Have you ever gotten lost in the pages of a good book? Has your imagination taken flight? Have you learned something new or have you developed a new interest through reading? Today, community centers across Fairfax County are providing readers of all ages with a way to find access to and share books among their neighbors to inspire a love of reading and to reap the long-term benefits of a life of literacy. The Neighborhood Book Exchange is an adaptation of a simple concept: Take a book, leave a book. Each participating center has installed an outdoor blue book cabinet near the main entrance to the building. The reading material in these blue cabinets are free to any member of the community to take home and keep as long as they like. All that is asked is that those who take a book leave one in its place to share with their neighbors (if they are able). It’s that simple! No deadlines. No overdue notices. No late fees. Access to the Neighborhood Book Exchange is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – even on holidays! A special thank you to Fairfax County Public Libraries! Fairfax County Public Libraries will provide donated materials to help keep a healthy quantity and wide variety of reading material available to readers of all ages, abilities and interests.   Participating Locations Bailey’s Community Center (5920 Summers Lane, Falls Church) Burgundy Community Center (5516 Norton Road, Alexandria) Gum Springs Community Center (8100 Fordson Road, Alexandria) Huntington Community Center (5751 Liberty Drive, Alexandria) James Lee Community Center (2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church) Mott Community Center (12111 Braddock Road, Fairfax) Pinn Community Center (10225 Zion Drive, Fairfax) Willston Community Center (6131 Willston Drive, Falls Church)   Questions, Concerns or Suggestions? The Neighborhood Book Exchange is provided as a community service by Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) and the Fairfax County Public Library. Fairfax County is not responsible for the content of the materials shared by members of the community. If you have questions, concerns or suggestions regarding the Neighborhood Book Exchange program, please speak directly with NCS staff at our participating locations. Our staff welcome any and all feedback and would be happy to work with you to ensure the success of this community initiative.  

The buses are fueled and ready to roll as the county’s post-holiday food drive—Stuff the Bus—hits the road in the fight against hunger in Fairfax County.   From Martin Luther King weekend through Presidents Day, Stuff the Bus will visit several local grocery stores to collect donated food and household items that will be delivered to community-based non-profit food pantries which provide essential support to hungry individuals and families in Fairfax County communities.    Select a date and donate!   The Need for Food is Great 8 percent of Fairfax County Public Schools students reported going hungry in the past month (some of the time, most of the time, or always) due to lack of food in the home. 30 percent of Fairfax County Public Schools students receive free or reduced price lunches. More than 75,000 Fairfax County residents live below the federal poverty level   In addition to the ongoing needs that exist, the effect of the Federal Government shutdown is likely to have more individuals and families in need of food assistance. Those individuals and families in need can contact Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880, TTY 711, to receive assistance.   Your Contributions Will Make a Difference!   Stuff the Bus – A Successful Community Effort Thanks to a strong outpouring of community support over its 9-years, Stuff the Bus will celebrate several significant milestone achievements in 2019: More than one-quarter of a million pounds of food collected Provided 170,000 meals to those in need Received nearly $50,000 in monetary contributions benefitting local food pantries More than 5,000 community volunteers have contributed approximately 15,000 hours of service Donations have aided more than 32 local food pantries in their winter food collections