October 11, 2026
Thanks again to everyone who has emailed me to see if they owe dues. There were a lot of people that paid for three years and are now due. I would say that around 80% of the people who contacted me owe again.
1 – ECHO News
2 – Neighborhood Safety
3 – Pedestrian Safety
4 – Driving around deer safety
5 – CAWSV Dues Drive information
6 – Calendar
1 – From the latest ECHO newsletter:
Don’t Miss the ECHO Yard Sale on October 31!
Treat yourself on Halloween by searching for treasures at ECHO’s famous Fall Yard Sale. Join the fun on Saturday, October 31, 8:00 am to noon in the gym at St. Bernadette’s School, 7600 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, for a massive sale of home accessories, fashion items, collectibles, toys, electronics, and more. You will have all afternoon to prepare your home and family for Trick or Treating! ECHO’s semi-annual yard sales support our mission of helping people in our community.
CROP Walk on November 8
Part of the proceeds from the Burke Fairfax CROP Walk will benefit ECHO’s work right here in our community. Join the hundreds of fellow community members who will walk to raise money and awareness of global hunger issues. You can find out details of the walk and how to register or donate at burkecropwalk.org.
Food News and Needs
ECHO works hard to keep hunger at bay in Burke and Springfield, and we are grateful for every single donation. We hope that our community will respond with generosity during the Scouting for Food Drive on November 14. This is a huge undertaking by local Scout troops to collect food directly from donors’ homes and bring it to ECHO for sorting and shelving. The annual drive is a major factor in keeping ECHO’s Food Pantry stocked for winter. Look for a notice left at your home by the troop who will collect in your neighborhood.
Why ECHO Needs the Food
The Co-Chair of ECHO’s Food Pantry recently shared some statistics to help volunteers and donors understand our ever-burgeoning need for food donations. The information comes from the Capital Area Food Bank’s research partner, NORC at the University of Chicago. The findings included all the DMV, but here is a snapshot of information that pertains to Fairfax County alone: a quarter of Fairfax County’s federal workers were laid off, fired or quit, and 35% of those remain unemployed. Of those who found employment, 44% report that they are paid less than their federal salaries. Cost of living increases, led by housing, food, and transportation, have impacted the entire population. H.R 1 cut SNAP assistance by $187 billion in increments over the next 10 years.
We believe that neighbors who were formerly donors are now unable to donate or are experiencing need themselves. ECHO and similar charitable organizations are left to stand in the breach and make sure our neighbors do not go hungry. We are asking you to stand with us.
Happy Holidays?
To provide cheer at Thanksgiving and Christmas, ECHO matches donors with families who have expressed a desire to receive groceries for a holiday meal. Donors may deliver food that they purchase themselves or send a food store gift card by mail so that families can shop for themselves. The groceries should be delivered, or cards should be mailed to arrive by November 22 for Thanksgiving and December 20 for Christmas. If you have questions, email Fran Eck at franalaneck@msn.com. If you already know you want to sponsor a family, email her after November 1, or send a message through ECHO’s website, echo-inc.org. Click on Seasonal Programs under the Donate tab.
Jingle Bells- Already??
ECHO has to prepare early for our wonderful Holiday Gift Program. ECHO provides toys and gifts for children up through age 15 whose families are struggling financially during the winter holiday season.
Donors can help with this happy program by donating new children's toys or teen gifts (not gift-wrapped, please) no later than FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4th. Donations can be delivered to our donation door (door #6) weekdays between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm, or Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm. Popular items are scooters with helmets, riding toys, and family board games, activities, art supplies and transformers. See a complete list of suggestions at ECHO’s website under the “Donate” tab.
Yes, It Will Get Cold Outside!
After a hot, humid summer, some of us are looking forward to chilly weather, but parents of growing children know that means expensive new coats and jackets. Please help ECHO make sure everyone in our community is ready for cold weather. We need new or gently used winter coats (with working zippers and no rips or stains please) in all sizes, especially men’s small and medium. Athletic shoes are another high demand item for children and adults. Because we only distribute NEW underwear and socks, we always appreciate donations of those items for adults and children in all sizes. Storage space is limited at ECHO, so please hold onto those spring/summer donations until April.
Our Housewares Department is hoping for donations of gently used comforters and blankets in king and queen sizes, as well as shower curtains, 3-quart and 5-quart pots, towels, and small appliances such as irons, toasters, coffee makers, blenders, and slow cookers.
Thinking of Volunteering?
ECHO has an urgent need for volunteers who speak Spanish and could volunteer weekly on Tuesday or Thursday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 to work directly with clients. While ECHO calls this position “Family Counselor,” the actual work is determining clients’ practical needs that ECHO can fulfill. These volunteers do not need special degrees or training. Proficiency in Spanish and English along with a desire to communicate with and assist people who are in the midst of financial hardship are all that is needed. ECHO will train Family Counselor volunteers in our methods, record keeping, and resources.
If you have only one day to volunteer, ECHO could use your help to set up on October 30, or clean up on October 31, at the Fall Yard Sale at St. Bernadette’s gym. Please email onanny55@gmail.com to find out how you can participate.
In addition, if you are tech-savvy and have a bit of time to join ECHO’s IT team, our volunteer coordinator, volunteercoordinator@echo-inc.org, would love to hear from you.
Upcoming Dates to Note
October 3 - Saturday Opening
October 12 - Closed for Columbus Day/ Indigenous Peoples Day
October 31 - Yard Sale, St. Bernadette’s Gym
November 4 - Executive Com Mtg
November 7 - Saturday Opening
November 8 - CROP Walk
November 11 - Closed for Veterans Day
November 16 - Board of Dir Mtg
November 21-22 - Thanksgiving Meal delivery deadline
November 26-27 Closed for Thanksgiving
Congregational and Other Food Drives
October - St. Mark’s Lutheran, Burke United Methodist
November - Prince of Peace Lutheran, Boy Scouts Drive
For more information about ECHO on the following topics, please click any of the links below:
ECHO Food and Clothing Amazon Wish List
2 – I have heard from residents about kids and teens on electric bikes. With three accidents involving bicycles and scooters in Fairfax County, with one being fatal, it is important that children are taught how to safely ride electric bikes and scooters. The top rule is wearing a helmet. For a Class 3 electric bike, it is required by law. Look at add at least reflectors and hopefully lights to make your bike more visible at dusk and at night. Teach your kids to ride along the right side of the road instead of right down the middle. Also, teach them not to wear headphones so they can hear vehicles.
Along with bicyclist, pedestrians should wear light colors or reflective clothing at dusk, dawn, and at night. Having a flashlight will make you a lot more visible. I have heard of adults wearing all black at dawn and crossing the street at a bad part of Barnack where it both curves and is a hill and almost getting hit by a car that could not see them. I have also heard of (and seen myself) adults crossing the street while staring at their phones instead of making sure there is no on-coming traffic.
I have heard of and seen near collisions with vehicles driving in the middle of the street and just reacting in time to not sideswipe an oncoming car. Everyone should drive defensively by driving as far to the right as possible at all times. If there are parked cars, you should drive near the curb. If there are parked cars, drive next to them and avoid driving in the middle of the street. If this means you need to slow down a little to dive safely, so be it. A few neighbors have told me they are driving 20-25 in our neighborhood and can maneuver a lot easier around oncoming traffic.
3 – From a Fairfax County Police Department newsletter:
Fairfax County, VA – October is Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Fairfax County Police Department is reminding drivers and pedestrians that everyone plays a role in keeping our roads safe.
Whether you’re walking through a neighborhood, crossing a busy intersection, or driving along one of Fairfax County’s roadways, staying alert and following the rules of the road can help prevent crashes.
Tips for Pedestrians
-Cross at Crosswalks: Whenever possible, use designated crosswalks and intersections. Follow pedestrian signals and look in all directions before entering the roadway.
-Stay Visible: Make yourself easier for drivers to see, especially at night or in low-light conditions. Wear bright or reflective clothing and consider carrying a flashlight.
-Stay Alert: Avoid distractions while crossing the street. Keep your attention on surrounding traffic and never assume a driver sees you.
-Take Your Time: Don’t rush into the roadway to beat a traffic signal or approaching vehicle. Wait until it is safe to cross.
Tips for Drivers
-Watch for Pedestrians: Stay alert for people walking near intersections, crosswalks, bus stops, shopping areas, schools, and neighborhoods.
-Yield at Crosswalks: Slow down and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Never pass another vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.
-Slow Down: Follow posted speed limits and adjust your speed for traffic, weather, and visibility. Lower speeds give drivers more time to recognize and react to pedestrians.
-Use Extra Caution at Night: Pedestrians can be more difficult to see after dark. Reduce your speed and actively scan the roadway and sidewalks.
-Avoid Distractions: Keep your attention on the road. Put your phone down and remain focused on what is happening around you.
Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. Whether you’re behind the wheel or on foot, following traffic laws and making safe decisions can help prevent crashes and keep Fairfax County roads safer for everyone.
4 – From a Fairfax County Police Department newsletter:
Fall is breeding season for deer, and you can expect to see more of them on our roads. Please be aware that deer are unpredictable and crashes with them are a safety concern. There are hundreds of reportable accidents involving deer in the county and more than half of our annual crashes occur during the months of October, November, and December. Drivers should be especially cautious during the early morning and evening hours when deer are most active.
We urge motorists to pay attention, drive carefully and remember these safety tips:
-Always wear your seat belt and drive the posted speed limit.
-Do not text and drive. Avoid distractions!
-Watch for eye shine along roadsides. If you see one deer, it is likely that there are others nearby.
-Use high beams as traffic allows to spot deer further away. Be careful not to disrupt oncoming cars.
-If a deer is stopped in the roadway, slow down and flash your headlights. Deer can become mesmerized or blinded by bright steady lights.
-Slow down or stop if necessary to avoid hitting a deer but you should never swerve out of the lane to miss one. A crash with another car or anything along the roadside is likely to be more serious.
-Take your foot off the brake at time of the crash. This reduces the chance of a deer crashing through a windshield or windows when hit.
-If you get into a crash with a deer, try to move your car off the road and out of traffic.
-If your car is immobilized in the roadway, turn on your flashers and immediately call police. Try to wait at a safe spot off the road.
-Rely on your own senses. Never depend on hood whistles, car horns or other devices to scare deer out of your path.
-Pay attention to deer crossing signs and be careful in areas where deer are known to travel.
If a deer is injured or killed, immediately report the crash to us on our non-emergency line at 703-691-2131.
5 – Here is the payment information for the Annual Dues:
It is $10/year. You can drop off payments in the box in front of my house (6919 Vancouver Rd) to save a stamp. Lift the lid at the top of the box and drop it in the slot. You can also mail it to:
CAWSV
PO Box 2204
Springfield, VA 22152
If you want to pay online via PayPal, here are the links for renewing:
1-year renewal ($10+$0.90 fee)
2-year renewal ($20+$1.25 fee)
3-year renewal ($30+$1.50 fee)
Please reply to this email and ask if you owe if you are not sure.
6 – Calendar
10/12 – Columbus Day/Indigenous People Day – Federal Holiday, not a Fairfax County Holiday
10/31 - Halloween