e-Pathfinder | July 2022
"Britepaths has helped me in the past and I wanted to reach out and thank you for everything that your organization did to help me during the pandemic. I want to let you know that I was accepted into a teaching licensure program. I am still enrolled [in the program], but I start my first job as a special education teacher in the fall. I will be drawing a salary for the first time in my life and I am really excited about this." -- Ms. Z, Financial Assistance client

We loved receiving this update from Ms. Z last week! She wrote to thank us for helping her get vital repairs for her car while she was struggling during the pandemic. We're so happy that she's on her way to launching a great career. Thank you to all who are helping neighbors like Ms. Z by donating, volunteering and spreading the word about Britepaths' work.
Help Our Kids Go Back to School!
A huge thank you to all who are helping our kids! Britepaths is half way through our Back to School campaign! If you haven't already donated, please consider doing so to help us provide 2,500 school supply kits and 700 new backpacks to students in need in the Fairfax HS and Justice HS pyramids.


Learn More on our Back to School page

Contact Sidney Arrington at 703.273.8829 with questions.

Round up at the register & drop off backpacks at Twins Ace Hardware Fairfax thru July 31!
In the News! Our Back to School program was featured in the Fairfax Connection last week, among many other local news outlets.

Thank You to Our Sponsors! Godman Power Group, Inc. and Twins Ace Hardware

FECSoCo: Powered by United Way NCA, Fairfax County & Many Partners!
Five years ago this month, Britepaths became the lead nonprofit partner with the United Way of the National Capital Area and Fairfax County and began operating the Financial Empowerment Center at South County (FECSoCo) in what is now known as the Gerry Hyland Government Center in Alexandria.

FECSoCo was the second of United Way NCA's Financial Empowerment Centers in the greater Washington, DC area, and there are now five FECs. FECSoCo has served 6,269 clients since opening our doors in July 2017, serving 1,582 Financial Coaching clients and hosting 4,509 workshops. We work with more than 100 community partners to deliver our services.

The majority of FECSoCo's funding is contributed by our primary partners, United Way NCA and Fairfax County's Neighborhood and Community Services, through the Consolidated Community Funding Pool.
Maria Jose Cantoni, FECSoCo's Director, works with a client in 2019.

Both United Way NCA and Fairfax County recently renewed our grants and provided significant funding to help us serve even more community members during these challenging times. We are grateful to them and all our partners for helping us offer this vital community resource.

Learn more about FECSoCo's services at FECSoCo.org.

Visit Britepaths' Virtual Services page to see all of FECSoCo & Britepaths' current virtual offerings.
Support Our Emergency Pantry!
We are in great need of pantry donations to serve all of the families in crisis who are being referred to us. Please donate and help spread the word!


Giant Bloomin' 4 Good Bouquets: You can also help feed our families in July through Giant Food's Bloomin' 4 Good program. Purchase a Bloomin' 4 Good bouquet at Giant University Mall in Fairfax July 1-31 and a portion of the proceeds goes to our Food Bridge Program. Click Here for flyer.
A big thank you to the 10 volunteers who came out on July 13 to help with the quarterly inventory and weighing of the food and supplies in our Emergency Food Pantry! They also helped with other office projects.
Volunteer
Britepaths has a number of new and ongoing volunteer needs. They are updated regularly on our Volunteer Page. Contact Sidney Arrington at volunteer@britepaths.org or 703.273.8829 with questions.
 
Opportunities Include:
Special Thanks!
Food Bridge Supporters
A huge thank you to Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fairfax for providing funding for grocery store gift cards to support 15 of our Food Bridge families for our July 10 gift card mailing. We are grateful for their ongoing support of our families.

We have MANY openings on our Delivery Calendar for the rest of the year. Click Here to learn how your organization can help.


Donations and Grants

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority: We are grateful to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for visiting us on June 30 and providing a generous donation of $500 to support our programs.

Kiwanis Club of Fairfax: On July 19, our Development Director Shannon Bryant visited the Kiwanis Club of Fairfax's monthly meeting to talk about our work in the community. They presented him with a $200 check to help our families.


Volunteers

Teresa Clark: A big thank you and best wishes to Teresa Clark, who volunteered on our Financial Assistance Service Team for 13 years! Read More

Sydenstricker UMC Vacation Bible School: We're grateful to the 5th & 6th grade students from Sydenstricker United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School for visiting us in June to learn about our work. They helped in our Emergency Pantry and played the Budget Bean Game.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Kiwanis Club of Fairfax
Longtime volunteer Teresa Clark
Sydenstricker UMC Vacation Bible School
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.