12 Ways of Giving
"12 Ways of Giving" campaign is an annual event that showcases many ways for meaningful, local giving during the holiday season, highlighting nonprofits in Fairfax County. www.fairfaxcountypartnerships.org
Office to End and Prevent Homelessness - OPEH
OPEH supports the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness which engages nonprofits, businesses, faith-based communities and county agencies in its efforts to implement the 10-Year plan, which focuses on rapid re-housing and prevention by increasing the availability of permanent affordable housing. www.ziphomelessness.com
Assistance League of Northern Virginia
An all-volunteer organization that clothes, feeds, educates and nurtures those in need. Working through six elementary schools and Inova Fairfax Hospital, Assistance League touches the lives of some of the most needy in Northern Virginia. The schools involved include Dogwood Elementary in Reston, Lynbrook Elementary and Garfield Elementary in Springfield, Cora Kelly Elementary in Alexandria and Pine Spring Elementary in Falls Church. Volunteers and donors are always needed. Contact ALNorthernVA@yahoo.com or www.northernvirginia.assistanceleague.org
Lamb Center
A day center for the homeless, currently seeking donations and general volunteers. 703-691-3178 or www.thelambcenter.org.
Fairfax City Area FISH - Friendly Immediate Sympathetic Help
Working with the Office of Coordinated Services Planning and Fairfax County Department of Human Services, FISH helps local citizens who are in temporary need of life's basic necessities such as food, clothing and financial assistance for rent, mortgage payments, utilities and medical treatments. FISH also provides limited transportation for doctor appointments and food delivery. 703-222-0880 or http://fairfaxfish.org/.
Comfort for America's Uniformed Services - CAUSE
Ensures that recuperating service members have opportunities for recreation and social interaction and receive concrete signs of appreciation for all that they have done. 703-591-4968 or cause-usa.org.
Food for Others
The nonprofit provides a safety net for people who suddenly face unforeseen emergencies such as a family illness or the loss of a job or a spouse. 703-207-9173 or www.foodforothers.com.
Britepaths!
The Holiday Program helps those in need with food for the holidays and gifts for their children, making last year's holiday season brighter for approximately 3,000 families. For more information on their holiday programs, including how to sponsor a family, go to www.odbfairfax.com/holiday.
Fairfax Families for Kids
Fairfax Families4Kids gives youth ages 12 to 21, currently living in foster care or out of foster care, the opportunity to participate in group and individual mentoring, and spend quality time in the community engaged in regularly scheduled, structured group activities. Sample group activities include: chess tournaments, bowling, basketball camps, fitness and dance classes, badminton, horseback riding, 5-K walks, etc. The youth also participate in community service projects such as: packing school backpacks for children in Haiti, sending boxes to soldiers, raising money for the homeless, etc. www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs/fairfaxfamilies4kids.htm.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington Fairfax Area
Aims to help youth become confident, civic-minded, responsible adults through programs focused on education/career development, health and life skills, leadership, the arts, sports and recreation, and mentoring. www.bgcgw.org/fairfax/.
FACETS FACETS helps parents, their children and individuals who suffer the effects of poverty in the Fairfax area. FACETS is always in need of volunteers, and offers a variety of one-time and ongoing opportunities, including a monthly Youth Volunteer Night. 703-865-4251 or http://facetscares.org/.
Lorton Community Action Center
Lorton Community Action Center, located at 9518 Richmond Highway (behind the Lorton Library) assists more than 200 families each week through our pantry, in addition to ESL, tutoring, emergency rent and other types of assistance for seniors, low-income and military families within southern Fairfax County. LCAC’s thrift store, Lorton’s Attic provides qualifying families vouchers for clothing and other items, and accepts furniture and clothing donations. Please see LCAC’s website, www.LortonAction.org or call,703/339-5161, ext. 140 for more information on how to be involved.
Kurdish Human Rights Watch
KHRW began in 1989 with the mission to enable Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, asylee newcomers and homeless individuals to achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence through direct assistance and capacity-building. www.khrw.org/.
Pathway Homes
Established in 1980, Pathways focuses on providing housing and support services to individuals with serious mental illnesses, with the mission to help these individuals reach their full potential and lead stable lives. They offer both in-home programs, semi-independent houses and assisted living facilities. www.pathwayhomes.org/.
The Well Spouse Association
The Well Spouse Association, a national nonprofit which provides peer support to those caring for a chronically ill or disabled spouse, has free support groups in various northern VA locations. For more info, go to www.wellspouse.org or call 800-838-0879.