ALIVE! is the oldest and largest private safety net in the City of Alexandria dedicated to fighting poverty and hunger. They opened their first brick and mortar food hub at 501-F South Van Dorn Street in 2022. Photo by Shirley Ruhe.
Local nonprofits serve critical roles in the community, and they need your help.
A September, 2024 survey by No Kid Hungry Virginia showed that more than three-quarters of Virginians (78%) say groceries have become harder to afford in the last year and 62% of families have had to decide between purchasing food and paying for another essential bill, such as rent, utilities, gas or home or car repairs. Parents of students are more likely to sacrifice healthy foods in response to costs, with 55% buying less or no produce or 54% buying less or no protein. Nearly half of Virginians (42%) report at least one sign of food insecurity, such as not having enough to eat, eating low-quality food or eating a limited variety of food due to cost. Two-thirds (68%) of Virginians would worry about their ability to afford food if faced with an unexpected $1,500 expense.
The need extends beyond hunger.
There are literally thousands of ways to give locally. Here are a few ideas. Please let us know what we have missed and any corrections. Send corrections or updates to mkimm@connectionnewspapers.com with “Give Locally” in the subject line.
* ALIVE! Alexandria; 2723 King St, Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-837-9300; ALIVE! serves thousands Alexandrians annually with shelter; low-cost early childhood education and childcare; financial help for rent, utilities, medical care and other critical needs; emergency food; and deliveries of donated furniture and houseware. www.alive-inc.org
* Alice's Kids (@alicewillhelp) aliceskids.org P.O. Box 60, Mount Vernon, VA 22121 When a child is raised in poverty they suffer both publicly and privately. When there is no food in the refrigerator, no electricity or heat, these are hardships that they can keep hidden from their peers. But, when that same child can't afford to pay for the band field trip, a pair of glasses, a chorus outfit or a new pair of shoes, these are indignities that are evident to their classmates. Alice’s Kids pays for these relatively inexpensive items in the hopes of preserving the dignity of the child. It helps children from all over the Mount Vernon area and beyond through small acts of kindness. Alice’s Kids aliceskids.org 703.746.8108 contact@aliceskids.org
* United Community, Mount Vernon, 703-768-7106, 7511 Fordson Road, Alexandria, VA 22306 assists low-income families and individuals living along the Route 1 Corridor, UC provides housing programs as well as a Workforce Development Center. Make a Financial Contribution to support the Holiday Gift Room 7511 Fordson Road, Alexandria VA 22306. www.ucmagency.org
Donations of cash/checks and gift cards are also welcome.
* At Home in Alexandria (AHA) is a nonprofit village that builds and sustains a 55+ community to successfully navigate aging. Together, we share activities, programs and services, including access to needed assistance. Our vision is for AHA to be an advocate for older Alexandrians to live safe, active and connected lives. AHA is a membership organization, which means you pay an annual membership fee that, in turn, entitles you to request services from AHA for an entire year. These services include transportation, errands, technical support, light maintenance, organizing and decluttering, short-term pet or lawn care, and much more. 3139 Mt. Vernon Ave.Alexandria, VA 22305-2669 (703) 231-0824 Email: aha@athomeinalexandria.org Website: www.athomeinalexandria.org
* Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, 703-746-4774, www.alexandriaanimals.org, Pet adoptions, spay and neuter assistance, education, wildlife management, community service and outreach. See pages 14-15 for more.
* ACT for Alexandria, 703-739-7778, www.act for alexandria.org, Nonprofit and donor services, Alexandria’s community foundation.
* Alexandria Tutoring Consortium, 703-549-6670 ext. 119
https://alexandriatutors.org/, Tutoring for Alexandria City Public Schools kindergarten and first grade students who are struggling to read. Mission: To help Alexandria City Public School students read on or above grade level by the end of kindergarten and first grade.
* Bethany House, 6121 Lincolnia Rd #303, Alexandria, VA 22312; 703-658-9500; http://www.bhnv.org/; Bethany House provides emergency shelter and supportive services to victims of domestic violence throughout Northern Virginia and the surrounding DC metro communities.
* The Campagna Center, 703-549-0111,www.campagnacenter.org, Educational and social development programs for children, teens, and adults.
* Carpenter's Shelter, 703 548-7500,www.carpentersshelter.org, Homeless services and programs including education and case management.
* Center for Alexandria’s Children, 703-838-4381, www.centerforalexandriaschildren.org, Child abuse and neglect and parent support.
* Child and Family Network Centers, 703-836- 0214, www.cfnc-online.org, Provides caring, high-quality, free early education and related services to at-risk children and their families in their own neighborhoods to prepare them for success in school and life
* Community Lodgings, Inc., 703-549-4407 Transitional and affordable housing, youth education, adult education, bilingual staff assistance.
* The Community Foundation of Northern Virginia, www.cfnova.org The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia works to respond to critical need and seed innovation in the region. Make grants in its focus areas of interest while also bringing a spotlight on the benefits of community philanthropists.
* Computer C.O.R.E. 703-931-7346, www.computercore.org, Adult education, computer training and career development. Email: info@computercore.org
* Comfort for America's Uniformed Services (CAUSE) ensures that recuperating service members have opportunities for recreation and social interaction and receive concrete signs of appreciation for all that they have done. Mailing address: 4201 Wilson Blvd., #110-284, Arlington, VA 22203, CFC #33011, Phone 703-591-4965, cause-usa.org
* Hopkins House, 703-549-8072,www.hopkinshouse.org, Preschool academy, family budgeting and literacy, family education and youth summer enrichment camp, Early Childhood Learning Institute.
* Literacy Council of Northern Virginia, 703-237-0866, www.lcnv.org, Teaches adults the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking and understanding English.
* Friends of the Alexandria Mental Health Center, an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, serves as a safety net for clients of the CSB who encounter extraordinary or emergency financial needs. More than 98 percent of donations and grants go to direct client support and co-sponsorship of free public educational programs. bit.ly/friendsoftheAMHC
* Friends of Guest House Northern Virginia offers structure, supervision, support and assistance to female ex-offenders who want to improve their lives and break the cycle of incarceration. Friends of Guest House offers the only program for women of its kind in Northern Virginia. One East Luray Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301-2025, 703-549-8072, info@friendsofguesthouse.org, friendsofguesthouse.org/
* Just Neighbors is dedicated to serving and supporting the immigrant community by providing high-quality immigration legal services to low-income immigrants, asylees and refugees. https://www.justneighbors.org/
* Neighborhood Health, 6677 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22306. Partners with patients to treat the whole person through medical, behavioral health and dental programs. Ten clinics throughout the region taking a leading role during COVID. Participating with all insurance including commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid, 703-535-5568, www.neighborhoodhealthva.org
* Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) seeks to provide low-income individuals, senior citizens, and families residing in Fort Belvoir, Lorton, Newington and other portions of southeast Fairfax County with access to basic needs and the opportunity to empower themselves through LCAC’s self-sufficiency programs. https://lortonaction.org
* Mount Vernon At Home, 703-303-4060, www.mountvernonathome.org. Mount Vernon At Home membership helps connect senior members of our community, neighbors helping neighbors with volunteer support. Mount Vernon at Home has stepped up its efforts to help members stay safe, secure, and connected during the pandemic crisis. More grocery shopping and errand services to members; online activities and support for members to access these new technologies; members check in with members by phone regularly; weekly email newsletters with helpful, important and enjoyable items to keep members connected during this time.
* NAMI Northern Virginia (National Alliance on Mental Illness) works to raise awareness and provide education, advocacy, and support programs for people living with mental illness, families, students, educators, law enforcement, and the public throughout our neighborhoods. Many excellent programs. NAMI Northern Virginia serves Fairfax, Falls Church, Arlington, Alexandria, and Loudoun www.nami-northernvirginia.org/ HelpLine: 571-458.7310, Email: info@nami-nova.org
* New Hope Housing, ending homelessness in Northern Virginia by providing housing, offering hope, and building community. We currently offer various Housing Programs, and Support Services. 8407E Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, VA 22309 www.newhopehousing.org/how-to-help/donate/
* Potomac Riverkeeper Network works to protect the public’s right to clean water in our rivers and streams; to stop pollution; to promote safe drinking water; to protect healthy river habitats; and to enhance public use and enjoyment.
3070 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007. (202) 888-2037
www.potomacriverkeepernetwork.org
* Potomac Conservancy, 962 Wayne Ave, Suite 540
Silver Spring, MD 20910; 301.608.1188; potomac.org, seeks to improve the Potomac River’s water quality by building an impassioned base of river advocates to impart change at the local level. www.potomac.org
* Rebuilding Together Alexandria, 703-836-1021, www.RebuildingTogetherAlex.org, Home repair and maintenance for vulnerable veterans, elderly, disabled and families with children.
* Senior Services of Alexandria, 703-836-4414, Senior Services of Alexandria provides support services for older adults enabling them to maintain independence and age with dignity. Services include the City’s Meals on Wheels program, daily meal delivery to homebound older adults; Groceries to Go, no fee, no minimum shopping and delivery service; DOT Paratransit Program, low-cost transportation for people who live in Alexandria with a disability; Friendly Visitor Program, pairs volunteers with socially isolated seniors for once a week visits; Senior Ambassador Program, over 100 volunteer leaders, including a new program for Spanish-speaking residents, delivering information on senior resources to their communities; Speaker Series, robust monthly education program covering important topics of interest to seniors; and more. 703-836- 4414, www.seniorservicesalex.org.www.seniorservicesalex.org
* Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia, 703-820-9001, www.scanva.org, Parent education, public education — re: child abuse and court advocacy for abused and neglected children.
* United Community, Mount Vernon, 703-768-7106, 7511 Fordson Road, Alexandria, VA 22306 assists low-income families and individuals living along the Route 1 Corridor, Make a Financial Contribution to support the Holiday Gift Room 7511 Fordson Road, Alexandria VA 22306. www.ucmagency.org
Donations of cash/checks and gift cards are welcome.
* Volunteer Alexandria, 123 N Alfred St., Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-836-2176; http://volunteeralexandria.org; Volunteer recruitment and placement, court-referred community service placement, community awareness events, and volunteer management training.