Hello. Here are the latest statistics on AFAC’s client count.
Client Count Week ending: Families* Adults Children % increase
November 7 1283 2299 1448 –
1 year ago 1013 1800 1063 27%
2 years ago 759 1296 693 69%
*The family count consists of Adults and Children.
The Giving Season
Are you like me, old enough to remember the phrase – “I gave at the office”? Many organizations used to do door-to-door collections. Now there are easy ways to really give at the office. You can donate to AFAC through the United Way. Our number is 8354. You can also donate through the Combined Federal Campaign – #19265, and the Combined Virginia Campaign – # 8004. These organizations make it easy to donate to AFAC, both through one time gifts and payroll deduction.
Thanks go out to Gayle Fleming, Tracy Walczak, Kathy Fong, Audrey Elkins, Rick Bosi and the many other Keller Williams agents who put on a fabulous fundraiser for AFAC’s Permanent Home Campaign last night. It was quite an event! I’ll report next week on some fundraising totals, but the KW ACTS team sure came through for us again this year!
Volunteer Opportunities
Attention Artists! The holidays are just around the corner and we are looking for artwork for AFAC’s holiday card. The card format is 5″x7″ but we can accept larger-size art work, which will be reduced to card size. Holiday and food themes would be appreciated. If you would like to submit your artwork (or your child’s) for consideration, please submit to either volunteer4afac@aol.com or bring it to us at AFAC, M-F, 9 am – 5 pm. Submission deadline: Monday, November 23., 5 pm. We will save originals after we have selected the final card cover (and may request permission to use some art work for other occasions).
Afternoon free? Join us this coming Friday afternoon November 20, noon-4 pm (weather permitting). AFAC will be picking potatoes at the USDA Agricultural Station, Beltsville, MD just in time for our clients to have potatoes with Thanksgiving turkey. Contact Puwen at afacpuwen@aol.com for details.
Are you a baker? We need bakers who can provide a few dozen cookies and/or quick breads for morning and evening volunteers who will work in the cold warehouse the two weeks of December 16-28. Contact Puwen at afacpuwen@aol.com for delivery dates and times.
We are looking for a volunteer who can help research local feeding programs in Arlington that provide groceries, have food pantries, or provide cooked meals. AFAC sometimes receives an overabundance of certain foods that we would like to share with other feeding programs so we need a comprehensive contact list. Please contact Puwen at afacpuwen@aol.com if you are interested in helping in this short project.
Events
This Saturday, November 14th — Boy Scout Food Drive: Don’t forget to fill the bag the Boy Scouts left on your door last weekend with non-perishable food. Leave it outside your door by 8am, and the Scouts will pick it up and get it to AFAC. If you don’t have a troop picking up in your neighborhood, bring your donation to AFAC, 2708 S. Nelson St.
Thursday, November 26th, 8am — Turkey Trot: Come run, walk or push your baby stroller through the Lyon Park & Ashton Heights neighborhood. The goal of the Arlington Turkey Trot 5K is to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy a fun, healthy Thanksgiving activity together. The race starts at Christ Church of Arlington, 3020 N. Pershing Drive. Some proceeds of this event will benefit AFAC this year, and there will be a food drive connected to the event as well. To register or find more information, go to http://www.ccapca.org/turkeytrot.htm.
Thank you
Our thanks to Melissa McCracken and parent representatives for launching the AFAC School Outreach Committee this fall. This committee will be working on assisting AFAC in coordination of year-round food drives and other AFAC-related activities in the schools. We are currently looking for parent reps for Swanson Middle School, Drew Model School, and the Career Center. If you are interested in being a parent liaison for your school, please contact Melissa at mccrackens@verizon.net.
Over the summer months, Arlington County and School Board members visited a number of church, school and community gardens around Arlington that plant vegetables for AFAC’s Plot Against Hunger program. Thank you to Mary and Brendan McLean for their help in making these visits possible.
Thanks for all you do for AFAC. We need and appreciate your support.
Christine
Christine Lucas
AFAC Executive Director
703.845.8486
afacchristine@aol.com
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