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SOCIAL SERVIES MISSION ACTIVITIES Coordinator: Suzi Podhorecki Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center: The Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center provides a comprehensive, high-quality early childhood program designed to give young children, regardless of their family's economic resources, a strong foundation on which to build the rest of their lives. LPC assists by subsidizing enrollment and has contributed toward the purchase of a new bus. LPC runs an annual Christmas drive to fill stockings for the children, and has other drives as needs arise. LPC also contributes toys and clothing. The Galilee ChristCare Group installed a wonderful sandbox at the Center’s new facilities for the children to enjoy. Volunteers are welcome to come to the Center to read to the children or to watch over them during naptime to free the staff for meetings.
Alternative House: Alternative House began as a small shelter for runaway teenagers in 1972. It has since evolved into a significantly larger organization with several different programs designed to respond to the changing needs of today's young people. Lewinsville helps with the following Alternative House activities:
Emergency Shelter for Teenagers: The Alternative House Emergency Shelter is a completely voluntary two-week crisis intervention program for young people 13 to 17 years old. And because no one is forcing them to be there--they have agreed to participate because they believe Alternative House can help--they are motivated to work hard at solving the crises in which they find themselves. At the Emergency Shelter, they have the time and space to begin sorting out their problems. The shelter telephone is answered by a counselor 24-hours, every day. LPC sponsors a drive at Christmas to provide the teens with Christmas gifts and to help stock the shelves to provide birthday gifts throughout the year. LPC also sponsors a monthly pizza and a movie at the shelter. Volunteers are welcomed to help as mentors or provide a meal. Contributions of t-shirts and other teen-appropriate clothing are greatly appreciated. Donations of school supplies are always welcomed.
Culmore Teen Center:
Bethany House of Northern Virginia: Bethany House of Northern Virginia (BHNV) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation providing temporary shelter for adults, primarily women, and children accompanied by adults, coming from destructive home situations. These spouses and children are left homeless and destitute because of abuse. BHNV helps them regain their health and dignity, assists them in finding employment enabling them to become responsible and participating members of the community. LPC provides assistance through funds for their general support. Each year LPC prepares and serves Thanksgiving dinner to the residents of Bethany House and their families following a worship service and gathering. Also, one of the ChristCare groups provides Bibles to Bethany House for their Bible study group.
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry: Good News Jail & Prison Ministry was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purposes of organizing a visitation program for the benefit of inmates of institutions in the State; witnessing to inmates and their families; aiding in a physical and spiritual rehabilitation of men and women upon their release from an institution; and provision of an educational program within the institutions to encourage continuance of formal education among the inmates. LPC provides a variety of items, including Bibles and other religious materials in English and in Spanish, to the inmates on special occasions throughout the year. LPC has an annual drive to collect stamped envelopes so the inmates can keep in touch with their family and friends.
L'Arche Greater Washington, DC: L’Arche Greater Washington, DC is an ecumenical Christian community where persons with mental and developmental disabilities, called core members, and their live-in assistants live together and create a home through sharing daily life. L’Arche DC serves eligible people without regard to religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnic origin.
Children of Mine Center: The Children of Mine Center in Anacostia provides a faith-based after-school safe haven for the neighborhood’s children. Founded and operated by Ms. Hannah Hawkins, the Center provides guidance, tutoring, homework supervision, and supervised recreation, as well as a hot meal, for 50 to 75 children (K through 12) four afternoons a week during the school year. During the summer Ms. Hawkins arranges camp scholarships and organizes other activities for the children. In 2003 the Center and its Board determined that their greatest need was for a modern, fully-equipped kitchen that met D.C. government standards for restaurants. Accordingly, funding was obtained and a contract let for a major kitchen renovation that was to be completed before the end of 2003. Unfortunately, a series of delays in the work and the loss of a primary funding source for the renovation pushed back completion of the project until spring of 2005. MISSION AND SERVICE was able to provide enough supplemental funding to complete the project, using funds originally budgeted to support routine Center operations. The new kitchen is now fully functional. LPC volunteers have continued to support the Center during this difficult period. LPC also provides backpacks and school supplies in the fall, and clothing gifts for the children at Christmas.
Ingleside Presbyterian Retirement Community: A retirement and assisted living facility founded in 1906 by a group of Presbyterian ministers. LPC members serve on the Women’s Board, assist with fundraisers, work in the gift shop, monthly tea, bingo, card recycling, assist with the annual tea and open house, visit the Health Center, provide all of the Christmas decorating, and help to maintain a kind, loving environment to assist residents in feeling at home. Volunteers are encouraged and welcomed to join in any and all of these activities.
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