Dear Neighbor,

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to evolve and impact our community, I will continue to share updates and information I hope you will find helpful.

This email includes information about a new countywide grocery shopping and pharmacy pick up service being offered through the Neighbor to Neighbor Program and a reminder about the upcoming Stuff the Bus food drive. I have also included information about the County's plan to resume yard and bulk pick up service in the next few weeks and a grant program for nonprofits which began accepting applications today. In transportation news, starting Monday, May 18, face coverings will be required on both Metro and Fairfax Connector public transit. More information is included below.

Please share this email with your friends and neighbors and do not hesitate to contact my office if we can be of assistance; email [email protected] or call 703-356-0551.

Sincerely,

John

On Saturday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Fastran buses will be parked at 21 locations throughout Fairfax County to collect food donations. However, unlike past years, the buses will not be parked in grocery store parking lots. Instead, buses will be parked in less-frequented lots, including all Board of Supervisors’ offices and the Fairfax County Government Center, to allow donors to comply with social distancing recommendations.

Your donations will benefit these nonprofits:

See the nonprofits’ most requested food items.

Get Involved!

Drop off food donations at the following locations within or near the Dranesville District or click here for a complete list of locations throughout Fairfax County.

Donate Today!

For those who are unable to donate in person but want to contribute, visit Volunteer Fairfax’s Donation Page to connect with and donate to nonprofits serving our community.

Leaving home to pick up groceries, prescriptions, and other necessities is stressful for many Fairfax County residents due to the risk of COVID-19. Older adults, in particular, are often left without many good choices for getting the supplies they need.

Some people choose online ordering and delivery services to avoid shopping in person, but that requires familiarity with technology, experience with online ordering, and in many instances, delivery delays.  

In response to the increased needs of residents who are 60 and older and who require assistance, Fairfax County, through the Health Department’s Neighbor to Neighbor Program (N2N), has launched a free grocery shopping and pharmacy pick up service. The service is provided to seniors at private residences by volunteers who have completed background checks.  

To request shopping and pharmacy pick up, or to find out if you are eligible for financial assistance to obtain food, contact the Fairfax County Aging, Disability, and Caregiver Resource line at 703-324-7948.  

The service will not be provided to long-term care retirement communities, assisted living, nursing homes, group homes, or other facilities.  

The Neighbor to Neighbor Shopping and Pharmacy Pick-up Program is provided in partnership with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and the Department of Family Services. 

County bulk pick up and yard waste collection services will resume over the next few weeks. In addition, a one-time $15 reduction to customer's annual bill was approved by the Board of Supervisors as part of the FY 2021 budget.

Key Dates for Sanitary District Customers:

Bulk Pick Up Resumes: Monday, May 18

Yard Waste Pick Up Resumes: Week of Monday, May 25

$15 Bill Reduction for Sanitary District Customers:

The County understands that suspending yard waste collection has been inconvenient for customers. Since yard waste collection is part of the service customer’s pay for, their bill for FY 2021, which starts July 1, 2020, will be reduced by $15. This reduces the cost for FY 2021 from $385 to $370 for trash and recycling service. 

In addition, the proposed rate increase of $15 has also been deferred to help alleviate financial hardship caused by the pandemic. Customers' patience as Solid Waste Management Program staff have made operational changes to protect the workforce is greatly appreciated.

Email Sign-Up

To remain informed of any future operational changes, sign up for e-updates at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/recycling-trash/trash-collection-e-updates.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has established a $5 million fund to support 501(c)3 and 501(c)19 nonprofit organizations that support social safety net services to vulnerable populations within Fairfax County.

The grant application process began today, Friday, May 15, and concludes at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22.

The Nonprofit Sustainability Grants program will offer grants to qualified nonprofit organizations in one of three amounts, $25,000, $50,000, and $75,000, depending on the size of the organization and operating budget. The program will be funded with stimulus funds from the federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund. 

Nonprofits that function as a part of Fairfax County’s social safety net provide support in the areas of financial stability, food and nutrition, literary/educational attainment, health, housing, positive behaviors and healthy relationships. These organizations are focused primarily on serving people from communities that are more vulnerable to self-sufficiency problems, including people with limited income; immigrants and refugees; people with disabilities; and people who are historically subject to disparate access to opportunities.  

Eligibility

Applicants must be recognized as a 501(c)3 or 501(c)19 nonprofit organization, according to the Internal Revenue Code; serve Fairfax County residents; currently operate as part of Fairfax County’s social safety net; and submit a complete application, including the most recent IRS 990 Form. 

How to Apply

Visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/procurement/nsgrant, email [email protected], or call 703-324-2861. 

This program will be administered by the County's Department of Procurement and Material Management and the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.

Beginning Monday, May 18, face coverings or masks will be required when traveling on Metro. Since early April, in accordance with CDC guidance, the use of face coverings was "strongly recommended." While the overwhelming majority of riders already comply voluntarily, the requirement is viewed as a necessary step as Metro plans for an eventual recovery with more riders using the system.

Metro continues to emphasize that the policy will be applied to maximize compliance while minimizing conflict. The requirement to wear face coverings applies in all Metro stations, trains, buses, and MetroAccess vehicles. Per the CDC, face coverings may include bandanas, scarves, neck gaiters, or homemade coverings made from t-shirts or other materials at minimal cost. Medical-grade masks should be prioritized for first responders and hospitals and should not be used for this purpose.

Click here for CDC guidance on how to make and wear cloth face coverings.

Service Reminder

Metro is open for "essential travel only," and the public is encouraged to stay at home whenever possible, in accordance with current executive orders and guidance in effect throughout the region. For essential travelers, the Metrorail system is open from 5:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on weekdays, and 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Bus service on selected routes is provided daily until 11:00 p.m.

Metro is performing enhanced cleaning and disinfecting in all trains, buses, and stations, has distributed hand sanitizer to all front line employees without access to wash rooms, implemented rear-door boarding and waived fares on buses to protect bus operators, closed the first and last railcars to create a protective buffer for train operators, and closed 19 stations to conserve limited cleaning supplies.

Visit https://www.wmata.com/ for more information.

Passengers on Fairfax Connector buses will be required to wear face coverings starting Monday, May 18 with a week-long grace period through Monday, May 24. County officials previously encouraged riders to wear face coverings, but that will now become mandatory. This enhanced safety measure aims to help Fairfax Connector passengers protect each other and bus operators during the ongoing COVID-19 situation and follows guidelines from the CDC.

As described above, a face covering can be a homemade cloth mask, a scarf, bandana, or other means of snug covering over the mouth and nose. Tips for making homemade coverings and safe usage can be found at the CDC website.

Fairfax County is committed to providing transit service to residents who have no alternate way to travel during this situation. FCDOT officials would like to thank all Fairfax Connector customers for their patience, cooperation, and flexibility during this difficult time.

Ways Fairfax Connector Maintains a Safe and Healthy Environment

Fairfax Connector passengers will continue to be required to enter and exit the bus using the rear doors. This does not apply to customer­­s who need to use a wheelchair ramp. Fare collection on buses also continues to be suspended, due to the location of fareboxes and SmarTrip equipment at the front entrance of buses. 

The following steps are being taken to maintain a safe and healthy environment for Fairfax Connector passengers and personnel:

Visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/ for more information.

Fairfax County is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for coronavirus text alerts and to visit the frequently updated website listed below.