May 2023

In Appreciation of Our Volunteers


We were happy to honor our ACCA Volunteers at a picnic on Saturday, May 13 at Mason District Park. More than 70 volunteers and their guests attended and enjoyed catering from Moe's Southwest Grill. Several volunteers were recognized for 20+ years of service and one dedicated volunteer was recognized for over 50 years of service! Thank you to all who volunteer with ACCA!

Rebuilding Together


ACCA has been partnering with Rebuilding Together for 30+ years and our teams have repaired over 130 homes through over 3900 hours of service. This year we took on two homes on the April 29th workday.


The team from Annandale United Methodist Church and St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Ken Mittelholtz, made repairs for Hartwood Foundation, Inc. at one of their residential homes where they provide supportive services for adults with intellectual disabilities. The ACCA volunteers made repairs to walkways, took care of yard maintenance and built a lovely patio where the Hartwood residents can enjoy the outdoors. Lincolnia United Methodist Church volunteers provided delicious lunches.


Another team worked on a house owned by Operation Renewed Hope Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to providing quality housing and supportive services to homeless veterans. Volunteers from John Calvin Presbyterian Church, Providence Presbyterian Church and Ravensworth Baptist Church, led by Brian Meli and Jim Lewis completed a variety of tasks including removing carpeting and wallpaper, yard cleanup, mulch spreading, and power washing. They also repaired the downspouts and the sidewalk, replaced the mailbox, and painted parts of the outside house wall. A small group of volunteers worked on building a new shed and got most of the work done. A later Rebuilding Together group will return to finish the shed. Karen Barnoski and the ladies of Queen of Apostles provided wonderful lunches and snacks. This year’s partnership with a non-profit dedicated to providing quality housing and supportive services to homeless veterans was especially rewarding.


Thank you to the ACCA Community for their generous support in improving housing for our neighbors.

Thank You!


Thanks to the continued support of The Rotary Club of Bailey's Crossroads, the pantry took in over a ton of food on May 20 as they held their second Stuff the Cruiser Food Drive of the year at the Giant Food Store in Annandale. This was a joint effort of the Rotary Club and the Officers from the Mason District Police Station. The Rotary was also joined by members of the Mason Citizens Advisory Committee and Cadets from Fairfax County Public Safety Cadet Unit 505.


The funds for a cash donation came from the Baileys Crossroads Rotary Club Mustang Raffle Fundraiser. Future food drives have been scheduled for September 7, October 5 and November 2.


Pictured here: Volunteers manage the Stuff the Cruiser event on May 20.

Lydia Walter, Outstanding Volunteer


Lydia Walter is an outstanding volunteer who has served as a Mentor in our Neighbor to Neighbor program for two years. She was nominated to the Volunteer Fairfax awards program and was recognized at their event on May 10. The Neighbor to Neighbor program in partnership with Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA) helps refugee families as they transition to life in Fairfax County.


Lydia has worked with an Afghan family of 5, helping them navigate the health, welfare and school systems as they settled in here. She also helped furnish their apartment and provided clothes, books and toys for the two boys. Her home has become Grandma’s house where they celebrate birthdays and other special occasions and where the boys can play safely. Lydia has taken them to the zoo and other fun places while supporting the adults as they dealt with legal issues, job searches and ESL classes. In short, she has been their source of strength and stability as they settle in to life in America.


Pictured above: ACCA Volunteers Diane Gavin, Lydia Walter, Marie Monsen


Find out more about the volunteers celebrated by Volunteer Fairfax.

Donations for Food Pantry


As families across the country struggle with reduced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, we have seen an increase in demand for food from our food pantry here in Annandale. At the same time, we've all seen the increased prices for food overall which is depleting the funds we've set aside for fresh foods. Although we had very successful food drives in February, our shelves are bare. Can you help? We need:


1) Cash to purchase fresh foods. Donate online through the Catalogue for Philanthropy


2) Nonperishable foods - We will be collecting food donations Tuesday-Friday afternoons from 1:30 pm - 4 pm, with the exception of County Holidays and other scheduled closings. The ACCA food pantry is located at 7200 Columbia Pike (trailer separate from the day care center) in Annandale (next to the fire station). Please do not drop off food if a volunteer is not available. What we need.


3) Volunteers to pick up food from the pantry and make local deliveries - fill out the volunteer interest form.


Please share this information with your family, friends, and neighbors.

Taste of Annandale


The Taste of Annandale featured an entire day of performances and activities for children on April 29, hosted by the ACCA Child Development Center (CDC).


CDC Executive Director Maria Isabel Ballivian scheduled shows for the children featuring performers from the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts. There was also a DJ, storybook readings hosted by the Fairfax County Public Library, a karaoke station, face painting, temporary tattoos, and the Paw Patrol. Find out more about the Taste of Annandale.


Pictured above: Wendy Zeron, Curriculum Coordinator, CDC and ACCA president Sue Mairena.

April Impact Report

Type of Assistance

Households Helped

Individuals Helped

Amount Provided/Donated

Rent, Utilities, Medical

24

70

$13,714

Furniture

8

27


Transportation

49

49


Food

111

349

10,538 lbs of food (donated)

Total for April

192

495


Donate to ACCA

Volunteers Needed


Our critical needs right now are for food captains, drivers delivering groceries, and furniture delivery team members. Please share these needs with your family, friends, and neighbors!  Please contact us and we'll give you the details.


Furniture Delivery - Can you help deliver furniture and household goods to families in the ACCA service area? We will be collecting and delivering furniture on the following Saturdays from 8 a.m. until noon: June 10, June 24, July 8. After a break for truck maintenance in August, we'll resume work on September 9 and 23. Register online or contact furniture@accacares.org if you're able to help by Thursday of those weeks.


Food Captains - ACCA is looking for food captains to coordinate emergency requests for food with drivers who deliver groceries to needy clients within its service area.

Food captains receive requests from County and Inova social workers and then schedule drivers to deliver food to homes, coordinating with the food pantry. Tasks can be done from home but require use of a computer. Training is provided. Food captains are asked to work one week per quarter. Complete the volunteer interest form.


Food Delivery Drivers - ACCA is looking for food delivery drivers to deliver food to needy clients within the Annandale/Bailey's Crossroads area. There is no fixed commitment. Drivers can work weekly or every few weeks or less as it fits their schedules each week. Deliveries are between 1:30 and about 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Drivers receive food referrals from the food captain, contact the client to ensure they will be home, pick up pre-packed food at the pantry, and drive to the client’s residence. The time involved is usually less than an hour. Complete the volunteer interest form.


Contact us at volunteers@accacares.org for more information.


Find out more about volunteering with ACCA.

Following is a poem that was shared at the Volunteer Appreciation Picnic on May 13..


An Ode to our Volunteers!


No matter the day or the month or the year;

Our volunteers are always here;


A warm friendly smile, and reassuring voice,

are the volunteer's accessory of choice;


Whether office or shelter or here or there,

Our volunteers help us out everywhere!


Some for a drive, others day to day

With hearts of gold, they're here to stay!


You seldom say no, you often do more,

From pro bono expert to sweeping the floor;


Time is precious this we know to be true,

That's why we're so glad we're part of what you do!


We know you are busy, with family and friends,

Your volunteering spirit, it knows no end!

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