Expanded Free Parking Starts at RTC — As of today, garage parking at Reston Town Center is free for the first hour before 5 p.m., after which time it becomes free until 3:30 a.m. [Reston Now]
Mullins Memorial Details Released — A memorial service for former Fairfax County GOP chair and Republican Party of Virginia chair Pat Mullins, who died May 28, will be held June 21 at McLean Bible Church (8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna). [Bearing Drift]
Fire Station 39 Rescues Stuck Pup — A crew from the North Point Station (1117 Reston Ave.) responded to a residence in Great Falls recently, where they tracked down and rescued a 60-pound pet dog that had become trapped under the home. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]
Human Trafficking Awareness Walk Held — The Just Ask Prevention Project, which was created by detectives from the Fairfax County Police Department, hosted its first awareness event Saturday at the county government center. The nonprofit’s goal is to bring together county agencies, schools and community leaders to educate and raise awareness about human trafficking in Northern Virginia. [WTOP]
Reston’s Giving Circle of HOPE is preparing for its Empty Bowls event, the non profit’s largest annual fundraiser.
Each year since 2008, The Giving Circle of HOPE has hosted about 600 guests to Empty Bowls, which raises awareness of food insecurity and raises funds for nonprofit partner Food for Others.
Empty Bowls takes place on Friday, April 8 at Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Rd., Herndon.
Tickets are $25 for adults in advance; $30 adults at door; $15 for children under 12.
Admission gets you a handcrafted pottery bowl to keep, along with a dinner of delicious soup, bread and desserts. There are also entertainment and raffle prizes.
Food for Others helps more than 2,000 people each week receive free groceries and fight hunger.
“The Empty Bowls event benefits Food for Others by building a healthier, stronger, and a more caring community,” Roxanne Rice, executive director of Food for Others, said in a release. “It is a wonderful opportunity to have local artists and some of the area’s finest chefs have their work appreciated, while making a difference to people in need.”
This year, 18 Girl Scout troops from Reston, Herndon, Oak Hill and surrounding areas, will help at the event, but volunteers are still needed.
The Giving Circle of HOPE is a Reston-based group where members donate a minimum of $365 a year. The group then offers grants of up to $7,000 to small nonprofits in the area. Last year, the Giving Circle gave away nearly $60,000 to worthy causes.
Reston’s Giving Circle of HOPE will give nearly $60,000 to nine area nonprofits, the group announced.
The Giving Circle, a philanthropic club founded by Reston women in 2004, has given out $900,000 in grants over 12 years. Members put in money, then decide where the collective donations will have the most impact.
The Giving Circle says $58,200 will go to “nine Nonprofit Partners in Northern Virginia whose programs encourage job creation, help build strong families, and assist community members in need.”
This is the 12th grant cycle for the Giving Circle of HOPE, an organization of more than 110 members that was founded in 2004 to promote volunteerism and effective philanthropy. Members seek to make a difference by contributing their time, talents and money and collectively deciding how to use those resources to positively impact the local community.
The 2015 grant recipients include: All Ages Read Together; Bethany House; Centreville Immigration Forum; Grace Ministries of the United Methodist Church; Literacy Council of Northern Virginia; Lorton Community Action Center; Our Daily Bread; Offender Aid and Restoration of Arlington; and Offender Aid and Restoration of Fairfax.
A celebration to honor these nonprofit partners will be held in the spring, the Giving Circle said.
Herndon-Reston FISH (Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help) has hired the first fulltime executive director in its 45-year history.
Christine Poward comes to FISH with more than two decades of leading health care and nonprofit organizations.
Prior to joining Herndon Reston FISH, Christine served as the Interim Division Director for Marketing and Development for NeighborWorks America, a $250 million non-governmental organization aimed at affordable housing and community development.
Poward holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland.
“I am excited to be joining Herndon-Reston FISH during this exciting time in their growth,” she says. “FISH has been an integral part of the Herndon Reston communities for 45 years, and I look forward to being part of this great organization and the work they do.”
FISH responds to local residents’ emergency requests for rent, transportation, utilities, medical prescriptions and other needs.
Photo by Jennifer Heffner.
