Happy Thanksgiving from AFAC!

We at AFAC have much to be thankful for, but at the top of the list is all of our many, many dedicated volunteers. Equally important are the many generous donors who make AFAC possible. Through your dedication and generosity, you have made it possible for 1,800 of our neighbors to have a nutritious Thanksgiving dinner!On behalf of our board and the staff of AFAC, I wish a most happy Thanksgiving for you and for all the family and friends you celebrate the day with.

AFAC’s warehouse is overflowing with food to be sorted from the abundance of Thanksgiving food drives. Thank you to the many businesses, churches, civic organizations, and apartment/condo buildings that held Thanksgiving food drives for AFAC!Many schools have been involved in Thanksgiving food drives: McKinley Elementary School collected 759 lbs and Washington-Lee High School collected 2,565 lbs. Sixth graders at Williamsburg Middle School collected over 250 boxes of cereal for AFAC.
Other participating schools include: Arlington Traditional School, Arlington Unitarian Cooperative Preschool, Ashlawn Elementary School, Claremont Spanish Immersion PTA, Fairlington Pre-school, Flint Hill School, George Mason University – Arlington Campus, Gunston Middle School, Gunston Middle School PTA,  H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program,  Island Creek Elementary School, Long Branch Elementary School, Marymount University SAAC, Nottingham Elementary School, Potomac Crescent Waldorf School, Rock Spring Cooperative Preschool, St. Agnes Catholic School, and Wakefield High School.

Doubletree by Hilton Crystal City & Claremont Immersion School partnered together and collected 2,414 lbs of food donations for AFAC.

Many thanks to the Association of the US Army for holding their annual food drive for AFAC. They brought in 347 lbs of stuffing, potatoes and gravy as well as a check to purchase more needed foods.

AFAC’s Young Professionals had a great time at the Giant on Washington Blvd. on Sunday collecting food donations! Thanks for making friends for AFAC and collecting 293 lbs of food donations.

Other groups that held very successful Thanksgiving food drives include: Arlington Central Library, Archstone Columbia Crossing, Arlington Community Federal Credit Union, Arlington Forest United Methodist Church, Arlington Oaks Condominium, Arlington Soccer Association, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, Aurora Hills Senior Center, Ballston Animal Hospital, Barton House Apartments, Bethel UCC, Body by Ginny, Brittany Apartments, Calvary United Methodist Church, Carmel Partners, Central United Methodist Church, Chapman Cubine Adams and Hussey, Clarendon 1021 Condominium, Club Managers Association of America, Columbia Pike Artists Studios, Crossfit Adaption, Crystal Square Apartment, CWTSato Travel, DC Meditation Center, Decisive Analytics Corporation, Devtech Systems, Diplomatic Language Services, Dominion Plaza Apartments, First Presbyterian Church, Fresh Farm Markets, Girl Scout Troops 1014, 4803, and 6585, Green Manor Garden Club, Holland: Hart Foundation, Infinity Apartments, Io Piazza, Jefferson Retirement Home, Larche, Long Branch Brownie Troop #5216,  Memorial Baptist Church, MSCI, North Tract Lofts, Northern Virginia Community College Police, Park at Arlington Ridge, Phoenix Condominium, Porsche of Arlington, Residences at Market Common, Rock Spring Church, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Temple Rodef Shalom, The Meridian Apartments, Zonta Club of Arlington, The Arlington Community, Westover Baptist Church, Westview at Ballston Market, Windsor Plaza, YMCA Arlington, 2121 & 2200 & 2300 Columbia Pike Apartments, and 3001 Park Center.

And thank you to Poor Robert’s Charities for donating turkeys!

Holiday Challenge!

Night Owls wanted. The new Trader Joe’s in Clarendon opened recently and we need volunteers to help with food donation pick-ups. The pick-up time will be approximately 9-11pm. Nights to be determined. You must be a licensed driver, able to drive the AFAC van, able to lift 30-40 pounds and willing to make a 6-month commitment for once a week pick-up. Please contact volunteer4afac@afac.org for more information.

Early Morning Volunteer Drivers Needed. Are you an early riser? Do you have Sunday mornings between 7am and 10am free? Two grocery stores (Giant on Duke Street in Alexandria and Harris Teeter in Shirlington) donate on Sunday mornings to AFAC. We are looking for two teams of volunteer drivers who can pick-up donations at these stores Sundays between 7 and 10am. If interested and available to make a 6-month commitment (team rotation), please contact  puwen.lee@afac.org.


“Holiday Challenge” Food Drive
. AFAC clients truly love having cooking staples, such as sugar, cooking oil and flour. Our goal is to collect 1500 of each by December 15th. Please challenge your co-workers, friends, and family to help us meet this goal.

Ride a local ART bus? No time to bring a donation to AFAC? No problem! ART buses are having food drives for AFAC between today and December 16th. Just drop off your donation when you get on the bus.

Shopping for the holidays, carriage rides, facials, art & wine, and breakfast with Santa…

Shop for the holidays – Small Business Saturday – Saturday, November 26th. Get going on your holiday shopping and save 10% while helping AFAC. Four shops in The Village at Shirlington, Le Village Marche (2800 South Randolph Street #110 A, 10am-9pm), Bloomers (4150 Campbell Ave., 10am-8pm), Ah love Oil & Vinegar (4017 Campbell Ave., 10am-10pm), and CakeLove (4150 Campbell Ave., 10am-9pm) are hosting food drives for AFAC as part of Small Business Saturday. Bring a non-perishable food donation and receive 10% off your purchase.

Light up the Village – Tuesday November 29th, 6-8pm. The Village at Shirlington is hosting their annual holiday party. All donations from horse & carriage rides go to AFAC.

Origins Gives Back – December 1st-4th. Join Origins in The Market Common (2700 Clarendon Blvd.) in giving back to the community with Arlington Food Assistance Center! Come in December 1st-4th with non-perishable food donations and receive a complimentary mini-facial!

Art & Wine Bazaar – Saturday, December 17th  Hosted by Green Drinks Arlington (875 N. Randolph Street) from noon-6pm. Suggested donation of a canned good. All food and a portion of proceeds go to AFAC.

Breakfast with Santa & Holiday Food Drive – Sunday, December 18th.he Hilton Garden Inn, Shirlington (4271 Campbell Ave.) from 8-10am. Please make a donation of non-perishable food items and enjoy breakfast with Santa!

Turkey Trot, Holiday Shopping and more

Calling all runners, walkers, strollers, pets … young and old! Get ready for the Arlington Turkey Trot 5K (run or walk) – Thursday, November 24th, 8am.  The race benefits 3 local charities, including AFAC. It gets booked fast, so register now! Remember to wear your AFAC t-shirt for Turkey Trot. Need a t-shirt? Contact communications@afac.org.   Volunteers are needed that morning and the week of November 21st. Offer to help or find out more by contacting Alice Mar: acjhs@juno.com.

Shop for the holidays – Small Business Saturday – Saturday, November 26th. Get going on your holiday shopping and save 10% while helping AFAC. Three  shops in The Village at Shirlington, Le Village MarcheBloomers, and Ah love Oil & Vinegar are hosting food drives for AFAC as part of Small Business Saturday. Bring a non-perishable food donation and receive 10% off your purchase.

Light up the Village – Thursday, November 29th, 6-8pm.  The Village at Shirlington is hosting their annual holiday party. All donations from horse & carriage rides go to AFAC.

Origins Gives Back – December 1st-4th. Join Origins in The Market Common (2700 Clarendon Blvd.) in giving back to the community with Arlington Food Assistance Center! Come in December 1st-4th with non-perishable food donations and receive a complimentary mini-facial!

Art & Wine Bazaar – Saturday, December 17th  Hosted by Green Drinks Arlington (875 N. Randolph Street) from Noon-6pm. Suggested donation of a canned good. All food and a portion of proceeds go to AFAC.

Holiday Challenge

Night Owls wanted
The new Trader Joe’s in Clarendon is opening Friday and we need volunteers who are night owls and able to drive the AFAC van to help with food donation pick-ups. The pick-up time will be approximately 9-10pm. Nights to be determined. Please contact volunteer4afac@afac.org for more information.

“Holiday Challenge” Food Drive
AFAC clients truly love having cooking staples, such as sugar, cooking oil and flour. Our goal is to collect 1500 of each by December 15th. Please challenge your co-workers, friends, and family to help us meet this goal.

Ride a local ART bus? No time to bring a donation to AFAC? No problem! ART buses are having food drives for AFAC between today and December 16th. Just drop off your donation when you get on the bus.

Nominated for ABBIE Award

AFAC has been nominated for the 2011 People’s Choice ABBIE Award, in the category of “Best Community-Based Nonprofit.” The ABBIES recognize Arlington’s Best Businesses and are sponsored by Arlington Economic Development. Please VOTE for AFAC between October 26th and November 16th. Spread the word!

http://www.arlingtonvirginiausa.com/index.cfm/14088?CFID=74901259&CFTOKEN=91190473&jsessionid=f030cac7793f87628e10132445b9a175a647

Current Volunteer Opportunities

“Holiday Challenge” Food Drive
AFAC clients truly love having the choice among cooking staples, such as sugar, cooking oil and flour. Our goal is to collect 1500 of each by December 15th. Please challenge your co-workers, friends, and family to help us meet this goal.

Ride a local ART bus?
No time to bring a donation to AFAC. No problem! ART buses are having food drives for AFAC between today and December 16th. Just drop off your donation when you get on the bus.

Upcoming Events

Calling all runners, walkers, strollers, pets … young and old!
Get ready for the Arlington Turkey Trot 5K – Thursday, November 24th, 8am.
The race benefits 3 local charities, including AFAC. It gets booked fast, so register now! Remember to wear your AFAC t-shirt for Turkey Trot. Need a t-shirt? Contact communications@afac.org.
Volunteers are needed that morning and the week of November 21st. Offer to help or find out more by contacting Alice Mar: acjhs@juno.com.

Shop for AFAC – Nov. 26th.
Le Village Marche in Shirlington Village (2800 South Randolph Street #110 A) is hosting a food drive for AFAC on Saturday, November 26th from 10am-9pm. Bring a food donation and receive 10% off your purchase.

Origins Gives Back – December 1-4th.
Join Origins in giving back to the community with Arlington Food Assistance Center! [Origins: The Market Common. 2700 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201]. Come in December 1st – 4th with food donations and receive a complimentary mini-facial!

Art + Wine Bazaar – Saturday, December 17th, 2011.
Hosted by Green Drinks Arlington (875 N. Randolph St., Arlington) from Noon-6pm. Suggested donation of a canned good. A portion of proceeds goes to AFAC.

Client Numbers Update

The month of October saw record numbers of families seeking AFAC’s help. The month started with 1,605 families and ended last week with an even 1,600 families. In total we had 7,790 families come through our doors last month. First, I must thank our many dedicated morning volunteers on whom this burden lies most heavily. I especially want to thank the desk volunteers — they are the ones who see every family, every individual and handle each one with unbelievable care and a patience that has become a hallmark of all that AFAC does. While food supplies have at times become tight, we have always had enough on hand to meet the demand. The upcoming Boy Scout Food Drive will help ensure that we continue having enough for all who come to us seeking our services.

Over the past year we have opened a number of new sites that help those who cannot easily get to us: the elderly and the homeless students in the school system. This expansion has increased our numbers, but the real increase we are now seeing is at our Nelson St. morning distributions. It is clear that some of our clients are finding jobs but many remain unable to meet the demands of rising costs of fuel, housing and their daily expenses. With the approacing holiday season, the demand will only grow. AFAC is committed to serving all who come to us. Your help with donations, food drive participation and volunteering is the key to our success!

AFAC has been nominated for the 2011 People’s Choice ABBIE Award, in the category of “Best Community-Based Nonprofit.” The ABBIES recognize Arlington’s Best Businesses and are sponsored by Arlington Economic Development. Please VOTE for AFAC between October 26th and November 16th. Spread the word!