Stuff the Bus – benefitting local food pantries

Fight Hunger in Fairfax County! Donate to the Stuff the Bus Food Drive on October 9

Stuff the Bus began in 2011 in response to a critical need to help restock the shelves of local food pantries after the holidays. This collaborative program is a partnership between Fairfax County Government and local nonprofits. Now in its 10th year, Stuff the Bus continues to support food assistance efforts for families and households. Since inception, Stuff the Bus has collected over 220 tons of food to feed hungry people in Fairfax County.

The next Stuff the Bus food drive will take place on Saturday, October 9. Fastran buses will be parked at locations throughout Fairfax County from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to collect nonperishable food donations for area food pantries.

Get Involved!

See the complete list of food drop-off locations, what to put on your shopping list to donate, and tips for donating safely at Stuff the Bus.

Stuff the Bus Virtual Food Drive

For those who are unable to donate in person, monetary donations can be made by visiting Volunteer Fairfax’s Stuff the Bus Donation Page.

Ways to support Afghan refugees

As Afghan refugees arrive in Virginia, Lutheran Social Services (LSSNCA) is the agency providing resettlement support in the National Capitol Area. Information about monetary donations and the list of necessary items being accepted is available on the Lutheran Social Services website. Collection sites and dates in our area are listed below. The Lutheran Social Services website includes information about purchasing items through the LSSNCA Wish List on Amazon.


LDS Church
4911 Ox Rd
Fairfax, VA

TIMES: 11:00am-6:00pm

DATES:  Monday August 30- Saturday, September 11
(Sorry, no donations accepted on Sundays)


Peace Lutheran Church
6362 Lincolnia Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22312

TIMES: 12:00pm-7:00pm

DATES:
Tuesday, August 31
Wednesday, September 1
Thursday, September 2

July 2021 Caregivers Session

Our July Caregivers’ session will be held this Sunday, July 11 at 11:45 am in the Parish Hall. Light snacks will be provided during this time of resource sharing and support for those who provide physical, emotional, financial, or other support for a loved one.

For those of you who wish to attend virtually, the Zoom log-in is:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85123743510?pwd=bXk4SWp1QW5NNFpUTjlyeUJMQTJYUT09

Meeting ID: 851 2374 3510

Passcode: 179542

If you need to call in by phone: +13017158592,,85123743510#,,,,*179542# US (Washington DC)

Help your neighbor – Stuff the Bus on January 30th!

ACCA will be participating in the upcoming ‘Stuff the Bus’ events in partnership with Fairfax County to help restock the food pantry. The ACCA food pantry has been overwhelmed with requests during the COVID pandemic and the volunteers constantly adjust to accommodate the demand. Suggestions for most needed items are available on our website at https://accacares.org/foodpantry/
Please drop off your donations on January 30 ‘between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at these locations:
George Mason Regional Library
7001 Little River Turnpike
Annandale, VA 22003
Belvedere Elementary School
6540 Columbia Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041
Providence District Supervisor’s Office
3001 Vaden Drive
Fairfax, VA 22031
James Lee Community Center
2855 Annandale Road
Falls Church, VA 22042

Prayers for Our Nation: Each Day at 5:00 p.m.

Washington National Cathedral

In the two weeks leading up to the presidential inauguration, the Washington National Cathedral will offer brief online prayers for our nation, together with our interfaith and ecumenical colleagues, each day at 5:00 p.m. The Cathedral staff invite you to spend five minutes in prayers for safety, solace and national unity.

The prayer service can be viewed on the Cathedral’s web site or here on YouTube.

An Update from Honduras: Giving Thanks

The Canales-Romero family offers their thanks for St. Alban’s contributions to their home towns in Honduras that were devastated by flooding from hurricanes and tropical storms. Parishioners brought clothing, medical supplies, and toiletries which were shipped to two locations where Edgardo and Tirza Canales-Romero have family members. Tirza shared these photos from her family’s town as they received the supplies from St. Alban’s.

Sacred Ground Circle at St. Alban’s Begins January 14 at 6pm

St. Alban’s will begin its second Sacred Ground Circle on Thursday, January 14 at 6pm using Zoom. Contact Deacon Theresa by Sunday, January 10 if you have questions or would like to participate. The 10-week film- and reading-based series is part of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. For more information about Sacred Ground, see the January/February edition of The Word or visit the Sacred Ground Website.

Hurricane Eta Relief in Honduras

Here are ways you can help with hurricane relief in Honduras.

Steven, Edgardo, Tirza and Allison

  • Parishioner Gail Allison, Tirza’s godmother, is collecting gently-used clothing that she plans to ship to Edgardo’s home town — you can drop your donations of clothing for children and adults in the Narthex. Contact Gail for more information.
  • “Stuff the Trunk” collection next Saturday, November 21, 9-11 am in St. Alban’s parking lot. We are working with the Romero-Canales family to ship these items to their extended family in Santiago. We need:
    • NSAID pain relievers: (Ibuprofen/Motrin/Advil; Acetaminophen/Tylenol) – Childrens, Adults
    • Cold/Allergy Medicines: (Benadryl, Sudafed, Tylenol Cold/Cough, Dayquil)
    • First Aid Kits
    • Bandages, Bandaids, gauze
    • Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin, etc.)
    • Masks
    • Thermometers, nebulizers, humidifiers
    • Infant formula (Similac, Nido, etc.)
    • Toothbrushes, toothpaste, small shampoos/soaps
  • Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is our national church’s agency working around the world and here in the US responding to and rebuilding after disasters.  Your donation to ERD will go to wherever it is needed most.

No matter how far apart two sides are, there are effective strategies to bring people together…

How many of us have ever prayed, ‘Lord make me an instrument of your peace,’ then found ourselves in complex and polarized situations that made peace seemingly impossible?

Make Me an Instrument of Peace is a 5-week course designed to help us bridge the divides that keep us from moving forward.

Designed by the Office of Government Relations of The Episcopal Church, and combining conversation, discussion and short videos, this course is ideal for those who want to take dialog between polarized people or parties seriously.

The first session will begin on Sunday, October 4 at 9:00am and run for about 50 minutes on Zoom. The remaining sessions will be held on October 11, 18, 25 and November 1 (all at 9:00 am). Each session will be led by St. Alban’s clergy, but will be ‘taught’ by a team of experts in civil discourse. This course includes these five sessions:

If you would like more information about the program, please contact Deacon Theresa or register below (we ask that you register so that we can send you the participant’s guide):