e-Pathfinder | May 2021
A Light at the End of the Tunnel: Thanks to YOU!

Ms. S and her family received financial assistance so they could keep up with their rent during the pandemic. Thanks to YOUR help, she's feeling optimistic about the future.

She said, "We are so grateful for the help we received. It was really a huge burden lifted off of our shoulders. The pandemic has really done a lot of damage to people's careers and lives. We were in a financial bind, but thanks to the help we received we were able to cover past due rent and and we’re finally seeing the light at the end of a very dark tunnel."

We are so grateful to everyone who supported our Brighter Possibilities campaign in April. Thanks to YOU, we raised more than $94,000 to help families like Ms. S' persevere through the pandemic and start working toward brighter futures.

And a special thank you to our sponsors, Kim and Pete Scudera and Apple Federal Credit Union.
Join us next Thursday, May 20 at 4:30 p.m. for a free virtual Town Hall
Resilience Programs Through an Equity Lens, with special guest Jon Dauphiné, CEO of the Foundation for Financial Planning. We'll unpack the intersection of privilege and service, and discuss how initiatives like FFP's Communities of Color, sponsored by BNY Mellon's Pershing, are elevating new stories of financial resilience, and reshaping who gets access to the American dream. Click Here to Register.
Job Opportunities
Britepaths has two job opportunities. Please share with anyone you know who might be interested.

  • Computer-Tech Instructor in Alexandria. Apply by June 4.
  • Outreach Manager in Fairfax, Apply by June 4.

Click Here for Details and Job Descriptions
Stability Programs Through an Equity Lens
Thanks to all who joined us at our Virtual Town Hall on April 22. Dawn Hyman of Fairfax County's One Fairfax initiative talked about equity versus equality, why disparities continue to persist, and how we all can use our growing understanding and resources more intentionally to bring about real, lasting change in our community. Our Programs Director Christina Garris discussed the evolution of our Food Bridge and
Financial Assistance Programs and our ongoing efforts to meet our neighbors where they are and serve them in an equitable manner. 
Click Here to Watch the Recording
Click Here to Learn More About Our Town Hall Series
Northwest Federal Credit Union Food Bridge Donation
We're grateful to Northwest Federal Credit Union for their long-time support for our families and the work we're doing in the community.

Today, NWFCU's Gabriel Hidalgo brought a donation of $1,500 for our Food Bridge program to help our hungry neighbors. He's pictured at right with Executive Director Lisa Whetzel.
Mindful Presence in Uncertain Times
"How do we choose to go on? What do we choose to do before we start the engine and go on again?"

Thanks to Annie Moyer of Sun & Moon Yoga Studio for her enlightening dharma talk and meditation session on May 6. And thank you to all who joined us. We're so grateful to our Sun & Moon Yoga community for all the ways they support our work and help our families each year. 
Click Here to Watch the Recording
Can You Help?
Volunteer EBT Coordinator
Help community members who receive SNAP benefits use their EBT benefits at Fairfax County's Annadale Farmers Market on Thursday mornings during the season. Requires being on site every other Thursday, 7:15a-12:30p, May 6-Nov. 4. Must be 18 or older. Click Here for details. Contact Christina Garris at cgarris@britepaths.org.
Network Up Volunteers
Britepaths' short-term mentoring program Network Up is seeking Northern Virginia professionals to serve as volunteer mentors to our clients, who are seeking advice and networking help to advance their careers. Mentors meet two to five times virtually with their mentees. Click Here to Learn More. Contact Sally Meyer at 703.704.6101.
Do More 24
United Way of the National Capital Area's annual Do More 24 day of giving is next Wednesday, May 19. Please support Britepaths by sharing our giving page with your friends and family in email, social media, or however you like to communicate, and asking them to share too. Sharing is truly caring and makes a big difference for our families. Thank you!
Special Thanks
Food Bridge Supporters
A big thank you to our Food Bridge Supporting Organizations who are providing grocery store gift cards to our families this month:


We still need organizations to help! Can your organization commit to a Sunday on our Delivery Calendar this year to help fulfill this great need? During the pandemic, we're mailing gift cards, but in regular times, some organizations choose to deliver a combination of supplies and gift cards. Click Here to learn more. Click Here to donate funds that will help cover holes in our Calendar. Contact Christina Garris at 703.273.8829 with questions.
Community Foundation for Northern Virginia
Join us in extending a huge thank you to the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia for once again selecting Britepaths for a $10,000 grant to fund Financial Assistance. This support will be a lifeline to our neighbors, helping them pay for rent, utilities or vital car repairs so they can remain financially stable while they work through a crisis. Click Here to learn more about the award and our fellow grantees.
Junior League of Washington
We are so grateful to the Junior League of Washington for providing a $5,000 grant to our Food Bridge program to help us offer emergency food assistance to more local families in crisis.
Express Lanes Community Grant Program
Thank you to Transurban/Express Lanes Community Grant Program for once again selecting Britepaths to receive a grant to help fund our Reliable Rides Financial Assistance program. These funds will help community members make vital car repairs so they can continue to get to work and maintain financial stability.

Resources: Please Share
Virtual Financial Literacy and Workforce Development Coaching and Classes
Britepaths and the Financial Empowerment Center at South County continue to offer a variety of free services and classes via the internet. Services include free and confidential Financial Coaching, Workforce/Job Readiness Consulting, Small Business Consulting and Tax Preparation Consulting. Please share our Virtual Services page with anyone you know who might benefit. Join our LinkedIn Group to receive updates on offerings and services.
Eviction Prevention Resources
If you know someone who is struggling to pay their rent or mortgage due to the pandemic, please pass on these resources.

Read Article by Britepaths' Martha Borowski on first steps you can take to advocate for yourself. 
Click Here for Fairfax County resources and information.
Click Here for guidance about the CDC's National Eviction Moratorium.
Click Here for Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance's Eviction Prevention and Housing Stability Toolkit
Free Financial Coaching via NOVA Housing Expo
The Northern Virginia Housing Expo is going on virtually throughout 2021, and Britepaths and the Financial Empowerment Center at South County are honored to have been invited to offer free virtual Financial Coaching sessions as part of the Expo.

The Expo offers a variety of resources for Northern Virginia residents seeking to rent or buy a home. Their web site offers virtual exhibits and free monthly workshops, in addition to a link to register for our Financial Coaching sessions. Learn More
Fairfax County Area Services
Fairfax County staff are working hard across multiple agencies to assist County residents (including residents of the Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and towns of Clifton, Herndon and Vienna) who are experiencing difficulties during COVID-19. Below are some resources to utilize and share with anyone you know who may need help. Fairfax County residents may call 703.222.0880 for information and referrals to services. Virginia residents outside Fairfax County may dial 211 to be connected with services in their community.
Britepaths
Our Mission is to provide our neighbors in need with short-term safety-net services and empower them to work toward long-term self-sufficiency.