Second Story's supplies of Clorox wipes and paper towels are running low. If you are able to help, please email admin@second-story.org to set up a drop-off.

Through these small actions, your support can make a huge difference in ensuring that people have clean and safe spaces to grow and thrive.

The Fairfax County Police Department’s Victim Services Division (VSD) is hosting its 2nd Annual Back-to-School Fair for preschool through high school students whom VSD has worked with over the past year. Many of the children invited have witnessed or experienced sexual or physical violence or have lost a parent to homicide. 

This collection will help provide hygiene and food items to about 100 participating families. A list of needed supplies can be found at the link below.

Every summer, Educate Fairfax conducts an annual giving campaign called "Collect for Kids." Funds raised through this effort help purchase school supplies for newcomers to FCPS who are economically disadvantaged or recently displaced, as well as students who live in poverty.

PRS Outpatient Therapy Program is in need of magazines for the newly renovated waiting area! Please donate new or gently used magazines for clients while they wait for appointments. Needed genres include cooking, home & garden, travel, science & nature, art, hobbies & crafts, and history. 

Don't have magazines to donate, but still want to support this effort? Consider purchasing a magazine subscription and sending it to their offices!

Magazines can be dropped off or mailed to their Oakton office at 10455 White Granite Dr., Suite 400, Oakton, VA 22124, Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 4 pm. If you have any questions, please contact volunteer@prsinc.org.

Fairfax County staff are proposing to permanently discontinue vacuum leaf service after the upcoming winter season and are seeking input from current customers through a public survey ending August 18th. 

Trash collection provided by the County directly is a fee-based service, while vacuum leaf service is funded by a tax based on property value. Since billing for the service occurs in January, residents have already been charged for the 2023-2024 vacuum season which will take place as scheduled. 

Your input is essential in this process. Provide your feedback:

• Online survey
• Leave a voicemail at 703-890-5898, Project Code: 2159
• Text "leaf collection" to 704-890-5898

As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, it’s the perfect time to go solar. 

Thanks to the power of solar group purchasing programs such as Solarize VA and Capital Area Solar Switch, it's easy and less expensive for homeowners to make the switch. These programs offer free assessments and access to qualified solar professionals that take the guesswork out of going solar.



Additionally, you can take advantage of federal tax credits and incentives offered by Fairfax County and the federal government. Right now, the permit fee for solar applications is being waived, solar panels receive zoning flexibility, a local tax exemption is available for the installation of solar equipment, and there are federal solar tax credits.

Information sessions:

• Solarize Fairfax Webinar: July 27th, 6 pm, Register
• Fairfax County Solar Switch 101 Webinar: August 9th, 6 pm, Register

The Draft Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Access (PROSA) Strategy Report Summary outlines several key areas of consideration and prioritization when it comes to park development and improvement planning, including park access, habitat connectivity, park experiences, and equity. The outcomes of PROSA will help guide our Capital Improvement Program (CIP), land acquisition and many other decisions once completed this year.

Your input is critical for this project. Please provide your feedback through this community survey.

Grab your friends and your camera and celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month! The Fairfax County Park Authority is holding a selfie photo contest through July 28th to commemorate this year’s theme “Where Community Grows.” The theme is a celebration of the role that parks and recreation play in bringing people together, providing essential services, and fostering the growth of our communities as residents engage with one another through play, exercise, service, special events, and a wide variety of shared interests.

Not all trees are welcome in Northern Virginia. Tree-of-Heaven is a particularly problematic non-native invasive that is damaging our local ecosystem. Please be alert to it on your property and take steps to get rid of it. Be aware, though, that you can’t just cut it down. It needs to be poisoned first.

Let's raise a glass to reducing beverage container waste! Here are three simple ways to cut back on the number of empty containers we have to throw away or recycle:

1. Buy in bulk: Opt for larger containers or refillable kegs to minimize packaging waste. Bulk purchases reduce plastic and glass waste and save money.
2. Soda Stream: Embrace the fizz by using an at-home carbonation machine, saying goodbye to all those single-use bottles, and enjoying endless bubbly refreshments.
3. Refillables: Explore refill stations in your area or invest in reusable bottles for your favorite beverages. Many businesses now offer refills, from coffee shops to grocery stores to convenience stores, eliminating the need for disposable cups and bottles.

Let's quench our thirst for sustainability and make a difference, one sip at a time!