AFAC’s Blog

Hello, all.

Here’s the latest news from AFAC.

Client Count: The client count for the week ending December 13, 2008 was 1,126 families. This consists of 2,052 adults and 1,237 children. There are currently 2,099 active client referrals. Last year for this week, we served 787 families, and two years ago this week, we served 634. We are expecting even higher numbers next week, as we did not have one day under 165 families this week during the day.

The Good News: Two unexpected gifts have arrived or will arrive soon. As you know, Arlington County has allocated some new funds for us. And we received a large anonymous donation this week. (If it’s from you, thank you!) Keep spreading the word that we need support.

Computers and Desks: We are looking for two small desks. If you have something that’s five feet or less wide that you would be willing to donate, please let me know. We are also looking for computers that are relatively new. If you have one to donate, please email Charlie at afacCharlie@aol.com with the specs. He’ll tell you if your computer would work here.

ID Cards: We would like to make ID cards for our staff and some volunteers. They would be especially helpful to drivers. If you know a good place to get this done, please let me know.

County Food Drive: The County food drive was a great success! Over 4,000 pounds of food were collected, and we were presented with some of that food at the County Board meeting held on December 16th. Many holiday food drives were done this year, and you can see the results in our warehouse.

Keys - We have had to replace the keys at AFAC. Please contact me or Charlie if you still need a key.

Data Entry Volunteers - Thank you to the new volunteers who are helping in this way. If you can help during the day or on the weekend with these types of projects, please let me know.

Year End Giving - Your year end gift would make a real difference at AFAC. If you would like to make an online gift, just visit our website at www.afac.org.

I’ll write again in January. Our best wishes for a great holiday season go out to all of you from all of us here at AFAC. Let’s hope 2009 brings us fewer families that need our help. Thanks again for all you have done for AFAC in 2008.

Christine

Hello, all.

Thank you for all your efforts on behalf of AFAC. Please help me continue to spread the word about our need for food and funds!

Client count: Last week we served 1,040 families. One year ago, the client count was 724, and two years ago the count was 576. We have 1,980 active referrals.

County Food Drive: The County food drive is in full swing! Most of the food will be delivered to us on Monday, the 15th. The balance will be delivered on Friday, the 19th. If you can help with sorting, please come in Monday or Friday.

Keys - We have had to replace the keys at AFAC. And we are working through the issues of getting new keys to everyone who needs one. Please contact me, if you can stop in and pick up a key.

Data Entry Volunteers - We need more data entry volunteers. If you can help during the day or on the weekend with these types of projects, please let me know.

Holiday Schedule - We will be closed on Christmas and New Year’s Days. Stay tuned for updates on schedules for those weeks.

Nancy Cude - As you know, Nancy is retiring at the end of the year. We are planning a celebration to honor her years of service to AFAC. That event will be in January. I’ll have more next week on this.

Staff and Volunteer Kudos - I want to publicly thank my staff and the volunteers who have worked so hard for us over the past weeks. Just as we were starting the steep increase in the number of families we serve, we also ratcheted up our efforts on food drives. We’ve seen a great increase in support of AFAC, and it’s because of your efforts!

I can never say thank you enough to all our fabulous supporters. Please keep up the good work.

Christine

Hello, all.

Here’s the latest news from AFAC.

Client Count: Thankfully, our client load dipped Thanksgiving week. The client count for the week ending November 29, 2008 was 916 families. This consists of 1,577adults and 922 children. There are currently 1,927 active client referrals. One year ago, the client count for the week ending December 1, 2007 was 795 families. Two years ago, the client count for the week ending December 2, 2006 was 627 families.

Families in line at AFAC on November 25th

Extending Hours: We are nearly finished planning the extension of our hours of distribution to accommodate the increase in client load. We’ll start by extending the hours that we are open on Saturdays. This should help relieve the stresses in distribution. Our plan should be in place for the first Saturday January.

Not Too Late: It’s not too late to do a food drive for AFAC for the Holiday season. Please consider sponsoring one at your school, church, business or other organization. Your food drive will help us keep to our goal of having 2/3 of the food we distribute donated to us. Contact Victoria, our food drive coordinator, at afacVictoria@aol.com for information on how to do a food drive.

County Wide Food Drive: Don’t forget about the County’s efforts to help AFAC. For details, see http://www.arlingtonva.us/portals/topics/page66942.aspx. December 8-14, 2008 is “Arlington Takes a Bite Out of Hunger Week.” Most County facilities will have donation boxes for food donations to support us. The website lists all the places that one can donate food, and there are many. If you’ve heard me speak, you’ve likely heard me say that AFAC is the easiest nonprofit to help — just put some extra food in your grocery cart. Now Arlington County is making it even easier by providing so many convenient places that you can make your donation.

Yoga for AFAC Tonight! – From 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. at Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (3811 Lee Highway) you can practice yoga, promote awareness and help AFAC. All donations (in the form of money or nonperishable goods) will come to AFAC. The class will be taught by Pauline Howard. Sun & Moon Yoga is generously donating the space to hold this class. No need to register; just show up.

Souper Bowl – While you are making your winter plans, make a note for Souper Bowl Sunday, February 1, 2009. “Souper Bowl of Caring equips and mobilizes congregations, schools and businesses to positively impact their communities by collecting money or food on or near Super Bowl weekend.” Many congregations and individuals have participated in the past by collecting food for AFAC on this Sunday. If you would like to help in this way, contact Victoria, our food drive coordinator at afacVictoria@aol.com.

Yorktown Band Concert Supports AFAC - Join me on December 11th at the Yorktown High School Band Winter Concert at 7:00 p.m. Concert goers are being asked to support AFAC by bringing canned goods! The Concert Band’s program includes an exciting rendition of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, as well as a David Holsinger favorite, On a Hymnsong of Phillip Bliss, and others. The Symphonic Band will feature a number of pieces including the finale of Antonin Dvorak’s New World Symphony, and a classic selection from British Wind Band composer Gustav Holst.

Volunteer Needs: We are in real need of help with driving, picking up from food drives, and sorting in the warehouse. If you have time, please come in. Help is especially needed in the afternoons. Also, we will be closed for distribution on Monday, December 15th. We are expecting the County food drives donations to come in that day. If you can help anytime that day, please let Puwen or Mario know at afacPuwen@aol.com or afacMario@aol.com.

Please feel free to forward this note to anyone who might be interested in helping us. If you don’t wish to received our updates, just let me know.

Thank you for all you do for AFAC.

Christine