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Dear Neighbor,
Earlier today, the Board of Supervisors declared a local state of emergency to allow the County to better respond
to the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. Today's action follows Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's declaration of a state of emergency on March 12, and a national emergency declaration by President Donald Trump on March 13.
The County's
declaration streamlines and expedites Fairfax County Government's access to emergency disaster funding and allows the County to use its authority to procure goods to address the emergency. It also serves as a foundational document for additional actions, if any, that the Board wishes to take with regard to this emergency going forward.
The coronavirus situation is changing rapidly. It is important that everyone understands the seriousness of this virus and its potential impact on our healthcare systems and community. We hope that in addition to opening up additional resource avenues, this emergency declaration will help send that message.
Governor Northam also held a press conference this morning during which he announced that Virginia will follow the
CDC guidance, announced yesterday, that d
uring the next 15 days, all U.S. events of ten people or more should be cancelled or held virtually. He also recommended that citizens 65 years of age or older self-quarantine for now.
As we learn more and the situation continues to develop, I will continue to send out information via alerts like this and through social media (follow me at
@DranesvilleSup on Twitter and
@DranesvilleSupervisor on Facebook).
Ways to Help
Each of us must do our best to take care of ourselves, which in turn, helps our community stay healthy. A
void close contact, put distance between yourself and others (stay home if you are sick), wash or sanitize your hands often, and clean frequently touched surfaces. These practices will help you stay healthy and help protect others as well.
In these trying times, many people want to know how they can help their neighbors and the broader community. I've included information below highlighting volunteer needs and community organizations that would benefit from your support. This is not an exhaustive list; I encourage you to explore other ways to
volunteer or donate through your faith community or other civic groups.
In Your Neighborhood
- In all interactions, follow proper social distancing protocols.
- Find out (and document) if anyone has specialized equipment or expertise that might help.
- Decide who will check on elderly or disabled neighbors and their needs.
- Review the County's Community Emergency Response Guide, which is available in several languages, and features quick documents to help you and your neighbors prepare for emergency situations.
In Our Community
Meals on Wheels
The Fairfax Area Meals on Wheels Program provides meals to older adults who live in Fairfax County and the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax. A V
olunteer Mealtime Companion
is needed in
Herndon
to help a Meals on Wheels recipient heat and eat lunchtime meals. Click here for details. Volunteer Meals on Wheels Drivers are also needed in the Lawyers Road area of Reston/Herndon. Click here for
details
.
Cornerstones anticipates a higher than usual demand for services from under-resourced families, especially when children are out of school and in need of meals typically covered by school meal programs. (Click here for a list of food distribution sites that are providing grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals while schools are closed.) Adults who work hourly jobs and may be off from work will also be adversely affected. Seniors may be in greater need as they are shut off from family members and other usual resources. Donations can be made at the
pantry, located at 11484 Washington Plaza West, Suite 120 in Reston. If you do not want to enter the building, call 571-323-1410 and a staff member may be able to assist you outside.
Urgent needs:
- Gift cards for grocery stores, gas stations and fast food restaurants
- Beans
- Lentils
- Cooking oil
- Oatmeal
- Eggs
- Milk
- Clorox wipes
- Bleach and other disinfectants
- Spray bottles
- Paper towels
- Donations needed: Cleaning products - Clorox wipes, bleach, other disinfectants, spray bottles, paper towels
- Donations needed: Cleaning products - Clorox wipes, bleach, other disinfectants, spray bottles, paper towels
SHARE of McLean
L
ocal McLean/Great Falls/Pimmit Hills food pantry, SHARE, is currently providing grab-and-go boxes to its clients and those facing emergency needs. SHARE's hours are 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday. SHARE is operating out of the parking lot at McLean Baptist Church, located at 1367 Chain Bridge Road. Donations of food and personal care items are critically needed and can be left in the outside donation boxes. For large donations, contact sharevolunteers1367@gmail.com to arrange a drop-off time. SHARE has indicated that its current needs change daily but at this time, the highest needs are:
- Peanut butter (small jars)
- Cereal
- Tomato sauce/pasta sauce
- Ramen noodles
- Bread
- Toilet paper
Again, there are many ways to help out in your community and these are just some local nonprofits that could benefit from additional assistance at this time.
Other Community-Based Resources
Stay Informed
Visit
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/novel-coronavirus and review the
FAQs
Sign up for text message alertsĀ: text FFXCOVID to 888777
Email the Fairfax County Health Department at
ffxcovid@fairfaxcounty.gov
Call the Health Department Monday through Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Please share this information with your friends and neighbors and do not hesitate to contact my office if we can be of assistance; email
Dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-356-0551.
John
John W. Foust
Dranesville District Supervisor
1437 Balls Hill Road
McLean, VA 22101
Phone: 703-356-0551
Fax: 703-821-4275
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