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SOCIAL SERVIES MISSION ACTIVITIES
Coordinator: Suzi Podhorecki
Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center:
7230 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA 22043
Office: (703) 534-4907; Fax: (703) 534-4908
e-mail: fcmlcc@aol.com
www.fcmlcc.org
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.
Primary Contact Person: Suzi Podhorecki
Alternative House:
(703) 698-7060
www.thealternativehouse.org
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:
The Assisting Young Mothers Program (AYM):
2710 Elsmore Street, Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 280-2162The AYM Program assists young mothers to become successful community members and nurturing parents by providing shelter, counseling, education and job readiness skills. The AYM residence is located near Nutley Street in Vienna, and provides shelter for young mothers ages 18-21 and their children. The Spiritual Seekers ChristCare group provides a monthly meal for the mothers and children and has also installed a playground at the residence for their use. Volunteers are welcomed to be mentors to the mothers and assist in childcare.
Primary Contact Person: Suzi Podhorecki
Emergency Shelter for Teenagers:
2100 Gallows Road, in Vienna, VA 22027
(703) 883-0296
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.
Primary Contact Person: Suzi Podhorecki
Culmore Teen Center:
6017 Argyle Drive, Falls Church, VA
(703) 820-8611
The Culmore Teen Center grew out of a dire need for a neighborhood-based recreation and support service for teenagers that was easy to access, safe, and welcoming. Located in space donated by a local apartment complex and administered by Alternative House, the Culmore Teen Center is a collaborative effort among a variety of groups, most notably the Culmore Community Action Committee, the Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services, and numerous community volunteers.
At the Culmore Teen Center, youth take advantage of a variety of programs and activities, including homework help, sports and game tournaments, workshops, and dances. Activities focus on prevention of gang membership and drug abuse. Full-time Teen Center staff provide counseling and crisis intervention, and coordinate with parents, teachers, and guidance counselors to bring a much needed extra level of support to the many high-risk youth who rely on the Teen Center. Regular mentor volunteers are welcomed.
Primary Contact Person: Suzi Podhorecki
Bethany House of Northern Virginia:
for Battered Spouses and their Children
6121 Lincolnia Road, Suite 302, Alexandria, VA 22312
Office (703) 658-9500; Fax (703) 658-9522
www.bethanyhousenova.org
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.
Primary Contact Person: Kathy Porterfield
Good News Jail & Prison Ministry:
1-800-220-2202
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.
Primary Contact Person: Rob Jacoby
L'Arche Greater Washington, DC:
P.O. Box 21471, 2474 Ontario Road, NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 232-4539, (202) 387-0963 (fax)
www.larchewashingtondc.org
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.
Primary Contact Person: Jan Jacewicz
Children of Mine Center:
2263 Mount View pl SE, Washington, DC 20020
(202) 610-1055
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.
Primary Contact Person: Bob Rayle
Ingleside Presbyterian Retirement Community:
3050 Military Rd NW, Washington, DC 20015
(202) 363-8310
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.
Primary Contact Person: Jean Mertz