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| Next Meeting |
The next ACCA board meeting will be March 1
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 2015 annual report.
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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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Volunteers Needed February 13
 ACCA needs volunteers on Saturday, February 13, to help with the Stuff the Bus food drive at the Giant Food on Columbia Pike in Annandale. This is a great opportunity for families, young adults, and youth who need service hours.
Volunteers will pass out flyers inside the store and collect food purchased by shoppers for the ACCA Food Pantry. Additional volunteers will be needed to unload the bus at the Pantry in the late afternoon.
If you can sign up for a 2-hour shift between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or can help unload the donations at the Pantry, please contact Mary Lee Di Spirito at ddmld@verizon.net, or call
703-256-9513.
"Stuff the Bus" is a joint effort sponsored by the Fairfax County government, Giant Food, Shoppers Food and Pharmacy, Walmart and MV Transportation, Inc.
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Winter Clothing Drive This Month
 As cold weather grips our area, ACCA will have a second collection of winter outerwear for men and women. Coats, hats, scarves and gloves may be dropped off at the ACCA Furniture Warehouse (on the Annandale United Methodist Church campus) on Saturday February 13 and 20, between 9 and 11 a.m. The next distribution of outerwear will be on February 22. For more information, contact Don or Mary Lee Di Spirito at (703) 256-9513 or
ddmld@verizon.net
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ACCA Child Development Center
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Handmade Valentine cards by the four-year-old class at the Child Development Center.
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Thanks to the generosity of Stride Rite, Wells Fargo Bank, and a donation from a loyal supporter of the CDC, the CDC was able to provide shoes for all of its children in December. This initiative arose out of training for parents of infants and toddlers on "Walking and Talking," and was further spurred by partnership with Dr. Garner of Burke Pediatrics.
CDC Director Isabel Ballivian praised the Child Development Center staff at a recent ACCA meeting for their hard work in keeping the Center open during the January snow storm. The CDC was open on all but two days, while most schools in the area were closed for a full week. This is very beneficial for parents who would otherwise not be able to work and their children.
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Update on ACCA Ministries
Meals on Wheels served 21 clients in December with a total of 750 meals, and 23 clients in January, with 548 meals. Operations were suspended for 4 days in January because of the snow.
The Food Pantry made 76 deliveries in December and assisted with 59 Christmas Baskets. In January, volunteers made 67 deliveries serving 181 individuals.
Family Emergency Assistance helped 67 households in December and January, paying more than $37,000 for rent, utilities and other costs. Among those served was a single mother who had not received child support for two months; ACCA paid her outstanding electric bill. ACCA paid the first month's rent for a man who had completed rehabilitation and was moving into transitional housing. ACCA also paid for a tank of gas for a single mother who is studying for a nursing degree and needed to get to a job interview.
The Furniture Program operations were seriously hampered by the snow in January. However, during the two weeks the program operated, it served 20 families, including a single disabled veteran living alone and multiple households with children. Thanks to teams from John Calvin and Providence Presbyterian Churches, St. Alban's and Annandale United Methodist Church.
The Keys for the Homeless Foundation recently gave ACCA 78 bags of comforters and pillows and about a dozen queen-size mattresses. They are a wonderful partner to our Furniture program.
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Wanted: Chairs, Dressers
 The ACCA Furniture Program is in need of dining room chairs, kitchen chairs, dressers and chests of drawers. These items are currently in short supply. Volunteers will happily come by and pick up your donations. Just
contact Don or Mary Lee Di Spirito at (703) 256-9513 or
ddmld@verizon.net to schedule a pickup
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CROP Walk Update
 As of December 31st, the 2015 Annandale CROP Hunger Walk raised a total of $12,455. Eleven ACCA churches participated in the 2015 walk, including 73 walkers and volunteers. John Calvin Presbyterian Church raised the most funds and was represented by the most walkers. Many thanks to all the participating churches, walkers, volunteers and donors.
Church World Service (CWS) and CROP Hunger Walks raise awareness and funds for international relief and development as well as local efforts to fight poverty. In December 2015, ACCA received a check from CWS for the local share of the 2014 Annandale CROP Hunger walk in the amount of $4,735.
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Challenge Campaign Results Coming
Watch this space next month for an update on the 2015-16 annual Challenge Campaign. Our goal was to raise a total of $160,000.
Although the campaign ended on January 31st, ACCA accepts donations to support our work year-round. Checks can be mailed to ACCA, 7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003. Donate online through the Catalogue for Philanthropy or via PayPal. Thank you for your support!
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