Hello Everyone.
Recently I attended a networking lunch at an Arlington restaurant. Each of us was given a little time to introduce ourselves and talk about our business. After lunch was over, one of the waitresses came up to me and thanked me for our work here at AFAC. She told me that she had been a client of ours, but now that she had a job and her finances were in better order, she no longer needed our help. It’s not hard to imagine a situation where someone could be out of work and need assistance from AFAC. Thankfully, because of your support, we are able to help folks like that waitress get over a short term crisis. Thank you for all your support of AFAC. Rest assured you are helping real people who truly need help.
Volunteer Opportunities
AFAC Client Survey
We will be conducting a short survey of client needs the week of May 3rd.
If you are bi-lingual in Spanish, we can use your help:
Monday-Friday (May 3-7) from 10am-12:30pm
Thursday, May 6th from 7-8pm
Saturday, May 8th from 9-11am.
If you are bi-lingual in Russian, we can use your help Monday, May 3rd from 10am-12:30pm. Please contact volunteer4afac@aol.com for more information on how you can help with this survey.
Letter Carriers Food Drive: Saturday, May 8th
Do you live in an apartment? We’ll give you flyers to put up in your building about the Letter Carriers Food Drive.
Do you live in an Arlington neighborhood? Put a poster in your yard or leaflet your neighbors about the Letter Carriers Food Drive. We can provide the flyers and posters (if needed).
Looking for a family-friendly or youth-oriented service project? Make posters for us for Letter Carriers Food Drive. A family can leaflet while walking around the block.
Running errands or going to local businesses? Ask if you can post a flyer about the Letter Carriers Food Drive. You can print the flyer from our website or we’ll send you a supply.
Last year, Arlington letter carriers picked up significantly more donations than their colleagues in area jurisidictions. We can do it again with your help! Contact volunteer4afac@afac.org if you can help in anyway. Every small bit of publicity, like every small bag of groceries, will add up to a successful food drive.
Inch by inch, row by row…
Gardeners: as you plant your vegetable garden at home or at your children’s school, consider planting or donating surplus harvest to AFAC clients. Suggested vegetables are those that travel and keep well: peppers, onions, Roma tomatoes, beans, peas, root crops, squashes, cole crops. And, if you have extra seedlings, bring them to us and we’ll distribute them to clients. Free seeds are available if you pledge to plant a row for AFAC. Contact Puwen at puwen.lee@afac.org.
Seeking volunteers for a weekly grocery distribution.
In June, AFAC will begin distributing groceries at a retirement community in south Arlington. We need volunteers to help Monday mornings from 10:30-12:30. Please contact the volunteer department at volunteer4afac@afac.org for information.
Central Library’s “Arlington Reads, Arlington Grows” Garden.
If you can’t get down to the library to see this urban garden being created, follow its development on the AFAC Plot Against Hunger website.
If you are a gardener we can use your help at this and other gardens being planted for AFAC. Contact Puwen at puwen.lee@afac.org for information.
Upcoming Events
Feinstein Time – Just one week left
There are three ways you can help AFAC qualify for funds from the Feinstein challenge opportunity. First, just make a financial donation. Be sure to mark your gift ‘Feinstein’. Secondly, hold a food drive for AFAC. Every pound of food collected for Feinstein Food Drives will count as a dollar for the challenge. And lastly, support the Feinstein Virtual Food Drive. This is an easy way to give — indoor work and no heavy lifting! — and every dollar you donate this way also qualifies for the challenge.
Canstruction, now until Saturday, April 24th
A giant orange and lemon, an Iphone and a Zamboni are among the sculptures built out of cans in this year’s Canstruction. The sculptures will be dismantled and donated to AFAC on Sunday, April 25th, so go see them soon. Canstruction is the American Institute of Architects’ national design competition which supports local food pantries such as AFAC. Many thanks to the local architectural firms who are participating in Canstruction.
(Photo taken by E.J. Locke)
Another Chance to Laugh For AFAC
Please join me on April 29th for a live comedy show being put on by Michael Shea at Arlington Independent Media, 2701-C Wilson Blvd. The show will be taped from 8-9pm, and then shown the next weekend on AIM (Comcast channel 69; Verizon channel 38). Donations to AFAC will be gratefully accepted.
5th Annual Science Focus School 5K Race: Saturday, May 1st
Racers are being asked to bring a non-perishable food item on race day to support AFAC! To get a registration form for the race, visit http://asfsonline.org/. To volunteer, contact us at volunteer4afac@afac.org.
Join us for our Third Annual Benefit Reception for AFAC’s Permanent Home Campaign on June 8th, at the Washington Golf and Country Club. For more information, to purchase tickets, or to become a sponsor of the June 8th event, click here. We have many fabulous silent auction items and will highlight one each week on our website.
This week’s silent auction highlight features a pre-holiday getaway to Williamsburg the week of December 5th, when the city launches its “Grand Illuminations Week” festivities with fireworks and beautiful Christmas decorations. Enjoy all the amenities of your timeshare at Powhatan Plantation, and take the opportunity to finish your holiday shopping at Williamsburg’s plentiful outlets. Click here for a full description, and come on June 8th to bid yourself a historic getaway!
Mark your calendars!
You can find more information about the many upcoming AFAC events on our website event page.
Zonta Food Drive for AFAC at Giant on Washington Blvd: Saturday, May 15th, 9am-5pm
Volunteer Appreciation Picnic: Sunday, June 13th, 5-7pm
Here are the latest AFAC client statistics.
Client Count Week ending:Families*AdultsChildren% increase
April 1011682010 1237-
1 year ago 119221471280-2%
2 years ago 715126274863%
*A “family” can have one or more members.
Thank You
News from Haiti:
We sent corn seed to Haiti in late March with the organization Engage in Change and have heard that the seeds have been planted. We wish for good harvests in the communities of Petit Goave and Miragoane as they rebuild.
Christine
Christine Lucas
AFAC Executive Director
703.845.8486
Christine.Lucas@afac.org
http://www.afac.org
News from AFAC 