Alfred Street Baptist Church Virtual Worship Service Gets 19K Views –“Thank you for this amazing word today!! God Bless!” [Facebook]

Hospital Nurses Play Games With COVID-19 Patients — “Inova Nurses are helping our patients any way they can during these challenging times, from medical attention to a friendly game of tic tac toe. #InovaHeroes” [Facebook]

Early Giving Begins For Spring2ACTion Fundraiser — “Because of the current crisis, organizations have had to cancel fundraising events and programs that generate revenue. Classrooms and theaters are dark, and programs are cancelled in adherence of social distancing guidelines. Many nonprofits are depleting their reserves to purchase emergency food and supplies for their constituents.” [Spring2ACTion]

Sales of Titan Senior Magnets and Yard Signs Going to Relief Fund — “Don’t have a senior but want to show your support? Buy a community sign! All proceeds will support the PTSA’s new initiative [the] Titans Care COVID Relief Fund!” [tcwallnightgradparty.com]

ALIVE! Thanks Community For Food Giveaway Support — “Huge THANK YOU to Old Blue BBQ for purchasing and donating 500 pounds of potatoes for this weekend’s Truck-to-Trunk food distribution! They came to help pack 4000 grocery bags, but when they realized there wouldn’t be enough produce, left and came back with fresh produce for Alexandria’s neediest.”[Facebook]

Alexandria Symphony Reschedules Performance — Due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, the Alexandria Symphony has rescheduled its “Brandenburgs and Brew” concert to Friday, June 12, 2020. [alexsym.org]

Sales From Alexandria Restaurant Partners T-Shirts Going to Staff — “T-shirt sales end on Monday, April 6, so be sure to purchase yours today!” [Facebook]

Atlantis Pizzeria and Family Restaurant is Open For Carryout — “Jimmy and Bill are brothers who opened Atlantis 38 years ago. They have built up a loyal customer base that continues to support them during this difficult time. They remain open each day because they never want to disappoint their customers. They could use all the help they can get right now. Open for carry out only. Order a pizza and come pick it up. It’s easy. Plenty of room to keep your distance and they are keeping it clean as a whistle. Hope to see you soon!” [Facebook]

The ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund has raised more than $500,000, and more than $350,000 has been given to 39 local nonprofits.

The city donated $100,000 at the onset of the outbreak of COVID-19, and Amazon donated $200,ooo toward the effort, according to ACT for Alexandria.

As of this week, $95,400 in grants was awarded to 11 nonprofits in the city, with most of the funds going toward emergency food, supplies and financial assistance in the city.

The recent grants were awarded to:

• Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center’s Food Bank: The Food Bank, which has seen requests double, provides culturally appropriate food and personal hygiene items. Funding will allow them to expand their mobile distribution sites to reach those who are home-bound and disproportionately impacted communities in the West End.
• Offender Aid and Restoration of Arlington will provide financial assistance for medical expenses, utilities, transportation and vocational training to people who have recently returned to Alexandria from incarceration and who are set back by the virus outbreak.
• St. Martin de Porres Senior Center is keeping vulnerable seniors connected with medical consultations, case management and other supports.

As of April 2, 2020, The ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund has awarded more than $350,000 in grants to the following organizations:

• AHC, Inc.
• Alexandria Housing Development Corporation
• ALIVE!
• Basilica of St. Mary St. Vincent de Paul Society
• Best Buddies
• Capital Caring Health
• Carpenter’s Shelter
• Casa Chirilagua
• Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington
• Christ Church
• Christ Church Refugee Ministry
• Communities in Schools NOVA
• Community Lodgings
• Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center
• Family to Family, Old Presbyterian Meeting House
• Friends of Guest House
• Fruitful Planet
• Mother of Light Center
• Neighborhood Health
• Northern Virginia Family Services
• Nueva Vida
• OAR of Arlington, Alexandria & Falls Church
• Phoenix Houses of the Mid-Atlantic
• Project ID & Spread the Vote
• SCAN of Northern Virginia
• Senior Services of Alexandria
• Senior Services of Alexandria
• St. Paul’s-Lazarus
• St. Rita Church
• The Campagna Center
• The Child & Family Network Centers
• Together We Bake
• United Community
• Urban Alliance
• Volunteer Alexandria
• Volunteers of America Chesapeake
• Wesley Housing Development Corporation
• YMCA Metropolitan Washington

Staff photo by James Cullum

The following Letter to the Editor was written by Heather Peeler, the President and CEO of ACT For Alexandria.

If you’re like me, the last few weeks have been an emotional roller coaster.

One minute I’m over come by concern and fear. I’m worried about my sister, an ICU nurse in New York City, and all the other health care workers putting their own personal health at risk in order to serve our communities. I’m worried about the families that were already on the financial edge before the pandemic and the additional hardships that they will encounter with layoffs and school closures.

The next minute I’m filled with hope. I’ve been inspired by the volunteers organized by Volunteer Alexandria who are lending their time with patience and flexibility. I am also awed by the grit of our local business community that is finding creative ways to serve customers while supporting their employees. For example, Alexandria Restaurant Partners has raised more than $10,000 through the purchase of gift cards; 50% of the gift card value will be dedicated to an employee relief fund.

ALX at Home has a listing of the many innovative offerings from Alexandria’s business community. My days are also filled with gratitude. Alexandria’s nonprofits have demonstrated incredible responsiveness, compassion and commitment during the crisis.

This week, the ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund awarded $245,000 to 25 organizations who are providing emergency food and household supplies to families in need. They are reconfiguring their program delivery models in compliance with social distancing guidelines and hiring staff to replace volunteers. As they face significant financial challenges due to canceled fundraisers and other revenue-generating activities, they are also ramping up their outreach to community members hardest hit by the outbreak.

I am grateful for the City of Alexandria and ACPS staff who have been working quietly behind the scenes to keep basic public services functioning while implementing new operations, policies and programs that will help Alexandria be resilient in the face of crisis.

I am filled with appreciation for the Alexandrians who are supporting one another in unprecedented ways. More than 400 people have donated to the ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund which has raised $470,000 to date. People are reaching out through Facebook groups and community listserves to collaborate and lend a hand.

We are likely weeks away from fully understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our nation and community. That’s why I’m also filled with determination. We can’t let our foot off the gas. We must resolve to be there for the community we love now and in the months to come.

If you would like to support nonprofits on the front lines of the emergency response, please consider donating to the ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund. A gift of any size will make a big difference. And starting on April 3 you can directly support your favorite nonprofit through Spring2ACTion, which celebrates our community spirit through an online 24-hour giving event on April 15.

As we navigate crises together, I am proud to be part of a community that recognizes our shared humanity through generosity and love.

ALXnow.com occasionally publishes thoughtful letters to the editor about issues of local interest. To submit a letter to the editor for consideration, please email it to [email protected]. Letters may be edited for content and brevity, at our discretion.

Alexandria COVID-19 Count Now At 20 — “AHD is identifying and contacting individuals who came in close contact with the confirmed cases. The close contacts will be asked to self-quarantine and actively monitor for fever and respiratory symptoms. If they start experiencing symptoms, they will immediately undergo testing. As a result of the AHD’s case investigations and expanded testing through private providers, the number of positive cases is expected to continue to increase.” [City of Alexandria]

City’s COVID-19 Fund Reaches $470K — “Thanks to your generous support, ACT for Alexandria and the City of Alexandria have begun to provide grants to the nonprofit organizations on the front lines of this crisis. As of this week, we have made $245,010 in grants.” [Zebra]

Levine Hosting Health Director in Virtual Monthly Meetup — “We will be hosting Mark’s Monthly Meetup virtually this Sunday between 1 and 3 pm. Likely through either Zoom or Facebook Live. Perhaps both if we can figure it out. Details to come.” [Facebook]

Beyer Laments U.S. Leading World With COVID-19 Cases — “Very, very bad: the United States now leads the world in confirmed COVID-19 cases. PLEASE STAY HOME.” [Twitter]

Fire Department Advises Against Overloading Power Strips — “If you’re teleworking to help #stopthespread, you’re probably using multiple electronic devices to keep up with your workload. To prevent an electrical fire, don’t overload your power strips.” [Twitter]

Chat Today With Martha Washington in Mount Vernon Live Stream — “Join us for our first Casual Friday Livestream, where we’ll do something new & different each Friday at 12:00 pm ET! This week, join us for a chat with young Martha Washington in the year 1769. Ask her your questions now, and we’ll start with those tomorrow on Facebook & YouTube.” [Twitter]

fibre space Moves to Online Shopping Only — “We will not be scheduling any additional in store private shopping appointments. If you are currently scheduled, your appointment is still on. Please feel free to shop via phone, web or virtual shopping on Zoom.” [Facebook]

Carpenter’s Shelter Thanks Supporters — “One of our biggest concerns amidst all of this turmoil, has been making sure we are able to keep our residents fed. In our current temporary location we do not have a stove, so we are reliant more than ever on our wonderful volunteers and donors to provide prepared food for our clients. And thanks to them, this concern thus far has been unfounded.” [Facebook]

ACT for Alexandria is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by moving the Spring2ACTion fundraiser from April 29 to April 15.

Spring2ACTion is the largest annual fundraiser in Alexandria.

“Alexandria’s nonprofits are on the front lines in responding to this public health crisis,” said Heather Peeler, the CEO of ACT for Alexandria. “Like many small businesses, nonprofits are facing an existential financial threat. Through Spring2ACTion they can raise the critical funds they need to purchase supplies, pay rent, and reconfigure their programs and services to support our neighbors in need.”

The 24-hour online giving event for local nonprofits has raised upward of $10 million from 65,000 donors for more than 160 local nonprofits since it began in 2011. Last year ACT for Alexandria raised a record $2.1 million, and this year’s goal is to attract 10,000 donors.

The only other change is that the fundraiser usually features in-person events, while this year all activities are online.

Amazon has given $200,000 to ACT for Alexandria’s COVID-19 response fund as part of a $1 million donation that the company is making to the region.

“The funds received by ACT will be used to support the nonprofits providing services to Alexandrian’s who are hardest hit by the COVID-19 outbreak,” ACT CEO Heather Peeler told ALXnow.

“The human service needs, economic impact and strains on our critical services will be with us long into the future,” Mayor Justin Wilson said. “We have a resilient community and this contribution will help bring our City and our resident back stronger than ever.”

On Saturday, the Alexandria City Council allocated $100,000 in matching emergency funds to the ACT Now COVD-19 Response Fund with a goal of raising $200,000 so that nonprofits in the city can apply for and receive grants.

Council also approved an allocation of $20,000 to ALIVE! to buy bulk food equivalent to 17,000 meals. ALIVE! is currently working with the city and buying food to support the city should deliveries need to be made to people under quarantine without food reserves at home.

The full press release is below the jump:

Read More

The largest single-day fundraiser in the region is around the corner, and this year ACT for Alexandria wants to attract 10,000 donors.

Last year’s Spring2ACTion fundraiser raised $2.1 million for 166 local charities and nonprofits, beating the $1.8 million raised in 2018. There were more than 9,600 donors last year, and this year’s fundraising goal is $2 million — just shy of last year’s record-breaking total.

This year’s day of giving falls on April 29, and goal is not so much to focus on the monetary amount but on attracting more donors. ACT For Alexandria, a nonprofit dedicated to helping Alexandria’s children, has raised upward of $10 million from 65,000 donors for more than 160 local nonprofits in total.

ACT President Heather Peeler said that the organization has come a long way.

“Ten years ago this was just a big crazy idea,” Peeler told ALXnow. “We had a goal of raising $30,000 and we thought that would have been incredible. And here we are 10 years later, raising millions of dollars in partnership with the nonprofits in Alexandria.”

All donations are tax deductible and irrevocable.

Last year’s fundraiser saved the Local Motion Project dance studio (2377 S. Dove Street) with $50,000 in donations. The top earner last year was the nonprofit Running Brooke, which raised more than $125,000. The Alexandria Soccer Association had the most donors, raising more than $50,000 from 750 people.

ACT for Alexandria spokeswoman Brandi Yee said the organization is focusing this year on “free agent fundraisers.”

“So, not only is a nonprofit raising money, but an individual can raise their hand and say, ‘I will raise $500 for the animal shelter, and I’m going to reach out to all my friends and my family and they’re going to give me the money that I raise,'” Yee said.

Photo via ACT For Alexandria/Facebook

ACT for Alexandria tried something different with their approach to grant making this year: investing in local organizations that want to focus on racial equity and community engagement.

The community foundation recently awarded $106,500 to 10 Alexandria nonprofits and organizations, including a $10,000 racial equity grant to the Local Motion Project nonprofit dance studio at 2377 South Dove St.

Local Motion Project Executive Director Sara Lavan plans to use the funds to host a series of workshops to introduce Alexandria residents to West African dance. The nonprofit also received more than $45,000 in last year’s Spring2ACTion, which kept its doors open.

“There is a lack of dances from the African Diaspora in many private studios,” Lavan told ALXnow. “Through our new course we will be examining structural and institutional racism throughout dance education, and learn how to be more inclusive to people of color.”

ACT for Alexandria provides capacity building grants every year, and this year the organization streamlined its grant making process. Gone were the lengthy applications asking for projected outcomes by developing an entire program. Instead, applicants had to fill out a simple two-page letter of inquiry and explain what their organization hoped to learn with the grant funds.

The organization has invested more than $1 million in capacity building grants to Alexandria nonprofits since 2005, and its annual Spring2ACTion fundraiser raised more than $2 million last year.

“We’re investing in innovation and creativity,” said Brandi Yee, chief program officer for ACT for Alexandria.  “We may not know what the outcome is going to be up front, but as partners, we trust the organizations and their knowing what is most needed for their communities.”

The grants were awarded to the following organizations:

• Alexandria Housing Development Corporation — The organization received a strategic planning grant to incorporate a mindset of racial equity in the development of new and renovated housing.
• Alexandria Soccer Association — The nonprofit received a strategic planning grant to focus on racial equity as the organization continues to grow.
• Carpenter’s Shelter — The nonprofit was awarded a racial equity grant to fund a project exploring how racism and racial inequity contribute to homelessness, with the goal of determining program changes that will be needed as a result.
• Casa Chirilagua — The organization received a community engagement grant to improve communication with Hispanic families and communities throughout Alexandria.
• Friends of Guest House — The nonprofit received a strategic planning grant to fund two consensus-building workshops to develop a new strategic plan with staff and the board.
• Offender Aid and Restoration – The organization was awarded a racial equity grant to “transform the organization to one that embraces anti-racism, racial equity, and inclusion internally.”
• RunningBrooke — The nonprofit dedicated to getting Alexandria’s kids moving was awarded a community engagement grant to develop an equity action plan and community advisory board to make sure underrepresented voices are heard.
• The Spitfire Club — The extracurricular book club for girls was awarded a racial equity to develop a training program for future mentors. The program will guide the mentors on how to include race, equity and inclusion in their work.
• The Child & Family Network Centers — The 30-year-old organization received a racial equity grant to develop a Racial Equity in Early Learning Plan, which will focus on underserved communities throughout the city.

Photo courtesy Local Motion Project