e-Pathfinder | March 2021
This photo is the very happy "report" we received on March 3 from our Avenues to Career Training graduates Tsehay and Hirut after their outfitting with our community partner Suited For Change! They both recently completed a medical billing and coding program at Northern Virginia Community College and are preparing for job interviews. Join us in wishing them the best of luck in their new pursuits, and extending a big thank you to Suited for Change for helping them look fabulous and feel confident on their journeys. Read More
Brighter Possibilities Ahead
Last year, with our community’s support, we helped a lot of people find stability. But what comes after the storm? While many of our neighbors are still struggling to keep their homes and feed their families during the pandemic, others have begun to lift their heads up and wonder “what’s next?”

We hope you'll plan to support our Brighter Possibilities campaign in April to help our neighbors move past their daily grind and find a pathway out of struggle.

Stay Tuned! We have something special in the works for April 22 at 4:30 p.m. Details To Come.
Thank You to Our Sponsor!

Sponsorships Available! Contact Shannon Bryant at 703.273.8829.
FFP Spotlight Volunteer
The Foundation for Financial Planning (FFP) has provided significant grant support for Britepaths' Financial Counseling and Mentoring programs since 2013, and our Financial Coaching at the Financial Empowerment Center at South County since it opened in 2017. Many of our outstanding volunteers are Certified Financial Planners who learn about us through the Foundation.

FFP recently spotlighted our Financial Literacy volunteer Erica James and her work with mentee Andrea to help her pay down debts, rebuild her credit score and build savings. Erica also volunteers with us as a Financial Coach and Counselor.

Erica said that working with Britepaths' clients has helped her appreciate the importance of understanding each client’s situation and meeting them where they are in order to have the most impact.
We are so grateful to Erica for lending her time and talents to help our families on their paths to brighter futures.
Unity Virtual "Spring Fling" Benefits Britepaths
Enjoy a spring run and help our families! Grateful to our friends at Unity of Fairfax and Unity Spiritual Center in Springfield for once again making Britepaths a beneficiary of their Virtual Fun Run!

Join us at the virtual kick-off on March 28 at 1 p.m. Run, jog, walk or roll your virtual 5K or 1K anywhere and anytime on the 28th or 29th.
Click Here to Register via Eventbrite 
Click Here to Join Facebook Event Group
WATCH Video
Max's Gift Card Drive
It has been a lot more challenging for young people to find community service opportunities due to Covid-19 restrictions, but with some work and ingenuity, Max was able to spread the word virtually to raise $320 in grocery store gift cards to help us feed local families.

We heard from him and his dad while he worked on his project, and it was great to meet him in person recently. He is with Boy Scout Troop 1113 at St. Leo the Great. He's pictured at right with our Operations Administrator Mila Cobos and Programs Director Christina Garris. Thank you, Max!

With kids going back into schools, we recently re-introduced our Food4Thought food pack project. See links at right to learn more about that and Gift Card Drives.
Click Here to Learn About Our Gift Card Drive Project 
Click Here to Learn About Creating Food4Thought Packs
Can You Help?
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.
Food4Thought Weekend Food for Kids
With schools reopening for in-person classes, some of our Food4Thought FCPS Partner Schools have resumed accepting food donations for their students. Assembling Weekend Food Packs for our partners is a great service project that may be done at home. Requires collecting/donating the food that goes in the packs. Click Here for project details. Click Here to donate funds that we will pass on to Partner Schools. Contact Dorothy Altmiller at 703.273.8829 x888 with questions.
Special Thanks
Food Bridge Supporters
Britepaths is so grateful to our Food Bridge Supporters for providing grocery store gift cards to our Food Bridge families. A big thank you to our March supporting organizations!

 
We still have many openings on our 2021 Food Bridge Delivery Calendar. Can Your Organization Help? Donate Funds online, or contact Christina Garris if you or your organization can fulfill a whole or part delivery. 
American Legion Post 177
We're so grateful to American Legion Post 177 in Fairfax City for donating $1,000 to help us provide emergency food to our families. They also donated in November, and have given generously to other local nonprofits and church food pantries. Since our pantry is closed due to the pandemic, these funds are a lifeline to help us provide grocery store gift cards to struggling families at a time when the need is so great. Thank you!
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 new 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 Counseling 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 Counseling sessions. Learn More
Fairfax County Services
Fairfax County staff are working hard across multiple agencies to assist County residents 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.