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| Next Meeting |
The next ACCA board meeting will be
Refreshments and fellowship
7:30 p.m.
Meeting
7:45 p.m.
Open to all visitors.
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If you are not on our mailing list and want to continue receiving updates from ACCA, please
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| Contact Information |
Mailing Address
7200 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
Information
703-256-0100
Emergency
Assistance
(Fairfax County)
703-222-0880
Donations
(except furniture)
703-256-0100
Furniture Donations
703-256-9513
Email
accacares@verizon.net
ACCA Website www.accacares.org
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About ACCA
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| Get our 2016 annual report. |
ACCA is a church-related voluntary organization providing day care, financial assistance, food, furniture, and other support to needy families in the Annandale/Bailey's Crossroads area, regardless of religion, race or ethnicity. Except for the Child Development Center, all ACCA services are provided by volunteers.
To learn more about ACCA, visit our website at
www.accacares.org.
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CDC Teacher Featured in National Pub
 The ACCA Child Development Center was pleased and proud to see one of its outstanding staff members,
Mr. Danny Vasquez, on the cover of the prestigious magazine, "Teaching Young Children," a publication of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. You can read the column, called "What Do I Do? I Teach" from the April/May 2017 issue here.
The staff of the CDC received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Fairfax County Public Schools Inclusive Placement Opportunities Committee. The certificate acknowledges the outstanding inclusive teaching practices employed by the CDC program.
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Rebuilding Together - April 29
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| An ACCA volunteer painter brightens walls at a previous Rebuilding Together event. |
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On Saturday, April 29, ACCA will again sponsor two houses in Annandale as part of the national Rebuilding Together effort. "Our house captains have met with the homeowners to scope out the work to be done and are now focusing on arranging for supplies and equipment and recruiting volunteers," said ACCA's Housing Repair Chair Marie Monsen. "We need painters, people with basic carpentry and home repair skills, and 'generalists' who are willing to help where needed-yard work, painting, etc.," she added.
Many people make Rebuilding Together an annual event, but there is always a need for first-time volunteers. If you are a member of one of the sponsoring churches - Annandale United Methodist, John Calvin or Providence Presbyterian, Ravensworth Baptist or St. Barnabas Episcopal - please sign up in the next two weeks through your church. Once again, Lincolnia Methodist Church and Queen of Apostles Catholic Church will provide lunches and snacks. If you want to volunteer to work with us and are not affiliated with any of these churches, please contact Marie Monsen (contact information below).
Many older and low-income homeowners are financially stressed and are faced with choosing between necessary home repairs or paying for health care, food or utilities. They need our help. Come work with us and share the joy of love in action!
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ACCA President Testifies
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ACCA President Neal Mohlmann holds up the ACCA annual report at the Pastors and Partners Luncheon last year.
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ACCA President Neal Mohlmann testified recently before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in support of the proposed FY 2018 county budget. His testimony (available here) emphasized the close partnership between ACCA and the County Coordinated Services Planning Office, which screens requests for rent, utility payments, other financial needs, food, and furniture. He also stressed that the economic recovery is still out of reach for many in our community. At the conclusion of his testimony, Board Chairman Sharon Bulova expressed her appreciation for the good work of ACCA.
Mr. Mohlmann says he is concerned about the future of funding for human services and the potential impact of federal funding cuts on the grants ACCA receives from Fairfax Consolidated Community Funding Pool (CCFP). In FY 2017, ACCA expects to receive nearly $100,000 from CCFP to provide emergency assistance, food and furniture. "Due to the uncertainty in future federal funding, private donations and estate bequests will become more important to ACCA as a provider of basic human services for those in need," Mohlmann said.
Jenny Chambi of the ACCA Child Development Center also testified on the county budget.
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ACCA Ministries Update
The Annandale Meals On Wheels Program served 25 people and delivered 1,030 meals in March. Four people left the program and two new clients were added to the rolls.
The joint Shepherd's Center-ACCA Transportation Program has experienced a substantial increase in ride requests. In March it provided 59 rides, but there were 18 unfilled rides. ACCA received two referrals from Fairfax County for clients under age 50, whom we served.
The Furniture Ministry completed 21 deliveries and 32 pickups of furniture in March. While furniture donations have remained steady, there was a decline in the number of requests for furniture in March.
The Food Pantry made 78 deliveries, serving 280 family members. The Falls Church - Annandale Lions Club donated unsold oranges and apples, which are greatly appreciated. The Cornerstone Youth Group helped by spending a Sunday shelving donations in the Food Pantry.
Family Emergency Assistance provided $17,861 in financial assistance to 30 households. Nearly all of this was for rent. In several instances, ACCA clients have been referred to money management classes as a condition for receiving assistance so that they can become self-sufficient.
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Major Food Drive on May 13
 Mark your calendar for the 25th annual Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger
® Food Drive on Saturday, May 13. Postal carriers will pick up non-perishable food donations as they make their regular deliveries. This is one of the biggest food drives of the year and benefits the ACCA Food Pantry. We appreciate your generosity in making the food drive a success.
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ACCA Responds to Vandalism
ACCA joined with the Fairfax County Clergy and Leadership Council, Faith Communities in Action and the NCS Community Interfaith Coordination in
condemning the recent vandalism at Little River Church of Christ and the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia (JCCNV). These illegal and reprehensible expressions of hate deserve the censure of all.
Opportunities to show our concern and support included an
interfaith Unity Vigil on April 15 at the
Little River United Church of Christ, and an upcoming Northern Virginia Holocaust Observance at the JCCNV
Sunday, April 23, 6:30 - 8:30
p.m. at 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax Va. The pre-program begin at
4:30 p.m.
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In Response to Need, ACCA Grew
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ACCA 50 Years Ago - a series of articles about ACCA's history.
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You will remember, it took less than a year for Fred and Emily Ruffing, with friends from eight churches and support from Fairfax County, to create a new child care center for children from low income families.
That was 1968.
Today it is known as the ACCA Child Development Center (CDC) and it has grown and flourished under inspired leadership. Today, the CDC is offers affordable, high-quality early education and developmentally appropriate care for up to 186 children at full enrollment. The CDC was one of only a few local centers to receive a 4-Star (out of 5) rating under the Virginia Star Quality Initiative, a state standard for quality early education.
But the story doesn't end there. ACCA's staff saw unmet needs among many of the families. Some were living on the brink of economic disaster, often lacking food and money for utilities, rent or unexpected medical expenses.
What would Jesus do? He would reach out to help them. By their third meeting, the ACCA founders had formed a Family Emergency Committee. The committee was able to offer immediate financial assistance to many, but that was not all. They were able to put recipients in touch with long-range help, including social services, subsidized housing offices, pastoral counseling, fuel assistance, financial counseling, and numerous other community services.
ACCA's Family Emergency Services mission continues to this day. Working closely with Fairfax County social workers to provide aid to the needy in a timely fashion, last year Family Emergency Assistance provided more than $260,000 in assistance for rent, utility bills, prescriptions and other needs to 452 households, helping 1,145 individuals.
Stay tuned - there's more to learn about this remarkable organization!
Sources: ACCA History by Kay McKinney, September 3, 2001; ACCA Annual Report
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