nonprofit | ALXnow

ACT for Alexandria Nears $1 Million Fundraising Goal, Will Temporarily Suspend Giving to Plan for Summer

Published May 21, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated May 22, 2020 at 10:59AM

ALIVE! handed out four bags of food apiece at its drive-thru food distribution at Cora Kelly School and John Adams Elementary last Saturday morning. (Photo via ALIVE!/Facebook)

After receiving two recent donations totaling $150,000, ACT for Alexandria is nearing $1 million for its ACT Now COVID-19 response fund, and the organization will be taking a break from giving grants to nonprofits to plan for the summer.

“We’re working with the city and our nonprofit partners to think through what the next phase of recovery is going to look like,” ACT for Alexandria President and CEO Heather Peeler told ALXnow. “We’ll be pausing grant making for a couple of weeks. While we talk through and get a better sense for how the needs of our community are evolving.”

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 18, 2020 at 9:00AM

Group to Sue City for Pollution Near Recycling Center — “After a 7 On Your Side Investigation aired about the amount of Styrofoam piling up along the banks of the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia, organizers with Advocates for Clean & Clear Waterways, a new non-profit, has informed the City it plans on suing.” [WJLA]

DASH Bus Requiring All Riders to Wear Face Masks — “Based on guidance from the Alexandria Health Department, the Alexandria Transit Company (DASH) will require all passengers to wear face coverings while using DASH buses beginning Monday, May 18, 2020. The measure will help protect DASH employees and passengers from contracting the COVID-19 virus and is consistent with the actions of the agency’s regional transit partners, including WMATA, Frederick Transit, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County Transit. This precaution will remain in effect until further notice.” [DASH]

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ALIVE! Gave Out 98K Pounds of Food in April, Sets Date for Next Food Distribution

By James Cullum

Published May 13, 2020 at 5:15PM

ALIVE! handed out four bags of food apiece at its drive-thru food distribution at Cora Kelly School and John Adams Elementary last Saturday morning. (Photo via ALIVE!/Facebook)

ALIVE! gave out 90,000 pounds of food to hungry Alexandrians in the month of April, and will conduct it’s next mass food distribution on Saturday, May 30.

“That’s three times our monthly average,” ALIVE! Executive Director Jennifer Ayers told ALXnow.

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Casa Chirilagua Needs Food and Household Item Donations

By James Cullum

Published May 11, 2020 at 2:00PM

As the Arlandria community struggles with the highest infection rate in Alexandria, Casa Chirilagua is asking for donations to help low-income families.

The city’s Hispanic population is largely located in Arlandria and leads with positive cases at 533 and four reported deaths.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published May 7, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated May 7, 2020 at 1:35PM

Walking along the Potomac River at Founders Park in Old Town. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Fairlington UMC Warns Against Phishing Scam — “Remember the phrase ‘fishers of men?’ We have PHISHERS again. They are sending emails and TEXTS from ‘Janine Howard’ asking you to go out and buy ebay cards for them. Don’t do it. If you’d like to make charitable donations, call or go to our website.” [Facebook]

Burke & Herbert Bank Issues More Than 1,100 PPP Loans — “Today Burke & Herbert Bank, which has been serving the northern Virginia business community for more than 167 years, announced that nearly 1,100 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling approximately $136 million in aid for local businesses have been approved for the Bank’s customers. As a result, an estimated 10,000 individuals in the local community will remain employed or return to the businesses’ payroll.” [Zebra]

News

Alexandria Little League GoFundMe Raises $5,800 to Feed Hungry Alexandrians

By James Cullum

Published May 1, 2020 at 5:15PM

An Alexandria Little League home run. (Photo via Alexandria Little League/Facebook)

Their season might be over, but Alexandria Little Leaguers and their supporters still have something to cheer about during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The nonprofit has raised $5,795 in a GoFundMe campaign to provide food for ALIVE! and Feed The Fight Alexandria, which gives food to local hospitals.

News

ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund Raises $777K, Local Nonprofits Get Most of it

By James Cullum

Published April 30, 2020 at 2:00PM | Updated April 30, 2020 at 5:00PM

Food at ALIVE! (Photo via ALIVE!/Facebook)

The ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund has raised more than $777,000 from 780 donors, and has given away $619,000 to 67 nonprofits in and around Alexandria.

“There is nothing like the power of collective action, when we all take a small step that can add up to something really big,”ACT for Alexandria Executive Director Heather Peeler told ALXnow.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published April 29, 2020 at 9:00AM | Updated April 29, 2020 at 9:39AM

Tenants and Workers United Organizes Rent Protest in Arlandria Friday — “Join our Caravan. THIS FRIDAY at 4:30 P.M.” ️[Facebook]

Here’s an Updated List of Alexandria’s Nonprofit Needs — “This list is updated on a regular basis, so check back regularly to see the latest items needed to support our most vulnerable populations during this critical time. Thank you for caring for our community!” [Volunteer Alexandria]

News

Together We Bake Reopens Kitchen in Time for Mother’s Day

By James Cullum

Published April 28, 2020 at 2:00PM | Updated May 2, 2020 at 2:32AM

Together We Bake, the local nonprofit dedicated to providing comprehensive workforce training and personal development for women in need, just reopened its kitchen just in time for Mother’s Day.

“We figured that we could resume operations in our kitchen and maintain six feet of distance,” Together We Bake Co-Director Elizabeth Bennett-Parker told ALXnow. “The deadline for Mother’s Day orders is this Sunday.”

News

Large Scale Projects Delayed As Rebuilding Together Alexandria Focuses on Emergency Repairs

By Vernon Miles

Published April 28, 2020 at 11:30AM

Spring is usually when Rebuilding Together DC- Alexandria is at its most active, with volunteers repairing houses and developments across Alexandria making thousands of dollars worth of repairs for low-income families. But this has been an unusual spring, and it has taken a toll on the operations at the local branch of the nonprofit.

At Rebuilding Together, the big volunteer projects are delayed indefinitely as the non-profit focuses on making emergency repairs.

News

ALIVE! Distributed 13K Pounds of Food on Saturday, Needs Financial Donations

By James Cullum

Published April 27, 2020 at 3:15PM

ALIVE! gave out 13,000 pounds of food Saturday, and much of it was transported to a distribution point by DASH buses. The nonprofit is asking for donations in this year's Spring2ACTion event on April 28. (Photo via DASH/Facebook)

ALIVE! gave out 13,000 pounds of food to more than 1,300 Alexandria households on Saturday morning, and the nonprofit is now collecting financial donations for the next distribution.

The food cost about $65,000 and amounted to 4,300 grocery bags, which were distributed within two hours at the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center (23 W. Reed Ave.) and John Adams Elementary School (5651 Rayburn Avenue).