Congregational Connection
Thank you to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service team and the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office donating 1,290 pounds collected during the Feds Feed Families food drive.

Save-the-Date for StepALIVE! on October 16

Mark your calendars for the the 41st annual StepALIVE! Walkathon on Sunday, October 16th. Join us for the 2pm kickoff and post-walk celebration at First Christian Church. Sponsorship opportunities are available and details on how to register your congregation’s team are coming soon!

ALIVE! Programs and Office Closures

Please note that the ALIVE! offices and programs will be closed from August 22nd through August 26th for a staff retreat.

We are looking to restart ALIVE!’s Furniture Program in September! Please let us know if you can provide overflow storage space for donated furniture or, if your congregation may have space storage shed on your property.
Do you have any gently used sauce pans, pots, or flatware in search of a good home? The ALIVE! Housewares Program assists people in housing transition by connecting them with donated housewares.
Donations that are clean and in good condition can be dropped off at the Sunrise Senior Living of Old Town front desk (400 N. Washington St) daily from 10am to 3pm. You can learn more at: https://www.alive-inc.org/housewares-donation-alexandria-va/

The Alexandria Gang Prevention Task Force is looking for applicants from faith leaders and lay leaders to serve on this volunteer board.

Click on this link to apply and scroll down to Alexandria Gang Prevention Community Task Force. The City Council will receive your application and in September they will vote people in.

The Alexandria City Council is seeking applicants to fill vacancies on many other volunteer boards and commissions during the September meeting including:

Economic Opportunities Commission
Social Services Advisory Board
Community Services Board
Local Emergency Planning Committee
Children, Youth, and Families Collaborative Commission
Alexandria Housing Affordability Advisory Committee

Applications are due no later than 5pm on September 2. To learn more and to apply visit: https://www.alexandriava.gov/boards-and-commissions/boards-and-commissions-vacancies

ALIVE!’s Food Distribution Schedule

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.

ALIVE! Food Distribution Calendar – September 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.

Reusable Bags:
Please encourage referrals or clients to bring reusable bags to food distribution events so that ALIVE! can recycle them for future events. All reusable bags are accepted.

Saturday, August 27 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, September 8 from 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Ramsay Rec Center (5650 Sanger Ave)

Friday, September 9 from 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Casa Chirilagua (4109 Mt. Vernon Ave)

Friday, September 16 from 10:30am – Noon
Old Town Community Church (212 S. Washington St)

Saturday, September 17 from 8:00am – 10:00am
Fairlington United Methodist Church (3900 King St)

Saturday, September 17 from 10:00am – Noon
UNCUT Youth (1501 Cameron St)

ALIVE! Food Hub (510-F South Van Dorn Street)
The ALIVE! Food Hub offers Alexandria residents food, personal items, cleaning supplies, school supplies and connections to information other services.

Hours of operation:
Tuesdays Noon – 6:30pm
Wednesdays Noon – 6:30pm
Thursdays Noon – 6:30pm
Fridays 10:00am – 1:00pm
Saturdays 10:00am – 1:00pm
Have questions about rental assistance or eviction prevention in Alexandria? Meet with staff in-person for immediate assistance at the events listed below. Please bring your lease, ledgers, and any documents (SNAP or SSI approvals).
Tuesday, August 30th from 10am – Noon
William Ramsay Rec Center (5650 Sanger Avenue)
Every Thursday from 10am – Noon
at Casa Chirilagua (4109 Mt Vernon Avenue)
Every Thursday from 2pm – 5pm
at the ALIVE! Food Hub (510-F South Van Dorn Street)
Questions? Visit ALIVE!’s Alexandria Eviction Prevention Program for more information: https://www.alive-inc.org/aepp/
The ALIVE! Food Hub offers more than just groceries for our Alexandria neighbors in need.
GoAlex Transportation, the Alexandria Workforce Development Center, ACPS, and the Alexandria Office of Community Services are all spending time this month at the Food Hub to connect people in need of food assistance with other support services.
Are you looking to get involved at the Food Hub? We are in need of volunteers during the week. You can learn more and sign up for a shift here.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is run by the Federal Communications Commission to help households that qualify pay for internet service and devices such as laptops and tablets.

You may qualify if:

  • Your household meets income limits (for a household of 4, the limit is $55,500 or less)
  • You or someone you live with currently receives a government benefit like SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, WIC, Pell Grant, or Free and Reduced-Price Lunch

If your household qualifies, you could receive:

  • Up to a $30 per month discount on your internet service
  • A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer (with a co-payment of more than $10 but less than $50)

To find out more visit the Affordable Connectivity Program.

The Giant Food located at 3131 Duke Street in Alexandria is donating $1 to ALIVE! for each Community Bag purchased during August. This program has raised $94 this month to support our neighbors in need and is helping to reduce the waste that comes with plastic bags.

Are you interested in donating reusable bags for ALIVE!’s food distribution events? ALIVE! accepts donations at 801 S. Payne Street from 9am-4pm every day (extended hours until 7pm on Thursdays), and 9am-Noon Saturdays.