Every June, AFAC normally holds a Volunteer Appreciation Picnic to honor all the volunteers for their contributions to AFAC. Because of the pandemic, this year's picnic was canceled.
AFAC created this video
to announce the recipients of our volunteer awards and our volunteer pins for 25, 20, 15, 10, and 5 years of service. Volunteers who served 100+ hours in the past year will also be honored by Volunteer Arlington's event,
Arlington Cares
on Tuesday, July 14.
Volunteers of the Year:
Catherine Connor and Lee Clarke
Group of the Year:
Temple Rodef Shalom
2080 Hall of Fame:
Mary Appling
Teen Volunteers of the Year:
Eric Feng, Leah Karush, Anthony Vena
Thank you to everyone who helps AFAC feed our neighbors in need!
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Food Distribution Returns Indoors
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Last week, we moved our distribution back indoors! We have plenty of features to keep everyone safe, including plexiglass, markers for social distancing, and limiting the number of people in at one time. We are still following our modified distribution hours. We'll continue to make modifications and adjustments as needed.
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Over the past couple of months, we've had to replace some of our aging vehicles. This gave us the opportunity to purchase a brand new black cargo van! Be on the lookout for this vehicle on the roads in Arlington!
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Arts & Literature Benefitting AFAC
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This month, AFAC is partnering with
Synetic Theater through their
Synetic Serves campaign. This collaboration helps support the arts while putting a spotlight on food insecurity in our community.
Click here to watch a video produced by Synetic Theater about hunger in Arlington.
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As a bonus, Synetic Theater is offering a discount to AFAC supporters to view their current virtual production,
the Decameron. Enter the code:
AFACDEC2020 prior to checkout. For more information about the show and for tickets,
click here.
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Thank you to
Justin Trawick and the Common Good band for including AFAC in your upcoming sold out secret live show! Because the show sold out quickly, Justin says he might have a 2nd show in August. If you are interested, look out for an announcement on his
website or social media.
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Local author Mike Maggio is showcasing the work of poets and artists responding to the COVID-19 pandemic to bring comfort and inspiration during this difficult time, while raising funds for AFAC.
Visit his website here.
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Thank you so much to everyone who has donated their food, funds, and time to make sure all families in need have gotten their much needed groceries during this difficult time. We wouldn't be able to serve our community without your support.
This pandemic isn't going away anytime soon. Families in our care still need your help, as not all jobs have returned, enhanced unemployment benefits will stop at the end of the month, and the ban on evictions will soon be lifted. This may cause an increase of families that will turn to AFAC for groceries.
Here are a couple of ways you can continue to help out families in need:
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You can also
host a food drive in your own neighborhood. Register your food drive to request an AFAC food drive box if you would like one. There are template food drive flyers available that you can use and distribute digitally to help you get started.
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Funds raised
will go towards our food budget. This allows AFAC to purchase fresh produce, oatmeal, rice, beans, milk, eggs, frozen protein (chicken, fish, and hot dogs), and other food in bulk prices directly from food vendors at lower rates found at the grocery store.
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For anyone in need, we have compiled a
list of resources on our website. This includes how to get a referral to AFAC, where to find free meals for kids, safety tips, etc. Please share as needed.
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Arlington Food Assistance Center | 703.845.8486 |
www.afac.org
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