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| Next Meeting |
There is no meeting in August. 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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| 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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Ruffing Scholars for 2017 Named
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Katherine Cespedes Escalara, left, Esraa Mahon, and Molly McCraken received their Ruffing Scholarship checks at the ACCA board meeting in July. Photo: Martha Romans
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Molly McCraken, a recent graduate of Fairfax High School (above, right), was selected as the 2017 recipient of a Ruffing Scholarship. Molly was recomended by her English teacher Kathy Koehler, who said that Molly is "one of the finest students I've ever had." She will attend Longwood University in the fall.
Previous scholarship winners Katherine Cespedes Escalara, Esraa Mahran, Raymond Phung and Darling Lievano Perez will receive continuing support for their studies. All four are students at George Mason University.
Three of the students attended the recent ACCA board meeting where they spoke about their academic careers. Both Catherine and Esraa mentioned the difficulties of adjusting to college level academics, but said they are on right on track with strong GPAs. Catherine aspires to become a civil engineer with a minor in environmental engineering, while Esraa is majoring in microbiology with a minor in public health.
The
Ruffing Scholarship program was established
in honor and memory of ACCA founders Emily and Fred Ruffing. Each year ACCA awards a scholarship to one or more disabled graduating high school seniors.
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Plans to Expand CDC Advance
ACCA's bid to expand the Child Development Center (CDC) by taking over the space vacated by the former Annandale Adult Care Center received a boost on July 11 when the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to approve ACCA's application for a special zoning exception
to increase the number of children it serves. CDC Executive Director Isabel Ballivian told the Board of Supervisors that ACCA would like to add two preschool classrooms and launch before and after school services for children ages 6 to 13.
Since 1977 the CDC has been located in the former Annandale Elementary School, a space it shared with the Annandale Adult Care Center until the Center closed in 2015. In addition to the additional classroom space, the expansion would enable the CDC to offer
extracurricular activities aimed at enriching the education of enrolled children and their parents, provide professional development opportunities for staff, host community-wide events, and allow more at-risk children to access occupational and speech therapy, mental health and counseling services, and health, vision and dental screenings.
Previously ACCA was permitted to serve 188 children. The Board's approval of ACCA's application will enable it to serve up to 290 children.
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Catalogue for Philanthropy Picks ACCA
After a careful vetting process, the
Catalogue for Philanthropy Greater Washington
has selected the Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA) to be part of the Class of 2017-18. Selection by the Catalogue means that ACCA has undergone an extensive review process, and has met the Catalogue's high standards. Potential donors can be confident that the nonprofits in the Catalogue are worthy of their support.
"We are thrilled that the Catalogue for Philanthropy has again recognized ACCA as 'one of the best community-based nonprofits in our region,'" said ACCA President Neal Mohlmann. "This recognition is made possible by ACCA's hundreds of committed volunteers who enable us to serve needy members of our community with very low overhead costs. Our donors can be assured that their support is reaching those in need in the most cost-effective way."
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2017 ACCA Making a Difference Award
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Beckman Hollis, center, holds the plaque naming him the winner of the 2017 ACCA Making a Difference Award. Also shown are Jana Hollis, left, and and Mary Lee Di Spirito, right. Photo: Martha Romans
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Beckman Hollis, a 2017 graduate of Annandale High School, received this year's ACCA Making a Difference Award for community service. Mary Lee Di Spirito presented the award at the school in June. Each year, ACCA selects a student who has given back to their community through volunteer service.
In presenting the award, Ms. Di Spirito urged all of the students in attendance to continue to be "MAD" (that is, to
Make
A
Difference) after high school. Beckman was involved in numerous volunteer activities through the Boy Scouts, including Scouting for Food, Adopt-a-Road Clean Up, various Eagle Scout projects, and Stop Hunger Now. He was also active in theater, athletics, and singing. Beckman will attend the University of Mary Washington in the fall as a history major.
Ms. Jina Kim of the Evergreen Title Company in Annandale underwrites the cost of the award, which includes a plaque for the recipient and $500, in addition to having their name added to a plaque in the school's trophy case.
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ACCA Ministries Update
The joint Shepherd's Center-ACCA Transportation Program provided 46 rides. More drivers are needed. See the article below about how to sign up.
Meals on Wheels
delivered a total of 1066 meals to 26 clients in June. One client dropped out, while four new clients were added to the program.
The Food Pantry assisted 184 individuals in June through 70 deliveries made by ACCA volunteers.
Family Emergency Assistance provided a total of $20,245 in financial assistance to 50 households in June. This support helped a number of families pay the rent when their income was reduced because of job loss, reduced work hours and other financial upheavals. In one case a father who drives for Uber and Lyft needed $2,000 in car repairs and was therefore unable to pay the rent. Expensive car repairs also caused a single mother of two who works two jobs to support her family fall behind in her rent. ACCA support helps clients like these avoid eviction while they get back on their feet financially.
The Furniture Ministry completed 22 deliveries and 19 pickups in June. Fifty-three volunteers participated. Among those served were a formerly homeless military veteran and a refugee family from Afghanistan who were resettled in our area.
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Two New Members CDC Board
Ms. Connie Garner and Mr. David Roach were recently appointed to serve on the ACCA Child Development Center Board. Ms. Garner is Policy Director and Practice Leader in the law offices of Foley Hoag. She earned hers BS and MS degree in nursing and an Ed.S. in policy. Mr. Roach holds a BS in management and MEd. He served as a middle school teacher from 1993 - 2015. We welcome them and appreciate their service. We also extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. John Shortall for his service as a CDC Board Member.
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CDC Hosts Successful Family Day/50th Anniversary Celebration
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Click above to read the full report.
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On May 20, the ACCA Child Development Center hosted its annual
Family Day and a celebration of ACCA's 50
th Anniversary. About 800 people attended the event, which featured community leaders, performances, and family-friendly activities.
Among those who contributed to the success of the event were these generous sponsors: 123 Andres, Americana Grocery, BJ's, Chicken Pollo, De Dios Lawn Care, DMV General Contractor, Frontline AutoPlus, Harris Teeter, ISI Productions, Kiara's Dominican Hair Salon, Pollo Campero, Safety and Salud, Inc, Sanchick, Speedy Laundromat, Starbucks, The Home Depot, Trader Joe's, United Bank, Walgreens, and the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts.
Volunteers from Annandale and Bishop Ireton High Schools and CDC staff and family members were on hand to assist guests and make sure all went smoothly. Please see this
Special Report for a full accounting of the entertainment, special guests, and photos of this wonderful event.
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Annual Triathlon to Support ACCA CDC
The Friends of Kisima are holding their annual family-focused triathlon for ages 5 and up on August 26 at the Lincolnia Park Recreation Club. Proceeds will support the ACCA Child Development Center and the Kisima Ac
ademy and Orphanage in Naitiri, Kenya. After-race activities include gourmet ice cream,
mass
ages and beer for the adults. All participants receive a technical race shirt and finisher medals. Volunteers are needed and will also receive a race shirt. Register or volunteer online.
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Transportation Volunteers Needed
Drivers
are needed for the Shepherd's Center of Annandale Springfield-ACCA transportation program, to provide rides to medical and therapy appointments for persons age 50 or older who cannot drive themselves. If interested, please contact the Shepherd's Center
at
703-941-1419
or
shepherdscas@vacoxmail.com
. In addition, ACCA receives referrals for rides for persons under age 50. If you are interested in assisting in providing these rides, contact Gail Coleman at
gv.coleman@verizon.net
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Church to Receive Historic Marker
On Saturday, August 5, the Fairfax County Historic Commission will unveil a historic marker commemorating the founding of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in 1867. Mt. Pleasant Baptist is one of the oldest Black Baptist churches in Northern Virginia and an ACCA member church. Congratulations to Rev. Carl Johnson, Pastor, and the Mt. Pleasant congregation.
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Celebrate Community at the Taste of Annandale
The third annual Taste of Annandale will be held on Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., along Tom Davis Drive in the heart of Annandale, Va.
The family-friendly event features food from local restaurants and food trucks, a 5K race and fun run, live music and dance reflecting the community's diversity, a chili cook-off pitting the police against firefighters, and a children's corner. There is no charge to attend.
The children's activities, hosted by ACCA's Child Development Center, will include puppet shows, live music, crafts, games, and more
The Taste of Annandale encourages community engagement, celebrates Annandale's diversity, and shines a spotlight on local restaurants and businesses. The festival is organized by a volunteer group of local stakeholders.
For more information about sponsorships, volunteering or simply attending, visit Taste of Annandale on the web or the Taste of Annandale Facebook page.
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George & Betty Jane Davis: Early ACCA Leaders
George and Betty Jane Davis were among the early ACCA co-founders who were inspired by the Kennedy-era focus on community service and social activism. They moved to the DC area in 1962 when George began working with the United States Information Service. Both Betty Jane and George threw themselves into the work of the Christian Family Movement at Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, which provided services to people in need in the community.
As ACCA became established, the couple became active in various ACCA missions, but ultimately took over the Furniture Ministry. Providing basic furniture and furnishings to indigent and immigrant families became a central activity for the Davis household for 19 years.
In the early days of the Furniture Ministry, George and Betty Jane took calls to connect donors of furniture with those in need so that direct pick-ups could be arranged. Over time, they began to warehouse surplus items in their home. Betty Jane related that there were many times when they stored multiple baby cribs (among other items) at their home and at homes of other ACCA families.
In addition to the Furniture Ministry, George and Betty Jane helped establish the Ruffing Scholarship Fund, in honor of ACCA founder Fred Ruffing. This fund continues today to provide grants for college education to local students with disabilities. We applaud the admirable vision, compassion, and service of this couple.
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This is one in a series of articles about ACCA's history. If you have memories or photos of ACCA's earlier years, please share them with us at
marthacromans@gmail.com
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