A Critical Nonprofit
ACCA has been evaluated by Spur Local (formerly Catalogue for Philanthropy) and recognized as a critical nonprofit for 2023. ACCA has passed the annual review which consisted of a programmatic and financial assessment. Find out more.
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ACCA Leadership in 1967
In 1967, many local low-income families who left welfare and obtained jobs were no longer eligible for subsidized daycare for their children. Without such daycare, they would be forced to stop working and go back on welfare.
ACCA founders, Fred and Emily Ruffing, met with representatives of eight local churches to set up a daycare center to provide assistance to the working poor. They succeeded in meeting the need, and the organization they founded – the Annandale Christian Community for Action – branched out into other activities, all under the banner of “doing what Jesus would do”.
The daycare center is now the ACCA Child Development Center (CDC), which provides developmental childcare and early education for almost 200 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The first director was Dr. Marian "Mixie" Houk who visited with the staff and children at the CDC in early September.
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Dr. Mixie Houk (center) with her daughter (left) and an assistant teacher at the CDC (right) during her recent visit. | |  |
Dr. Mixie Houk, former CDC director, paid a visit to Mary Folks, current teacher at the CDC with 50+ years of service. | | |
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September is Hunger Action Month. The Fairfax Food Council has stated there are currently 75,000 individuals in the county who are food insecure and just under 60,000 children qualifying for free and reduced meals in Fairfax County Public Schools. Since the pandemic, it is estimated that the number of residents who are food insecure has doubled.
Read more about hunger in the DC area.
How Can You Help?
Cash Donation - A cash donation allows ACCA to purchase fresh foods and hygiene products to supplement donated items. Donate online, use PayPal, or send a check. .
Food Donations - visit one of our upcoming Food Drives to make a donation of non-perishable foods and hygiene products that ACCA can deliver to our nearby families. Find out what is most needed here.
Food drives are scheduled from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on the following dates:
at Giant Food at 7137 Columbia Pike, Annandale. Food will be collected in the Mason District Police cruiser parked at the curb. A collection box will also be available in the conference room at the Mason District Government Center from September through November during NARFE Chapter 1159 membership meetings.
We will be collecting food donations on Tuesday-Friday from 1:30-4 pm at the ACCA food pantry located at 7200 Columbia Pike (trailer separate from the day care center) in Annandale. Please do not drop off food if a volunteer is not available.
Do you have a garden? ACCA can also distribute fresh produce to clients from your home gardens. Please deliver to the pantry on Tuesday – Wednesday between 1:30 and 4 p.m. (so the produce is delivered to clients before the weekend). Thank you for your support.
Walk for Hunger Relief
Register now for the annual CROP Hunger Walk on Saturday October 14. Walkers can make a donation or collect donations from family and friends. The walk will be at Lake Accotink Park, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. The walk raises funds for Church World Service hunger relief and poverty-fighting programs around the world and for ACCA. For more information visit this site or contact Camille Mittelholtz kcmittelholtz@gmail.com or accacrop@gmail.com .
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Clothing Collection
The Annandale Mission Center distributes children's clothing to families in need. Boys and girls clothing are needed in sizes from 2T through 16. Clothing may be dropped off at the Mission Center at 7901 Heritage Drive in Annandale. If a volunteer is not on site please leave clothes in the wooden box outside the double red doors. The mission center is part of one of our ACCA member churches, Annandale United Methodist Church.
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Drivers needed
Drivers are needed for the Shepherd's Center of Annandale Springfield-ACCA transportation program, to provide rides to medical and therapy appointments for persons age 50 or older who cannot drive themselves. If interested, please contact the Shepherd's Center at 703-941-1419 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday or shepherdscas@vacoxmail.com.
Visit the Shepherd's Center website for information about other Shepherd's Center events for senior citizens at shepherdscenter-annandale.org.
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Teachers Needed
The ACCA Child Development center needs teachers! We are looking for educators who genuinely enjoy building nurturing relationships with children by helping them play, explore, learn, and grow. We employ more than 50 professionals in a variety of full-time and part-time roles. Our staff members are highly regarded in our field and passionate about our mission. For us, every person is essential.
Interested applicants may email a cover letter (specifying desired position) and resume to: jobs@accacdc.org. Please share this information with your friends and neighbors.
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Hunger Walk - Register Now and Poster Event
Join us on Saturday October 14 for the Annandale CROP Hunger Walk. The walk will be at Lake Accotink Park, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. The walk raises funds for Church World Service hunger relief and poverty-fighting programs around the world and for ACCA. We will have a poster event for youth through grade 12. The posters should be on a theme of fighting hunger or the CROP Hunger Walk and on paper up to 14" x 22". Please mark the artist's name and age on the back and get entries to Camille Mittelholtz by October 9 (contact accacrop@gmail.com). The posters will be displayed at the CROP walk. More information is available.
See all of our upcoming events.
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Learn About Resources & Explore Volunteer Opportunities - Oct 15
Are you thinking of volunteering? Looking to add new and enriching activities to your life? Want to create new connections?
Come to the Venture into Volunteering Fair at the Springfield Town Center on the lower level, Sunday, October 15, 2023, 12p.m.- 4p.m.! Representatives from county and nonprofit organizations will be there to share information about a wide variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the region. Whether you have 1-2 hours to give, or more, there’s something for everyone! Go to bit.ly/VOLFAIR for more information.
The Beacon 50+ Expo will be happening simultaneously on the upper level. The 50+ Expo offers a wide array of information on local resources for older adults, as well as health screenings, flu shots, and vaccines. Both events are free and there will be door prizes!
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Immediate Job Opening for Building and Grounds Manager at Little River Church of Christ, Full-time.
The Building and Grounds Manager is responsible for the general maintenance of the buildings, major equipment, and grounds at Little River United Church of Christ at 8410 Little River Turnpike in Annandale. This is a full-time position. Benefits include medical insurance, paid holidays, and paid time off. The starting pay rate is $20 per hour. Email Resumes to: office@lruccc.org Please share with your friends and families.
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Help Wanted: Mission Center Custodian
Perform custodial maintenance duties, including dusting, mopping, finishing and buffing floors, vacuuming and shampooing carpets, cleaning and restocking restrooms. Light building maintenance. Applicants must be proficient in English and eligible to be employed in the United States; experienced with janitorial and custodial tasks; able to pass a criminal background check; able to lift up to 50 pounds. Expected work schedule is 3 to 4 hours a night, 5 nights a week. The Mission Center is located at 7901 Heritage Drive, Annandale VA 22003. Download a job description and application at annandalechurch.com/custodian .
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Hands On Harvests
Hands On Harvests (HOH), a nonprofit dedicated to boosting access to fresh produce, gardening education and reducing food waste in Northern Virginia, is the planned operator of the garden in the new Annandale Civic Space located at 7200 Columbia Pike in central Annandale. We anticipate the new park will open later in October.
One of HOH’s top priorities is to make this garden a community space that reflects and celebrates Annandale’s diversity of food heritages. To achieve that, we’re seeking volunteers to help us in two different roles:
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Garden Management Team volunteers. This team, led by Hands On Harvests, will determine the annual goals of the garden and help with volunteer recruitment, program ideas, multi-language translation, and publicity. Initially Hands On Harvests will take on the bulk of this work, but community input is critical.
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Gardening Maintenance volunteers, who would help take care of the garden on scheduled work days. Volunteers would sign up to help plant, weed, water and harvest on days that are convenient for them. Volunteers may take some harvested food; the rest of any harvests will be donated to ACCA’s food pantry.
If you’re interested in either or both volunteer opportunities, please email stacey.evers@handsonharvests.org.
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Storage Space Needed - Our current furniture warehouse is full! The ACCA Furniture Program needs storage space for the gently used furniture that is donated and then delivered to our neighbors in need. We need help locating storage space. Please share with your friends and neighbors! Email furniture@accacares.org.
Furniture Delivery Volunteers - Can you help deliver furniture and household goods to families in the ACCA service area? Register online or contact furniture@accacares.org if you're able to help.
Food Delivery Drivers and Captains - 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. We also need volunteer Food Captains who work remotely to coordinate the requests for food with the drivers schedule. Complete the volunteer interest form.
Contact us at volunteers@accacares.org for more information.
Find out more about volunteering with ACCA.
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Annandale Christian Community for Action
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