AFAC Info: June 30th, 2011

Family Bagging Night
Do you have children between the ages of 5 and 10? Looking for a way to volunteer with them? Consider Family Bagging Night on Monday, July 11th from 6:30-7:30pm. We have openings for five more families. Please sign-up by contacting volunteer4afac@afac.org.

Join AFAC at the Shirlington Jazz Festival, every Thursday from July 7th-August 25th, 6:30-8:30pm. Each Thursday, a wine tasting will be held in conjunction with the live music: $5 for 4 tastings. All proceeds benefit AFAC. We need 6 volunteers to help per shift, 6-7:15pm and 7:15-8:30pm. You must be 21 to volunteer.
We need volunteers for the first shift on July 21st, August 11th and 25th and for the second shift on August 25th. If interested, please contact volunteer4afac@afac.org .

Night Owl Volunteers needed
The Trader Joe’s in Bailey’s Crossroads generously donates produce and other items to AFAC on weekday nights. The pick-ups take place between 10-11pm. Currently we need substitute drivers for various weekday nights. Volunteers must be able to lift 30-40 pounds. If you’ll be driving for us, you must be a licensed driver, provide a current DMV record, and be able to drive the AFAC van. We ask volunteers to make a six month commitment. Please contact us at volunteer4afac@afac.org for more information.

See how our gardens grow
Julie Damore, a volunteer at the Central Library garden holds a bouquet of broccoli and cucumbers that were harvested from the Central Library garden on Wednesday morning. They were brought in just in time to be put on the shelf for our clients.

Drop off Produce Donations Here:
AFAC, 2708 S. Nelson Street, Arlington, VA 22206: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm, Saturday 8am-3pm
Master Gardeners Help Desk at the Courthouse Farmers Market, adjacent to the Arlington County Courthouse Parking Lot, at the intersection of N. Courthouse Rd. and N. 14th St: Saturdays 8am-Noon
Rock Spring United Church of Christ, 5010 Little Falls Road, Arlington, VA 22207: Sundays 9am-Noon

Making AFAC Sparkle – Happy 4th of July! AFAC Info: June 30th, 2011

Time for a little change at AFAC – over the summertime a number of renovation projects will be taking place at AFAC. In the coming weeks the façade of our building will be repaired and repainted – the first time since AFAC moved in almost 14 years ago. There has been a lot of wear and tear on the building in those years, especially near the loading dock where a truck backed into the brickwork displacing a number of bricks and cracking many more. This will be the first of several projects meant to address longstanding deferred maintenance items, to help improve the energy efficiency of our building, and to improve the working conditions for our staff and volunteers. In addition to the façade repair, the second floor single pane windows will be replaced and the cracked and broken concrete out front will be removed and replaced.

Later in the summer the current office space will be renovated to allow the installation of new modular office furniture. As many of you know, we have far too many staff working in poorly designed offices filled with old desks and file cabinets donated over many years. The renovation will also increase the amount of much needed working space available for our office volunteers. The modular work stations were a generous donation from the Solar Electric Power Association facilitated by John Murphy, Chairman of the AFAC Board of Directors and President of Washington Workplace.

We are also going to replace AFAC 1, our oldest van purchased in 1998, with a new larger vehicle. AFAC 1 has served us well over the years but the cost of repairs has increased to unacceptable levels and some essential parts are almost impossible to find. We are looking at a larger vehicle to handle the increasing weight of the numerous food purchases and pickups we are making. Safety is also a growing concern. The new vehicle will be “loading dock” height and have a lift gate to make off-loading safer for our volunteers and warehouse staff.
I hope you will bear with us through these changes. There will be some disruptions, but we will continue to serve our many families throughout the process.
Hosting a 4th of July BBQ? Consider asking guests to bring something extra for AFAC. We are in need of cereal, 2lb packages of flour & sugar, cooking oil, dried beans, low-sugar canned fruits, and more. For more information on how to hold a food drive for AFAC or a list of our current needs, click here.

Don’t have time to drop-off donations at AFAC in South Arlington? Consider dropping off donations at Central or Cherrydale Library in North Arlington.

Special Hours: Holiday and Inventory Closures
This Friday, July 1st, AFAC will be closed for our annual inventory. We will be open Saturday morning July 2nd for our regular distribution. We will also be closed Monday, July 4th in honor of Independence Day and re-open on Tuesday, July 5th.
As always, the cooking demonstration is a big hit among our clients. This week, Chef Sandra made eggplant and white bean sauce and Chef Helen, vegetable frittata. Visit the Plot Against Hunger website for recipes from the cooking demonstrations.

Have a safe and fun weekend!

Charlie

Jazz & Wine for AFAC! AFAC Info: June 23rd, 2011

Join AFAC at the Shirlington Jazz Festival, every Thursday from July 7th-August 25th, 6:30-8:30pm. Each Thursday, a wine tasting will be held in conjuction with the live music: $5 for 4 tastings. All proceeds benefit AFAC. We need 6 volunteers to help per shift, 6-7:15pm and 7:15-8:30pm. You must be 21 to volunteer. We have enough volunteers for July 7th, but still need volunteers for all the other Thursdays: July 14th, 21th, 28th and August 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th. If interested, please contact volunteer4afac@afac.org.

Produce Baggers Needed Saturday, July 2nd, 12:30-2:30pm
Vendors at Arlington’s Courthouse, Columbia Pike and Crystal City Farmers’ Markets all donate produce to AFAC each week. We seek volunteer help in repackaging produce Saturday, July 2nd, 12:30-2:30pm and many other Saturdays and Sundays this summer. We also need help picking up donations from the markets. Details and how to register are located on our website.

AFAC Young Professionals (YPs)
AFAC’s YP’s is a group of 21-40 year olds in Arlington who raise awareness of hunger in our community and support AFAC’s mission through volunteering, social, and networking events. Email them at young.professionals@afac.org for more information and check them out on the AFAC-YP Facebook page.

Night Owl Volunteers needed The Trader Joe’s in Bailey’s Crossroads generously donates produce and other items to AFAC on weekday nights. The pick-ups take place between 10-11pm. Currently we need a substitute driver for various weekday nights. Volunteers must be able to lift 30-40 pounds. If you’ll be driving for us, you must be a licensed driver and able to drive the AFAC van. We ask volunteers to make a six month commitment. Please contact us at volunteer4afac@afac.org for more information.

“It’s a Field of Dreams, with all the corn!” said Patty Adair, troop leader of Girl Scout Cadet Troop 557. This spring the troop planted a huge Plot Against Hunger at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. We look forward to watching this garden grow.

Drop off Produce Donations Here:
AFAC, 2708 S. Nelson Street, Arlington, VA 22206: Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm, Saturday 8am-3pm
Master Gardeners Help Desk at the Courthouse Farmers Market, adjacent to the Arlington County Courthouse Parking Lot, at the intersection of N. Courthouse Rd. and N. 14th St: Saturday 8am-Noon
Rock Spring United Church of Christ, 5010 Little Falls Road, Arlington, VA 22207: Sunday 9am-Noon

AFAC Info: June 23rd, 2011

Thank you to Encore Stage & Studio for hosting a food drive in conjunction with their production of Jack and the Magic Beans.

Beer and Food Tasting and more by ESI International
Many thanks to ESI International for rallying their staff for a variety of ways to benefit AFAC, from food drives to grocery bagging, from chicken bagging to hosting a beer and food tasting. We appreciate your continuous support.

Thank you, Crystal City
On Tuesday evenings, AFAC volunteers pick up produce from the farmers’ market in Crystal City. On Friday mornings, another volunteer picks up produce from the Crystal City BID’s Community Supported Agriculture program. Summer vacations mean that members of the program who cannot pick up their shares of produce, donate their week’s share to AFAC. We appreciate these donations of fresh, local produce.

Thank you to the Youth Services Opportunities Project (YSOP) for sending two groups of students to volunteer with AFAC this week.

Charlie

AFAC Info: June 16th, 2011

Mark your calendars for the Shirlington Jazz Festival!
It starts July 7th and runs every Thursday through August 25th. For $5, taste 4 delicious wines (2 whites, 2 reds) while you groove to the music. Wine tasting proceeds benefit AFAC.

Plot Against Hunger
See how our gardens grow:
Science teacher Alison Sheahan of Ashlawn Elementary School shows off their courtyard AFAC Plot Against Hunger garden.

Thank you to all who have donated seedlings for the Plot Against Hunger program.
The seedlings were distributed to gardening clients and area gardeners who “plant a row for AFAC.” Free seed is still available for summer and fall plantings. Contact
puwen.lee@afac.org.

AFAC Info: June 16th, 2011

Produce Help Wanted for this Sunday afternoon’s produce handling (June 19), 1:30-3:30 pm.
Have you wanted to see the produce that comes from the farmers markets on
weekends? Here’s your chance! Follow this link to sign up.

Vendors at Arlington’s Courthouse, Columbia Pike and Crystal City Farmers’ Markets all donate produce to AFAC each week. Sunday donations are particularly large and we seek weekly volunteer help in repackaging produce (1:30pm-4pm) and helping with pick ups (12-2pm). Details and how to register are located on our website.

Chicken Baggers needed
AFAC provides chicken as one of its protein offerings to clients. Bulk chicken is bought at wholesale prices and re-bagged by volunteers. We need more help on Chicken Bagging nights, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Wednesday of each month, 6:30-8pm. Wear your old duds and we provide aprons and gloves. Groups larger than 3 should register with the volunteer office at volunteer4afac@afac.org. Children ages 10 and older can help with close adult supervision.

**Please remember to wear closed-toe shoes when volunteering at AFAC.**

1400 clients! AFAC Info: June 16th, 2011

Client Update

During the month of May, our numbers rose above 1400 in 2 of the 4 weeks. The result was that the average number of Family Visits per week rose from 1362 in April to 1382 in May. One reason for the fluctuation in the weekly numbers is that we only distribute to Hunter Park (a low-income senior living facility) every 2 weeks rather than every week. If we distributed each week our numbers would be closer to an average of 1400.

In the coming months, our numbers will take a further increase as we add Culpepper Garden to our low-income senior living distributions and especially as we expand the Backpack Buddies Program (where homeless children take backpacks of AFAC-provided food home for weekends and holidays to avoid hunger when they’re not in school). Several weeks ago I had a discussion with Patrick Murphy, the Superintendent of Arlington County Public Schools (APS), who is very enthusiastic about the program and has assigned an individual on his staff as our liaison. The program will be extended to four of the summer school programs in July (Drew Model School, Hoffman-Boston Elementary, Carlin Springs Elementary, and Kenmore Middle School) and then to all schools in September. This has the potential of adding upwards of 300 new clients. This will be an important expansion of our services to the Arlington community and one that will provide a significant help to the many children who go to school hungry.

Thank You
Our thanks to the Barcroft Elementary School’s PTA for donating the proceeds from their
Farm-to-Table Week film & dinner held last Friday evening. The week’s activities included: a presentation by actor Jeff Bridges, Gov. Bob McDonnell and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on the national “No Kid Hungry” campaign; healthy lunches prepared by local chefs; and a scavenger hunt at the Columbia Pike Farmers’ Market.

Thank you to Eagle Scout Sean Cassidy of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for holding a pancake breakfast fundraiser for AFAC last Saturday. According to one parishioner: “…gangs of kids showed up to work and eat! A very fun event!”

Thank you to AFAC’s Young Professionals (YPs) for hosting a happy hour for AFAC at Mad Rose Tavern in Clarendon. Fun times were had by all the YPs. To get involved, visit their Facebook page or email young.professionals@afac.org.

Charlie

AFAC Info: June 9th, 2011

Summer Teen Program
Every summer teens age 14 and up volunteer to help with morning distribution. Their cheerful presence keeps the warehouse running while regular volunteers take their summer vacations. Registration for AFAC’s summer teen program has begun. Teens should sign up for an orientation on either Monday, June 13th or Thursday, June 16th by emailing Laura Jackson at
laura.jackson@afac.org. You can read more about the program and how to sign-up on our website.

Help bring fresh produce to AFAC’s clients
Drivers and helpers needed to pick-up produce at Courthouse Farmers Market (Saturday 11:30am-1:00pm), Columbia Pike Farmers Market (Sundays 12:30-2:00pm), and Crystal City Farmers Market (Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00pm).

Produce Handlers needed at AFAC’s warehouse Saturday (12:30-3:30pm) and Sunday (1:30-4:00pm) afternoons. Details and how to register are located on our website.
**Please remember to wear closed-toe shoes when volunteering at AFAC.**

Lenora Sowa has been volunteering with AFAC for seven years. She has provided invaluable assistance as a weekend distribution supervisor, using her language skills and her sensitivity to the many challenges which clients face. Lenora’s print shop, Sowa Printing, was AFAC’s printer for many years. Lenora’s volunteer story can be found here. Thank you again Lenora, for your dedication to AFAC.

Plot Against Hunger
Summertime and harvests are coming in…
Gardener? If you have surplus harvests, please donate them to AFAC. Deliveries are welcome Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm; Saturdays 8:00am-2:00pm. Contact puwen.lee@afac.org for more information.

Pancakes, magic beans, and more fun with AFAC! AFAC Info: June 9th, 2011

Can you eat pancakes and support AFAC too? Yes, and it only takes 3 cans or boxes!
Where: St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207 (Cherrydale Neighborhood)
When: Saturday, June 11th, 9-11 am
Cost: 3 cans of food or 3 boxes of cereal. Monetary donations for AFAC welcome.

Join AFAC at Encore Stage & Studio’s production of “Jack and the Magic Beans” on Sunday, June 12th at 3pm — AFAC Day!
Encore is hosting a food drive in conjunction with this production — their goal is 500 pounds of donated dried beans! Help them by attending the show, especially on Sunday, June 12th when AFAC will be recognized on stage. Many thanks to Encore for donating 20 tickets to share with client families. We hope to see you there!

Join AFAC’s Young Professionals (YPs) at Mad Rose Tavern for Happy Hour on Wednesday, June 15th!
Find us on the patio from 5-8pm and bring a friend (or five!). Mad Rose Tavern (3100 Clarendon Blvd, Suite PL15 – Clarendon Metro Stop) is donating 10% of the proceeds to AFAC. Happy Hour Specials: $2 off all draft beers; $4 rail drinks and happy hour wines. For more information, contact young.professionals@afac.org or find us on Facebook.

Mark your calendars for the Shirlington Jazz Festival!
It starts July 7th and runs every Thursday through August 25th. For $5, taste 4 delicious wines (2 whites, 2 reds). Wine tasting proceeds benefit AFAC.

AFAC Info: June 9th, 2011

WHAT FUN WE HAD!
Over 250 people joined in the festivities at
AFAC ‘s Benefit Reception for the Permanent Home Campaign Tuesday night at the Washington Golf and Country Club. Our sincere thanks to Monica and John Thompson, III, for their service to AFAC as our honorary co-chairs and for their “charge” to everyone there to continue their support for the families in our community who need our help with the most basic need of all–food for their families. Their remarks were fun and funny; sincere and spontaneous — and we all got the message loud and clear. We are deeply grateful to them and to everyone who spent the evening with us on behalf of our Arlington neighbors in need. The Benefit was a fabulous success because of the tireless and creative efforts of the event chair and AFAC Board member, Melissa Kalner and her Committee — our great thanks to all of them. Check our website in the next week for photos and an update on the Campaign!

AFAC’s Annual Volunteer Picnic this past Sunday was tons of fun. We honored our Volunteer of the Year (Charles Campbell), Volunteer Group of the Year (Restoration Anglican Church), and Community Partners of the Year (two vendors at Columbia Pike market, Penn Farm and Westmoreland Produce). We also recognized the long-standing dedication of volunteers who have been helping AFAC for five, ten, fifteen and twenty years.

Thank you to all who helped chip in to make it possible, from setting up, to helping cook, to cleaning up. We appreciate DJ Rob and Animal Balloon Expert Leandra for donating their time and The Margarita Man for setting us up with delicious strawberry slushies on a hot day!Thanks to Elizabeth Locke and Anh Ninh for taking pictures at the event. Check our website next week to see them. We hope you all had fun.

Thank you to Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church for donating tables to AFAC. We appreciate this very useful and needed donation.

Jamestown Elementary School collected 1,246 pounds of cereal in their food drive for AFAC! Our clients are very happy to get it in their grocery bags. Thank you.

Patrick Henry Elementary School’s 2nd graders grew tomato plants to donate to clients and had a tomato plant sale, raising $123 for AFAC. We look forward to seeing what else they grow in their Plot Against Hunger garden.

Charlie