The weather has turned cooler, and the days are getting shorter, but Assistance League of Northern Virginia has been as busy as squirrels gathering nuts for the winter. In the past month, we have sponsored two “Build a Child’s Library” events, packed 1840 bags of “Weekend Food for Kids,” and hosted a Thank You Breakfast for volunteers at the Dunbarton Community in Bristow.

Happiness abounds when you combine elementary children, dedicated volunteers, and piles and piles of books. In the past month, two FCPS Title 1 schools, with populations totaling over 1300 children, received the joy and benefits of a Build a Child’s Library event funded by ALNV. Ourvolunteers assisted the students with choosing a book and then helped the children put their names inside the book covers, giving them a bookmark and assuring them that the books were theirs to keep. So many smiles all around!

Each month, our volunteers pack 1840 bags of “Weekend Food for Kids” for students in 6 Northern Virginia Title 1 elementary schools. We partner with Dominion Energy to pack and then deliver the food. While children are offered breakfast and lunch at school during the week, some families struggle to provide enough food for their families over the weekend. This bag of nonperishable food helps families make it through the weekend. Allstate Insurance and Sandy Spring Bank joined us this month. At the beginning of the packing event, a generous donation of $10,000 was presented to ALNV by The Allstate Foundation. We are an all-volunteer organization and run on heart power and rely on fundraisers and generous monetary donations from individuals and groups like Allstate.

Finally, our volunteers hosted a thank you breakfast this month for residents of the Dunbarton Community in Bristow. These wonderful volunteers donate their time and talents to sew and stuff heart-shaped pillows for our Hugs program . These pillows are packed with two books, a toothbrush, and toothpaste to help promote a healthy bedtime routine for Kindergarten children. Some Dunbarton volunteers also knit or crochet baby blankets, bonnets, hats, and scarves that we are able to use in other programs that we sponsor for children in Northern Virginia Title 1 elementary schools.

ALNV is making a difference for children in need in Northern Virginia. Please check us out on Facebook and Instagram.