Article by Gwen Jones, Department of Family Services
(Posted 2024 November)
The holiday season is a time for celebration and spending time with family and friends. It is also the season of giving. If helping others is part of your holiday tradition, consider donating to one of the drives listed here. Your donation will directly impact those living in your community.
Department of Family Services Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program
The Adopt-a-Family Program was developed to help children and families who are in need of clothing, food and toys for the holidays. The donations support families who are working with Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Children, Youth and Families Division. The program matches generous donors with identified families to make their holidays more joyful. If your family, business, company, organization or faith-based group is interested in helping to support a family experiencing difficult times during the holidays, consider Adopting-A-Family today to help make their holidays brighter! Learn more at FairfaxCounty.gov/familyservices/children-youth/volunteer-partner-services/adopt-a-family.
Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Holiday Gift Card Drive
Help families impacted by interpersonal violence get ready for the 2024 holiday season. Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Advocacy Services seeks gift cards (in $25 dollar increments) for Target, Walmart, Giant, Safeway, and similar big-box and grocery stores. Gift cards will be collected until Friday, Dec. 13, 2024.
Gift cards can be dropped off or mailed to:
Cecilia Herrera
Domestic Violence Action Center
4000 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 2702
Fairfax, VA, 22030
Volunteer Solutions’ Towel Set Drive for the Holidays
The Volunteer Solutions unit of the Department of Family Services is planning to bring cheer this holiday season to 250 Adult and Aging clients by giving them a festive gift bag with homemade cards, towels, and hygiene items in December. They are kindly requesting good quality, brand-new towel sets (bath, hand, and washcloth). Any excess towels will be donated to local agencies in need of supplies. All towel donations need to be received no later than Monday, December 2, 2024. If you wish to sign up to donate towels to this project, please visit Volunteer Solutions’ website at bit.ly/FXVSVOL or call 703-324-5406.
Fairfax County Police Department’s 11th Annual Holiday Gift Card Drive
FCPD’s Victim Services Division remains dedicated to assisting child victims and witnesses of domestic and sexual violence, as well as those who have lost a loved one to homicide. Many of these children are unable to enjoy the holiday celebrations due to the financial strain on their family resulting from being victims of crime. You can bring holiday cheer to these children by donating gift cards for Target, Walmart, Amazon, clothing stores, grocery stores, and restaurants. Cards can be donated between November 1 and December 14, 2024. For more information, please email Saly.Fayez@FairfaxCounty.gov.
Gift cards can be dropped off or mailed to:
Saly Fayez
12099 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22035
TOYS FOR TOTS – Fairfax County Fire and Rescue
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is participating in the 2024 TOYS FOR TOTS Campaign! The campaign aims to bring holiday joy and deliver a message of hope to children. TOYS FOR TOTS collects new unwrapped toys and distributes them to less fortunate children. All Fairfax County fire stations will be accepting donations from November 25 through Sunday, December 16.
Mason District Donation Drives
Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez is hosting two ongoing drives. Donate nonperishable food items to help restock the pantry at Annandale Christian Community for Action. You can also donate laundry detergent pods for Shelter House’s Patrick Henry Emergency Shelter for families with children. Food items can be dropped off Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Detergent pods can be dropped off 24/7 in the lobby dropbox. Drop off all items at the Mason District Governmental Center, 6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale.
Mount Vernon District Holiday Food Drive
Donate nonperishable food items to help families in your community. Donations will be accepted between November 1 and December 4 and can be dropped off in the donation bin outside the Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Mt. Vernon. Donated items will be given to a local Fairfax County Public School for distribution to families. For more information, please contact Maddie Alvarado at 703-780-7518 or madeleine.alvarado@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Providence District Winter Gear Drive
Donate new or gently used winter gear of all sizes to help people in need. Donations benefit Committee for Helping Others, Fairfax F.I.S.H., Northern Virginia Family Services, Second Story and The Lamb Center. Donations will be accepted through December 31 and can be dropped off at the Jim Scott Community Center, 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information, visit FairfaxCounty.gov/providence/2024-providence-district-winter-gear-drive or email Providence@fairfaxcounty.gov.
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).