Congregational Connection for January

Highlights for this Congregational Connection:
MLK Day of Service
Empty Bowls Tickets are Available
New Composting Program
ALIVE! is Hiring

ALIVE! Joins Islamic Relief and Episcopal High School
More than 500 volunteers from Islamic Relief USA and Episcopal High School took part in the Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service! Volunteers put together a mix of rice, beans, dried vegetables, and spices for ALIVE!’s upcoming food distributions. In total, more than 100,000 meal bags were produced.

ALIVE!’s was founded after a group of faith leaders returned from a march to alleviate poverty that was organized by Dr. King in Washington, DC. The spirit of community action is shown by events like this that bring people together from various faith traditions to provide support for our neighbors in need.

Empty Bowls Tickets Are Available
Join us for the 7th annual Empty Bowls Alexandria to benefit ALIVE! on Friday, March 1st, and help to  raise funds and awareness for people facing food insecurity in the City of Alexandria. Your ticket buys you a night of delicious food, local music, a handcrafted bowl to take home, and the chance to win fabulous prizes. Space is limited to 150 attendees, so click here to purchase your ticket.

Friday, March 1st
Virginia Theological Seminary
Coffield Refectory Room (3737 Seminary Rd)
6:30pm Doors Open
7:00pm – 9:00pm Event

If you are interested in learning more about how you can decrease your food waste, and would like to give curbside composting a try visit: monster-organics.com or use ALIVE!’s referral code to save $20 http://tinyurl.com/yohvek52

Did you know that ALIVE! is hiring?
Did you know that ALIVE! is looking for a Director of Development? If you know someone who is looking to put their fundraising skills to work supporting ALIVE!’s mission please share this with them. We are also hiring for a number of other positions in Alexandria.

To see more and apply to join our team visit: https://www.alive-inc.org/nonprofit-careers/

Congregations Needed for Furniture Deliveries
Double the deliveries, double the impact! Recently ALIVE! was able to send out two teams of volunteers to bring furniture to Alexandrians in need. Thank you to volunteers from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and the Old Presbyterian Meeting House!

We are looking for help loading and unloading the truck on Saturdays in February. If you are able to sign up, please register online here.

We meet on Saturday mornings at 8am at the ALIVE! Warehouse (801 South Payne Street). ALIVE! will provide a list of addresses where donated items are scheduled for pickup, a list of addresses for families scheduled to receive donated items, and an ALIVE! truck with a driver. Volunteers follow the ALIVE! truck in their own vehicle as it makes stops to pick up items and stops to unload items for families in need. Children ages 15-17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Upcoming Food Distributions

On Saturday, January 27th, ALIVE! will distribute free bags of groceries (produce, chicken, eggs, bread) at three locations from 8:30am – 10:30am. Please bring reusable bags. ALIVE! food distributions are for City of Alexandria residents. Proof of Alexandria City residency may be requested.

Drive-through:
• NVCC Alexandria Campus (parking lot B-1 via 5000 Dawes Ave)
Please note that this will be the final ALIVE! food distribution at NVCC

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 neighborhoods and apartment buildings in collaboration with our community partners. Drive-through and walk-up service are available depending on the site. ALIVE! pop-up food distributions are for City of Alexandria residents. Proof of Alexandria City residency may be requested.

Thursday, February 15th 4pm – 6pm at Hammond Middle School (4646 Seminary Rd)
Friday, February 16th 10:30am – 12pm Old Town Community Church (212 S Washington St)
Saturday, February 17th 8am – 10am at Fairlington United Methodist Church (3900 King St)
Saturday, February 17th 10am – 12pm at UNCUT Youth (1501 Cameron St)

Volunteers are needed daily both of the ALIVE! Food Hubs to help assist clients with selecting food and re-stocking shelves. Volunteers with language skills in Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, Pashto, Dari and Ukrainian are in high demand. Sign up online to reserve a shift today.

ALIVE! Food Hubs
The ALIVE! Food Hubs offer Alexandria City residents food assistance, personal items, cleaning supplies, school supplies, and connections to support services. Proof of Alexandria City residency may be requested.

West End Food Hub (510-F South Van Dorn St)
Tuesdays 11am – 6pm (Closed 2pm – 3pm)
Wednesdays 11am – 6pm (Closed 2pm – 3pm)
Thursdays 11am – 6pm (Closed 2pm – 3pm)
Saturdays 10am – 2pm

Del Ray Food Hub (2601 Mount Vernon Ave)
Tuesdays 12pm – 6pm (Closed 2pm – 3pm)
Wednesdays 12pm – 6pm (Closed 2pm – 3pm)
Thursdays 12pm – 6pm (Closed 2pm – 3pm)
Saturdays 10am – 2pm

Sponsored by the Alexandria Bahá’í Community, the Alexandria Black History Museum, and the Alexandria Community Remembrance Project. Panelists Binalakshmi “Bina” Nepram and Nuril Kingsley will explore and celebrate the diversity of cultures and peoples in our area, confront the attitudes and behaviors that still divide us, and seek remedies grounded in the recognition that we are one interconnected, interdependent human family.

All are welcome, so mark your calendars and share this invitation with your friends and neighbors.

Del Ray Citizens Association Chili Cook Off to Benefit ALIVE!

Get ready for the Del Ray Citizens Association’s Chili Cook Off on Saturday, February 24th at Commonwealth Academy (1321 Leslie Ave). There will be beer from Port City and pizza from Jets Pizza.
Proceeds from this event will support ALIVE!, so get your tickets today: https://delraycitizens.org/2024-chili-cook-off/