Yesterday, November 15^th, we hosted our annual holiday projects event collecting donations for Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue and Our Daily Bread.  If you missed that meeting, but would like to contribute

Capt Will Bailey (Firefighters and Friends), Christina Garris (Our Daily Bread) and DWCNV members

to either of these two very worthy organizations, please know that it is not too late!

Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue

The Fairfax Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue collects toys, money and gift cards to help needy children throughout Northern Virginia. The toys may be the only ones many of the children receive for Christmas. The gift cards purchase items for older children. The monetary donations go to purchase new coats and tennis shoes. Each year the department distributes as many as 3,000 new coats to more than 50 schools, shelters, and nonprofits throughout Fairfax and Alexandria. These new coats are made in the U.S.A and  purchased at a discount.  This year they will also distribute tennis shoes that have been donated with a nominal cost of $2 a pair for warehousing and distribution. The gift cards purchase

What Is Needed

• New, unwrapped toys
• Gift cards from Target, Best Buy or Old Navy
• Checks payable to Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue; Write “DWCNV Holiday Donation” in the memo line

Mail checks payable to “Firefights and Friends to the Rescue” to DWCNV, P.O. Box 143, Clifton, VA 20124 by 12/8/2015. Arrange to drop off toys and gift cards before December 10th by contacting us at CliftonWomenDems@aol.com

Our Daily Bread

Members attending our Holiday Giving Kick-off meeting

Wanted to update you on our Holiday Projects. We are still collecting for both projects, and it is not too late to donate to either or both.

On Sunday, Nov. 16th we had a great start to our Holiday Projects collections. Our Daily Bread was happy to accept $3,275 in checks and gift cards and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) project collected many, many toys, $1,250 in checks and $480 in gift cards for the older children. Thank you to all who donated!

Captain Will Bailey from FCFRD mentioned that they need help with bagging and distributing the toys to the children, schools, and social workers on Thursday, December 11th starting at 8 a.m. If you would like to help out and get to see some of the little ones as they pick out their gifts and receive their new coats and tennis shoes, go to Penn Daw, Fire Station 11, 6624 Hulvey Terrace, Alexandria, Virginia 22306.

As we mentioned, you can still give your tax deductible donations to both projects.

FCFRD Toy, Coat & Tennis Shoe Drive

Toys and monetary donations to purchase new coats and tennis shoes for area children through the project, put on by the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, will be accepted until December 8th.

Each year, the Department distributes as many as 3,000 new coats to more than 50 schools, shelters, and nonprofits throughout Fairfax and Alexandria. These new coats are made in the U.S.A and purchased at a discount. This year they will also distribute tennis shoes that have been donated with a nominal cost of $2 a pair for warehousing and distribution.

If you wish to contribute to the toy drive, new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at 12714 Chestnut Street (side porch), Clifton, VA or email us at cliftonwomendems@aol.com to arrange for pick up.

To donate gift cards from Target, Best Buy or Old Navy for older children, who enjoy selecting their own gifts at these stores, or to donate checks to purchase coats and help with warehousing and distribution costs for tennis shoes, make checks payable to “Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue” and mail checks and gift cards to: DWCNV, P.O. Box 143, Clifton, VA 20124.

Grocery Store Gift Card Collection for Our Daily Bread

Our Daily Bread, a local nonprofit organization that provides food and assistance to Northern Virginia families experiencing financial hardship, is accepting donations of food gift cards and checks until December 31st. Your gift card donation will be distributed to the families in January. Please donate gift cards of any denomination from any local grocery store or checks payable to “Our Daily Bread” and mail to DWCNV, P.O. Box 143, Clifton, VA 20124.

Questions? Please contact us at cliftonwomendems@aol.com

Again this year, the Democratic Women of Clifton and Northern Virginia (DWCNV) will participate in two great holiday projects for two very worthwhile organizations. The general public is invited to participate. Join us on Sunday, November 16th at 3 – 4 p.m. at the Clifton Community Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton, VA when we collect your donations.

For the fourth year, the DWCNV is coordinating with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) to collect toys for needy children throughout Northern Virginia. These donated gifts will be the only ones many of the children receive for Christmas. The toy drive is the highlight of the holiday season for both the first responders and the young gift recipients. Captain Will Bailey, project coordinator, will be joining us to receive our donations. He will also speak about his experiences with these collections.

In addition to toys, the FCFRD will accept monetary donations to purchase new coats and tennis shoes for area children. Each year, the department distributes as many as 3,000 new coats to more than 50 schools, shelters, and nonprofits throughout Fairfax and Alexandria. These new coats are made in the U.S.A and purchased at a discount. This year they will also distribute tennis shoes that have been donated. Your donations of $2 per pair of these donated shoes is appreciated and will cover warehousing and distribution.

If you wish to contribute to the toy drive, bring new, unwrapped toys to the November 16th meeting of the DWCNV. Gift cards from Target, Best Buy or Old Navy are welcomed for older children, who enjoy selecting their own gifts at these stores. Toys and games for older children (ages 9-12) are also needed. Please contact us at cliftonwomendems@aol.com to arrange a drop off; gift cards may be mailed to: DWCNV, P.O. Box 143, Clifton, VA 20124

Monetary donations may also be mailed to the DWCNV at the above address, with checks made payable to “Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue”. Toy donations that cannot be made by the time of the meeting can be dropped off at a drop off box at 12714 Chestnut Street, Clifton, VA ( side porch) until December 8th. The donations of checks, toys or cash are tax deductible, and receipts will be provided for tax purposes.

Also, as in recent years, the DWCNV is sponsoring a collection of grocery store gift cards to benefit Our Daily Bread, a local nonprofit organization that provides food and assistance to Northern Virginia families experiencing financial hardship. Your gift card donation will be distributed to the families in January. Please bring gift cards of any denomination from any local grocery store or checks payable to “Our Daily Bread” to the DWCNV meeting on November 16th or mail them to us at the address above. We will accept these until December 31st. Lisa Whetzel, Executive Director of Our Daily Bread will be joining us to talk about their needs and what the organization is doing.

Questions? Please contact us at cliftonwomendems@aol.com

On February 27th, members of the DWCNV attended the annual fundraiser, Empty Bowls, in Fairfax, VA.

This event is hosted by the Our Daily Bread organization which provides food to needy families in Fairfax County. The DWCNV was an event sponsor and was honored to participate.

We are coordinating our annual holiday projects for two worthwhile organizations. Please join us. You do not need to be a DWCNV member to contribute, and all donations are tax-deductible.

CENTER: Guests Lisa Whetzel from Our Daily Bread and Captain Willie Bailey from Fairfax Firefighters & Friends to the Rescue

In coordination with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, unwrapped new toys are being collected for needy children throughout Northern Virginia. For older children, gift cards from Target or Old Navy are welcome. In addition to toys and gift cards, the FCFRD will accept monetary donations to purchase new coats for area children. Each year, the department distributes as many as 3,000 new coats to more than 50 schools, shelters, and nonprofits throughout Fairfax and Alexandria. These new coats are made in the U.S.A and purchased at a discount. To contribute to the toy drive, contact us to coordinate pick up by December 7th. Checks for coats should be made out to “Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue“. Gift cards and checks should be mailed to DWCNV, P.O. Box 143, Clifton, VA 20124.

The second project is a collection of grocery store gift cards to benefit Our Daily Bread, a local nonprofit organization that provides food and assistance to Northern Virginia families experiencing financial hardship. Your gift card donation will be distributed to the families in January. Please mail gift cards of any denomination from any local grocery store or checks payable to “Our Daily Bread” to the DWCNV address above. We will accept these until December 31st.

Questions? Please contact us at cliftonwomendems@aol.com

The DWC invites you to join us by participating in our National Day of Service Volunteer project on Saturday, January 19th.  Join us and get some fresh air and exercise as we clean up litter along our adopted section of Clifton Road.  We will start off a 2 PM.  Contact dwcevents@aol.com for details.   You do not have to be a DWC member to participate – all are welcome.

Let’s help make this a memorable holiday season for those right here in Fairfax County who need our help!  We had a great turnout at our November18th General Meeting and collected many toys and donations for our Holiday Projects, described in a post below.  If you missed that meeting,  it is not too late…

We will continue with all of our Holiday Project collections for a few more weeks.  Toys, gift certificates for older children, and checks for the purchase of new coats will continue until December 10th, and grocery food gift cards for Our Daily Bread (ODB) will be accepted until December 31st.

Holiday service projects will be the focus of the next general meeting of the Democratic Women of Clifton.  That meeting takes place on Sunday, November 18^th, at 3 p.m. The location is the Clifton Community Hall, 12641 Chapel Rd., Clifton, VA 20124.  Following a short meeting, at about 4 p.m., the DWC will reconvene at a local restaurant in Clifton for a holiday celebration.

Again this year, the DWC will participate in two great holiday projects with two very worthwhile organizations.

Toy and Coat Drive

For the second year, the DWC is coordinating with Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) to collect toys for 3,000 needy children throughout Northern Virginia.  These donated gifts will be the only ones many of the children receive for Christmas.  The toy drive is the highlight of the holiday season for both the first responders and the young gift recipients.

In addition to toys, the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department will accept monetary donations to purchase coats for area children.  Last year, the department distributed nearly 3,000 new coats to more than 50 schools, shelters, and nonprofits throughout Fairfax and Alexandria.  The organization observes that “giving these kids a new coat builds such great self-esteem” that it helps them do better in school.

With the monetary donations received, FCFRD will purchase new coats from a nonprofit called Operation Warm out of Chadd Ford, PA, for $15 each.  Donations of checks or cash are tax deductible, and receipts will be provided for tax purposes.  (No coats, please!)

If you wish to contribute to the toy drive, bring new, unwrapped toys to the November 18^th meeting of the DWC. Gift cards from Target or Old Navy are also welcomed for older children, who enjoy selecting their own gifts at these stores.  If you can’t make the meeting but want to donate, please contact us to arrange a drop off; gift cards may be mailed to Democratic Women of Clifton, P.O. Box 143, Clifton, VA  20124.

Donations to the coat drive may also be mailed to the DWC, with checks made payable to Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue.  The toy and coat distribution event with the FCFRD will be held on December 18th, so we would like to receive your donations to both projects by December 10th.

Grocery Store Gift Card Collection for Our Daily Bread

Also, as in recent years, the DWC is sponsoring a collection of grocery store gift cards to benefit Our Daily Bread, a local nonprofit organization that provides food and assistance to Northern Virginia families experiencing financial hardship.  Your gift card donation will be distributed to the families in January.  Please bring gift cards of any denomination from any local grocery store or checks payable to Our Daily Bread to the DWC meeting on November 18th or mail them to us at the address above.  We will accept these until December 31^st.

Questions?  Please email us at cliftonwomendems@aol.com.

The DWC invites all Northern Virginia Democratic women to attend our General Meeting on Sunday, October 21st at 3-5 p.m. at the Clifton Community Hall, 12641 Chapel Rd., Clifton, VA  20124.  Our topic will be From Distressed to De-Stressed, Wellness Wisdom for Women, featuring speaker Hilaire Henthorne.

At this meeting, the DWC will again collect toiletries and writing materials for the women incarcerated in the Fluvanna Correctional Facility for Women in Charlottesville.  See below post for more information on this project.

At our general meetings on September 23rd and October 21st, the DWC will collect toiletries and writing materials for the women incarcerated in the Fluvanna Correctional Facility for Women in Charlottesville. Supporting the Kairos Prison Mission, our project will help women who are destitute and receive little outside support. Those who have jobs at the facility earn only $.23 to $.35 per hour. Yet they must pay for all their basic toiletries, which are much more expensive when purchased through the prison than at retail stores. Contributions to the prison residents are allowed during the few weeks prior to the holidays.

Listed below are the items requested.  Please note the sizes indicated, as larger items cannot be accepted.  We prefer that each “hygiene set” be packaged in a gallon-size zip-lock bag, but separate items will be accepted.  A hygiene set should include one of each of the following:

• individually wrapped toothbrush
• tube of toothpaste not to exceed 6 oz
• deodorant stick (no spray or roll-on) not to exceed 2.4 oz
• bottle of lotion not to exceed 15 oz
• bottle of shampoo not to exceed 15 oz

The Prison Mission also seeks donations of stationery materials for the women.  These items do not need to be packaged as sets in plastic bags:

• greeting cards for all occasions, including Christmas and Hanukkah
• stationery (writing paper, note cards, envelopes)
• “Forever” postage stamps
• unsharpened wooden pencils

Your participation in our women’s prison project will be greatly appreciated.  Direct your questions to cliftonwomendems@aol.com.  We hope to see you at our September and October meetings!