Read about Youth Initiatives, MLB/MLBPA $ 50k Grant, Holiday Drive Success, and keeping NVFS employees well!
























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Monthly Newsletter of Northern Virginia Family Service























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Holiday Drives a Success Thanks to YOU!

We are grateful for the partners and donors who ensured that our Holiday Drives were a success. We packed more than 850 bags for Operation Turkey and each family received a giftcard to help round out their meal. During our Gifting for Families drive we received and distributed a record 2,500+ toys and giftcards.

It was heartening to see Northern Virginia's diverse community support our neighbors during this truly unique and difficult holiday season. We know you've made the holidays brighter for the families we work with. We hope you have a bright holiday season and happy New Year, too!




























Building Brighter Futures and Connection for Immigrant Youth

COVID-19 has upended lives, particularly the lives of young immigrants. Our Youth Initiatives <[link removed]> program, which works to ensure that kids and teens build healthy, successful lives, have adapted to a virtual environment and are even expanding their series and workshops.

We're proud to offer 12 workshops (10 virtual, one hybrid, and one in-person) newcomer groups conducted in Spanish to assist recently immigrated youth. Topics include health, values and identity, how to navigate peer pressure, coping skills, family reunification, conflict resolution, and goal setting.

This spring, we are excited to present a Healthy Relationships Group for Girls and a COVID Coping Group. Providing youth these tools helps them build brighter futures not only for themselves, but for their community as well.

In other news, our Multicultural Center <[link removed]> recently partnered with the Fairfax County Public Schools to present a parenting workshop. This "Connecting with your Children in a Positive Way" workshop, which will soon be available to the public on YouTube, focused on providing parents ways to connect and support their children during stressful times.

Topics included setting expectations, brain development, communication, resiliency and self-care in the age of COVID-19. The 52 parents that attended the workshop and FCPS provided rave reviews, indicating that the information would help improve not only family relations but also social connections.

Stay tuned for more details on these programs and resources!





























NVFS to Receive $ 50,000 from Major League Baseball and Players Association

We are proud to annouce that Northern Virginia Family Service has been named a recipient of the "Healthy Relationships Community Grant," a joint effort between Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA).

A donation of $ 50,000 will be made to NVFS in support of our mental health services <[link removed]>, which is part of a total $ 1.5 million thus far through the program to 32 organizations across the United States. The focus areas for the organizations receiving funding include support for survivors of domestic violence, mental health resiliency, and developing positive relationship skills in youth as a preventive measure to breaking the cycle of violence.

This initiative is part of a $ 3 million commitment to provide funding to organizations that support healthy relationships through programs designed to build and improve relationship skills of the next generation, strengthen and provide critical services to survivors of domestic violence, and improve mental health resiliency among vulnerable populations.












































Chef Rock Harper Lends Expertise to Aspiring Food Entreneurs

La Cocina VA <[link removed]>, a partner of NVFS' La Escuela program which seeks to use the power of food to create social and economic change in low-income communities recently hosted chef, TV personality, and winning restauranteur from Hell's Kitchen, Rock Harper <[link removed]>.

Harper recently chose the La Cocina VA commercial kitchen for his opening of Queen Mother's <[link removed]> and, as a guest speaker provided his insight on starting a food-based business. "As a small business food entrepreneur you are selling yourself and that is why the story behind your product matters," he said.

For more information on Zoom classes available with the partnership of La Cocina VA, NVFS, and the FInancial Empowerment Center of South County, visit their website <[link removed]>.














Wellbeing at NVFS During the Holiday Season - and Beyond

NVFS knows that one of the most direct ways we can serve the wellbeing of our community is to support the wellbeing of NVFS employees. COVID-19 has amplified the common holiday stress experienced during this time of year, with our employees worrying about health concerns, rent, finances, uncertainty, or mourning for friends and family members or even just a holiday that won't be a traditional experience.

In our most recent blog article <[link removed]>, we share information on our Wellbeing Committee, which works to support our staff through a variety of activities and programming, as well as a fun new initiative called Wellbeing Bingo, which encourages staff to practice self-care, celebrate themselves, embrace safe social connections, and to have an appreciation for the things we do have. In the coming days, look for photos on our Facebook page of our staff in action!








































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Top Needs

Volunteers

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Hunger Resource Center <[link removed]>: Food Recovery Driver volunteers make routine pick-ups to rescue food from grocery stores and restaurants to help over 650 families each month. Shifts are Monday-Friday 8am-12pm and volunteers are asked to commit to at least one day a week for at least six months or longer. (contact [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>)
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SERVE Family Shelter <[link removed]>: Bring the comfort and warmth of home-cooked meals to the homeless by volunteering as a shelter meals provider. This is a great small group (6-8 people) opportunity (contact [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>)

Donations

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SERVE Family Shelter <[link removed]>: Bring the comfort and warmth of home-cooked meals to the homeless by volunteering as a shelter meals provider. This is a great small group (6-8 people) opportunity (contact [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>)


* Clocktower Thrift Shop <[link removed]>: Gently loved small pieces of furniture (may be able to arrange for pickup!): console tables, storage spaces, dining room sets, outdoor furniture, etc ( contact [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>)
* SERVE Family Shelter: New Bed Pillows. New/Gently Used Queen Sheet Sets, Blankets, Air Mattresses. Disposable Plates, Utensils, Cups. Toilet Paper. Cleaning/Disinfecting Spray, Wipes, Bleach, Lysol. Paper Towels. (contact [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>)















Did you enjoy this edition of the Insider? Have a suggestion? Email us <mailto:[email protected]?subject=Suggestion for the NVFS Insider> and let us know what you liked or didn't like. We love hearing from our readers and are continually striving to provide relevant content.








































































































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10455 White Granite Dr., Suite 100, Oakton, VA 22124