|
Executive Director's Update
During the month of October, WFCM held our 17th Fall Fellowship Dinner fundraiser and our FIRST Walk to End Hunger. Keener Insurance Agency, Inc. was the presenting sponsor for both events (Keener family photo above, along with photos of WFCM board members and staff). The Walk to End Hunger took place during Centreville Day as our team of 60 walkers raised awareness about food insecurity and funds for solutions in the community we serve; just one mile away from the WFCM Centreville Free Food Market as we walked in front of one of our founding congregations, St. John's Episcopal Church. Working together to meet the needs of the community is foundational to the work of WFCM, and I am thankful to all of the partners and community members that participated in these events.
During the Fall Fellowship Dinner fundraiser, I had the opportunity to share the lived experience of one of the clients served by WFCM, Fanny. Unfortunately, Fanny was working during the event and could not attend. But, with her permission, I was able to share about her path to self-sufficiency that started in 2016 when she and her daughters came to Chantilly. They came after escaping violence in her country and in her own home with the father of her daughters. She enrolled her three daughters in high school and began working, renting a 2-bedroom apartment close to work. With hard work, her daughters have all graduated from high school and are graduates or current students at NOVA and George Mason. The four family members work a total of five jobs and Fanny dreams of one day working one job and owning a home. Fanny is closer than ever to achieving her goals, but it has been a long journey of hard work since she first came to WFCM for assistance. We are thankful that throughout this journey, even during the pandemic when they experienced job losses and decreased hours at work, WFCM has been able to stand beside Fanny's family providing groceries and at times rental assistance so that they never lost housing, had a utility disconnected, or experienced hunger. Fanny asked that I share this message:
I would like to thank WFCM for your work and for helping the community, but above all, God who has always been present in my life and that of my family. The scripture that I hold dear is "Jehova es mi Pastor; nada me faltara." "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1.
Thank you for allowing WFCM's staff to work with Fanny for a better future. It takes time and a lot of effort to build to self-sufficiency and your partnership allows us to stay the course with families while they take steps to improve their education, job income, and skills.
God bless,
Harmonie Taddeo, Executive Director
| |
|
What's New in the Food Markets and Client Services with Pamela Montesinos, Deputy Director
| |
|
|
WFCM re-certified to offer USDA TEFAP
WFCM successfully certified to be a US Department of Agriculture The Emergency Food Assistance Program provider and re-started the program in October. We were a previous provider, but stopped offering TEFAP in FY 2024 due to the limited food options. With improvements in the federal and VA program funding, we are able to order great food now such as canned beans and fruits, fresh grapes and potatoes, dry walnuts, cheese, frozen fish, frozen strawberries, and fresh milk free of charge and provide these items to qualified families.
| |
|
Most needed items in the Free Food Market this month:
- Flour (Maseca preferred)
- Sugar (1 or 2 lb. bags)
- Vegetable Oil
- Pasta Sauce
- Pasta
- Cereal (low sugar preferred)
- Pancake Mix
- Family Sized Snacks (crackers, pretzels)
- Canned Chicken
-
Toiletries: bar soap, body wash, toothpaste, hair shampoo, toilet paper, and baby wipes (NOTE: we are not currently in need of diapers size 0-5 due to our partnership with Greater DC Diaper Bank. Please only donate larger size pull ups size 4T/5T for toddlers, size 6 diapers, or baby wipes if you want to donate items for babies.)
As a reminder, we accept food and toiletry donations Monday - Friday 8-10 am at 4511
Daly Drive Suite H (Back Door) and on the second Saturday monthly 9-11 am.
| |
|
Community Connections
with Diane Beatley
Sr. Manager, Community Engagement
| |
Recently, the Westfields Business Owners Association (WBOA) through their Community Engagement Committee, donated funds to support WFCM’s general operations and the Free Food Fridge program, which includes commercial refrigerators at local schools and partner nonprofits that WFCM stocks weekly to provide weekend meals for students and families. The WBOA manages the Westfields area in Chantilly encompassing residential, commercial and retail properties, spanning both the east and west sides of Route 28. We appreciate the WBOA’s partnership! | |
Thank you for supporting WFCM's Fall Fundraisers! | |
|
WFCM's First Walk to End Hunger
During Centreville Day, Saturday, October 19, more than sixty walkers joined in the first WFCM Walk to End Hunger. Participants included family members from sponsor
Keener Insurance Agency, Inc, staff from the office of Congressman Gerry Connolly, and WFCM board members, staff, volunteers, family, friends, and supporters.
Together we walked to raise awareness and funds for solutions.
| |
WFCM's 17th Annual Fall Fellowship Dinner | |
Checkout Hunger at Wegmans Chantilly | |
|
Now through November 30, 2024, shoppers at Wegmans Chantilly have the opportunity to donate to WFCM during checkout by rounding up their purchase amount or selecting any amount they choose. The annual Checkout Hunger campaign is a great way to support our work while shopping for groceries!
100% of the donation supports Western Fairfax Christian Ministries when you choose to Checkout Hunger at Wegmans Chantilly this month!
| |
| |
|
Giving Tuesday is December 3 | |
Giving Tuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to use their individual power of generosity to remain connected and support their communities. People can show their generosity in a variety of ways during Giving Tuesday—whether it’s helping a neighbor, advocating for an issue, sharing a skill, or giving to causes, everyone has something to give, and every act of generosity counts. Please consider donating to WFCM on this special day to kick off our calendar year-end giving campaign. | | | | |
