herndon-Reston FISH, Inc.
|
|
|
|
Today's Quote
|
What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
|
| Did you know? |
Herndon-Reston FISH paid over $300,000 directly to landlords, utility companies, and pharmacies on behalf of clients in need in FY 2016. We kept 777 people in housing and avoided eviction.
|
|
| Bargain Loft's Seasonal Transformation |
The Bargain Loft was transformed from a general thrift store to a Christmas Wonderland right here in Herndon by the work of our two dedicated and talented managers, April Elliott and Barbara Williams, along with many FISH volunteers. During the holiday season the Bargain Loft generates significant income to support the FISH Assistance program.
But even as the Christmas boxes were put away, the Bargain Loft started readying for all your New Year Resolutions to organize, redecorate, or maybe even downsize your home. Remember
The Bargain Loft
for your donations or s
hop for a unique accent to compliment or update your decor.
Great prices and values at
336 Victory Drive, Herndon VA 20170
Tues-Fri 10am-3pm
Saturday 10am-4pm
|
|
FISH Takes Stock in Bradley Farm Farewell
|
After ten years, Bradley Farm performed their final Haunted House to benefit FISH. We have enjoyed the hard work and dedication of these fine friends and neighbors for the past decade.
At this year's final Bradley Farm Haunted House held on Oct 28-29, o
ver 100 volunteers created and directed the event to benefit FISH, with a large liquidation yard sale on all costumes, sets, and supplies on Sunday, Oct 30.
FISH raffled a Samsung 55-Inch, 1080p Smart LED TV Sponsored by CDW.
Bradley Farm
gave FISH over $21,500 in net proceeds.
THANK YOU BRADLEY FARM
for your many years of kindness!
|
FISH is supported by the following:
United Way Campaign No. 8359
Combined Federal Campaign No. 83534
Fairfax County of Virginia
|
|
| |
|
| Mark Your Calendar for the FISH FLING 2017 |
We are gearing up for our Spring fundraising event!
Date: May 7, 2017
Time: 5:00-9:30 pm
Location: Crowne Plaza Dulles Airport
2200 Centreville Road
Herndon, VA 20170
Detailed information for tickets and sponsorships to follow soon. Invitations will be mailed in March.
We have a reduced ticket price of $75.00 this year!
|
| Making Spirits Brighter for 2,168 Neighbors During the Holiday |
For all twelve months of the year, Herndon-Reston FISH, Inc. (FISH) is busy fulfilling its mission, answering requests from our neighbors in need and providing instant and sympathetic help. We love what we do, and we do it all year round. During the holiday season, which we know can be more stressful for families, we are fortunate to be able to provide a little extra help to families through our many Holiday Programs.
This year's holiday programs helped an additional 2,168 clients or 552 households. Families received bountiful Thanksgiving food baskets, grocery gift cards, and fresh pumpkin pies as well as Christmas food boxes, grocery cards, desserts from Giant, and even an array of gifts for under the tree. It was a real joy to provide
 families with gift assistance for the holiday. Families selected from a variety of toys, puzzles or board games, $10-$25 Target gift cards for children and teens, Mary Kay for Moms, and Fortessa Mugs with Holiday Treats. Of course, we also had a vast selection of toys and decorations available at our thrift store, the Bargain Loft.
It is through the generous financial support from our neighbors and businesses in our community that we are able to help so many additional families during the holiday season. Thank you to all our generous donors and tireless volunteers for helping make spirits brighter in our community during the holidays.
Special Thanks To: APEX, NRTC, UCP, CDW, Boys Scouts (Armstrong), Giant Food (Franklin Farm), Sallie Mae, Sunrise Valley Elementary, Boy Scouts (Sunrise Valley), LGS Innovations, Robert E. Simon Children's Center, Reston Children's Center, Savoy Condo Association, Ridge Heights & Autumnwood Swim Teams, Colvin's Glen Neighborhood, VA Police Motorcade, Realty Collections with Toys for Tots, Sunset Hills Montessori, SCORE, CHARM Conciege, Khalsa Acupuncture, South Lakes IB Students & Teachers, RKampf & Quilting Group, Mary Kay Cosmetics (Leslie Kane), Dogwood Elementary (Puzzles/Games), Fortessa Tableware (Sterling), Charles Pfeiffer, Haze Hanna, and many more.
|
| FISH Receives Major Donations in 2016 |
It's that time of year again, and for those of you who've been waiting for our
Annual Report, its available now. Here's a snapshot of our major donations from grants, businesses, organizations & churches.
>$100,000
- Fairfax County Consolidated Community Funding Pool
$5,000 to $30,000
- Bradley Farm Homeowners Association
- Gannett Foundation
- Nelson J and Katherine Friant Post Foundation
- Philip L Graham Fund
- Reston Community Center (Fairfax County)
- Ruth and Hal Launders Charitable Trust
- TEGNA Foundation
- The Closet, Herndon
- United Christian Parish
- United Way of the National Capital Area
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
$2,000 to $4,999
- American Charities
- John and Hilda Arnold Foundation
- Maximus Foundation
- National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC)
- Northrup Grumman
- St. John Neumann Catholic Community
- St. Mark Catholic Church
- Whole Foods Market of Reston
$500 to $1999
- Bank of America Charitable Foundation
- Betty N. Giles Charitable Foundation, Inc.
- CDW Corporation
- Eagle Scout Project
- ExxonMobil Foundation
- Herndon Rotary Club
- Inova Health Foundation
- Lockheed Martin Charity Program
- M&T Charitable Foundation
- Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church
- Plave Koch, LLC
- Scoggin Home Team
- Shelter House
- Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston
- Verizon Foundation
- Wawa, Inc.
In addition to our corporate sponsors and grantors, individuals
contributed $72,508 to Herndon-Reston FISH, Inc. in FY2016.
|
| Hats off to the Herndon Woman's Club |
On Saturday, November 5th the Herndon Woman's Club held its 58th Annual Fall Fashion Show for charity, with this year's proceeds benefitting Herndon-Reston FISH. It was a sellout crowd with more than 240 women from all over Northern Virginia attending the show at the Dulles Crowne Plaza Hotel. Members of FISH who attended included: Evea Newsom, Lisa Groves, Janie Odlen, Janet Hyman, and Mary Jo Baedecker.
Fashion Show attendees enjoyed a charming and creative FISH theme throughout the venue, including live goldfish in bowls as centerpieces, (available for sale for a donation, or otherwise returned to the pet store), fish on prize envelopes, and goldfish cracker appetizers served on fine china, to name a few. The Herndon Woman's Club spends countless volunteer hours to help support and enrich our community and it was evident throughout this lovely event, from the fish theme and décor, raffle prizes, luncheon, and the stylish fashion models. Many thanks to Kathy Hebert, HWC President and all the HWC volunteers and generous donors for selecting FISH, and creating such a meaningful event in our community. Our hats are off to you!
|
|
|
|
| |
|
