• Homelessness in Our Community: Q&A With NVFS Shelter Directors 
• Operation Turkey Brings Thanksgiving to More Than 700 Families 
• Impacting Social Change Through NVFS
  
• “Today, I Learned that You Can Have a Lot of Fun While Helping Others” 
• Spread Cheer in Your Community, Now and All Year! 

• NVFS Home Page
• About NVFS

At our three shelters in the past year – SERVE, Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center and Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter (BCCS) – 85 percent or more of clients did not return to homelessness, meaning that they can now focus on not just surviving, but thriving. 

How do NVFS shelters help families and individuals become rapidly and permanently housed?

“Providing [shelter] and meals…allows individuals to focus on next steps and take advantage of the programs the shelter offers to assist them in their efforts.” – SERVE Shelter Director Deb Rapone

What is one thing you wish more people in our community knew about homelessness?

“It can happen to any of us – loss of employment, a reduced work schedule, mental health concerns or a health crisis.” – Hilda Barg Shelter Director Minerva Labrador

What is one thing people in our community can do to help the homeless?  

“Donate! Money, bus tokens or meals are often needed.” – BCCS Shelter Director Edwina Jackson

Dan Allen (L), SERCO Inc. chairman and CEO, presents NVFS president and CEO Stephanie Berkowitz (R) with SERCO’s gift to Operation Turkey.

Thanks to your support, NVFS Operation Turkey 2016 helped provide more than 700 vulnerable families in Prince William County with a complete Thanksgiving meal!

A special thanks to our major donors, truck drivers and food drive coordinators, including: A1 Flood Tech, Able Moving & Storage, Boy Scout troops of western Prince William County, the Cecil & Irene Hylton Foundation, Manassas City Public Schools, Manassas Park City Schools, Prince William County Public Schools, SERCO Inc., SWIFT and Vulcan Materials Company.

TD Charitable Foundation recently awarded a $17,500 grant to help vulnerable families in our community become stable and self-sufficient. TD Bank Regional President and 2016 Northern Virginia Leadership Award honoree Brian Monday shares why the organization choose to give back through NVFS.

Why does TD Charitable Foundation find it worthwhile to invest time and resources in NVFS?

It’s meaningful partnerships ‎with organizations such as NVFS that help TD remain connected to the community in a very real and relevant way.

What sets NVFS apart as a unique partner for TD Charitable Foundation?

TD believes in impacting social change by volunteering and financially supporting nonprofits like NVFS, whose high-quality services and broad coverage of areas deeply impacts local families in need.

Why do you personally feel connected to philanthropy?

This is a personal philanthropic passion – impacting the communities we live, work and play in.

NVFS is delighted to share that two NVFS Training Futures graduates recently became TD Bank employees!

That was what Nathan Lake, age 9, learned this past Saturday at our first Village of Impact Day, held at our SERVE Campus. Thank you to all the families who donated their time packing meals for families in need, unpacking food donations and restocking shelves at our Hunger Resource Center! 

Marcy Johnson, Village of Impact member, shared: “It was fantastic to share ideas with like-minded individuals on creative ways to make a difference and teach our children the importance of generosity and philanthropy.”

For our youngest participants, SERVE Shelter Director Deb Rapone read a story about homelessness to start a conversation about how homeless children often feel “different.” In response, Will Simmons, age 5, stated, “There is no difference! We are all the same on the inside.”

As 2016 comes to a close and we celebrate the holiday season, we can be proud of the tremendous impact we have had on Northern Virginia families. In the past year alone, your support has helped more than 34,000 families and individuals become stable and self-sufficient.

• More than 2,000 children are signed up to receive a special holiday gift through our Gifting For Families program. A financial gift can help make their holidays brighter. Any funds we receive over the needs for these programs will be used in other areas of great need across our organization. Spread holiday cheer >>
  
• Ensure that our community will continue to be strengthened in 2017 through training to secure living-wage jobs, emergency groceries, early childhood education and other impactful services. Donate today >>
  
• Bilingual English/Spanish volunteers are needed to greet our Hunger Resource Center clients. Volunteers also monitor the food assistance phone line and return calls to schedule appointments. Shifts are on weekdays with flexible hours as well as Wednesday evenings. Must be 18+. Good customer service skills are also important. All training provided. Contact Navara Cannon at ncannon@nvfs.org or 571.748.2536. See more holiday volunteer needs >>
  
• All three NVFS shelters are in great need of twin/full sheets, blankets and new towels, as well as toilet paper and shower curtain liners. Details and other donation opportunities available online. Visit our wishlist >>