Congregational Connection

ALIVE! Activities & Updates
Supporting Asylum Seekers
In the coming months, tens of thousands of Afghans will be arriving in the U.S. seeking safety with little more than the clothing on their backs. Asylum seekers arrive in the U.S. with many needs but few resources of their own. These needs often persist throughout and even after what is typically a long and arduous legal process.
AsylumWorks is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that serves asylum seekers and other immigrants seeking safety from violence now living in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia. AsylumWorks provides holistic services and support to help asylum seekers regain confidence and control over their lives so they can fully participate in the asylum process. If your congregation would like to get involved with the work AsylumWorks does please visit: https://asylumworks.org/get-involved/

Furniture Request for Refugee Family 

Monique Sanders, a Case Manager with Loyal Source Independence Line, reached out to ALIVE! in search of furniture for a family of 4 Afghan refugees. Two young children are currently sleeping on the floor and the family has a list of additional requested items.

If your congregation is interested in providing help please contact Monique directly at msanders@loyalsource.com.

Computer CORE- Skills Trainings

Since 1999, Computer CORE’s mission has been to prepare underserved adults to realize career aspirations with foundational digital and professional skills. Sponsored by the Alexandria Central Rotary Club, Computer CORE will be holding two free virtual basic computer skills Boot Camps for City of Alexandria residents 18 years old or older.

The Boot Camps are:

1) March 16-17  from 12-4 pm each day or
2) March 30-31 from 12-4 pm each day

There is space available for 8 participants for each Boot Camp, and each participants will each receive a free refurbished laptop to keep. If you know of someone who might be interested, please contact Donna at donna@computercore.org regarding prospective candidates or have them email her directly.

You can see more about the work that Computer CORE does by visiting their website at: https://www.computercore.org/

Join the ALIVE! Team

ALIVE! is searching for someone to fill our new Food Center Service Navigator position.

The Service Navigator will work closely with other members of the team to assess, implement, and evaluate actions required to meet the client’s human service needs and also ensure that volunteers and staff at the food centers are working collaboratively in the best interests of clients.
ALIVE! is also looking for an ALIVE! House Case Manager.
The ALIVE! House Case Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the shelter program and providing on-site staffing and program leadership. The Case Manager also supervises the ALIVE! House Shelter Monitor and is responsible for ensuring a safe, clean space for all clients.
Please share job opportunities with your community. We are excited to expand our operations and grow our amazing staff.

Home Inspector Needed

ALIVE! House is looking for someone who can help us assess the structural needs of the building. This includes an evaluation of the foundation, windows, fireplace, and water heater. Please let us know someone from your congregations has experience in home inspection or contracting and would be able to help us assess our needs.

Please contact execdir@alive-inc.org or call the ALIVE! office at (703) 837-9300

Floor Installation Needed

Does anyone in your congregation work with flooring? We will need a new floor installed soon in order to ready our space for the new ALIVE! Food Center. If you know of anyone who can help provide us with advice, materials or installation, please contact John Shockley at opsdir@alive-inc.org.

Food Distribution Schedule

Click the hyperlink below for the February ALIVE! Food Distribution Calendar. The calendar is subject to change.

ALIVE! strives to provide nutritious foods through direct distribution to our clients and by supporting Alexandria’s food pantries, meal kitchens, public schools, recreation centers, and other community partners.

To get a PDF of the entire month’s calendar of ALIVE! food distribution click the hyperlink below. Calendar subject to change.

ALIVE! Food Distribution Calendar (FEBRUARY 2022)

Weekend Food Distribution:
ALIVE! distributes bags of food (groceries, produce, chicken, eggs, bread) at 3 sites one Saturday per month in the parking lot at each site. ALIVE! food distributions are for City of Alexandria residents. No ID required.

Saturday, February 26 from 8:30AM – 10:30AM
Drive-through:

  • Cora Kelly Elementary School (3600 Commonwealth Ave)
  • NVCC Alexandria Campus (parking lot B-1 via 500 Dawes Ave)

Walk-up:

  • Cora Kelly Elementary School (3600 Commonwealth Ave)
  • William Ramsay Rec Center (5650 Sanger Ave)

Pop-Up Food Distributions:

ALIVE! provides bags of food to specific neighborhoods and apartment buildings, in collaboration with our community partners, in the parking lot at each pop-up location. Drive-through and walk-up service available depending on site.

Thursday, February 10 from 4:30 – 6:00 PM
William Ramsay Rec Center (5650 Sanger Ave.)

Friday, February 18 from 10:30 – 12:00 PM
Old Town Community Church (212 S. Washington St.)

Saturday, February 19 from 8:00 – 10:00 AM
Fairlington United Methodist Church (3900 King St.)

Saturday, February 19 from 10:00 – 12:00 PM
UNCUT Youth (1501 Cameron St.)

Facing Eviction or Need Rental Assistance?

Meet with AEPP staff in-person for immediate assistance. Facilities are subject to close due to inclement weather and please bring your lease, ledgers, and any documents (SNAP or SSI approvals).

Every Tuesday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
alternating between Charles Houston Rec Center (901 Wythe Street)
and William Ramsay Rec Center (5650 Sanger Avenue):

February 15 at Charles Houston Rec Center
February 22 at William Ramsay Rec Center

Every Thursday from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
at Casa Chirilagua (4109 Mt Vernon Ave)

Questions? Call 571-463-8567 or visit: www.alive-inc.org/aepp

Thank You to all the ALIVE! Volunteers

We appreciate all of the volunteers who made this weekend’s food distributions a success. After inclement weather forced us to reschedule January’s monthly food distribution, a team of volunteers pitched in to help make sure that all of our neighbors in Alexandria had access to the support they need.

To join our volunteer team visit our website for shift times and roles.

Volunteer T-Shirts

ALIVE! now has T-shirts available for volunteers! To cover costs T-shirts are $10 for Small- Extra Large and $12 for XXL.

If you would like a t-shirt please contact: lfeiler@alive-inc.org

 

Souper Bowl of Caring

For more than 30 years, the Souper Bowl of Caring has been driving grassroots efforts using the energy of the Big Game to illustrate the collective impact of tackling hunger locally.

Each year, churches, schools and civic groups around the country host food and fundraising campaigns that benefit charities in their own neighborhoods. Since 1990, over $163 million has been raised for almost 10,000 local charities around the nation and the world.