November 28, 2023
Hello everyone. I had some computer issues and jet lag to overcome over the weekend, but here is some information for you.
- Annual Renewal Drive
- Holiday House Decoration Contest
- ECHO events
- Virtual Stuff the Bus
- Fairfax County Police Department's Victim Services Division Holiday Gift Card Drive
- Low-Cost Animal Vaccination and Microchip Events – 12/3 and 12/14
- VRE Santa Train – 12/9
- Calendar
1 – As previously discussed, please renew soon if you have not done so. If you are not sure if you are paid up, send an email to president@westspringfieldvillage.org and ask me. If you are not sure if your information is updated, please so do with our Google Form at https://forms.gle/yf6dkx5wRFrvuHdm9 . If you want to pay online via PayPal, here are the links for renewing:
· Renew for 1 year - $11 (FY24)
· Renew for 2 years - $21 (FY24 & FY25)
· Renew for 3 years - $31 (FY24, FY24 & FY26)
You can also mail a check to PO Box 2204, Springfield, VA 2252. Make checks out to ‘CAWSV’. It is $10 a year, up to three years.
You can also drop off a check or cash at the drop box at 6919 Vancouver Rd.
2 – If you want to judge the decorated houses this year, please do so between December 16-22. Email me your #1-#5 choices at president@westspringfieldvillage.org . Please include your address to ensure you did not participate in the decorating. it will be one set of rankings per household. I will weigh the received rankings to determine 1-3 and honorable mentions.
If you are a member in one of the neighboring streets, please let me know and I will include it in a newsletter ahead of the judging timeframe so people know to go to your street.
3 – From the latest ECHO newsletter:
Spread Holiday Joy
Each year, ECHO collects new toys for children up to age 15 and displays them in a cheerfully decorated, store-like setting. Clients who are parents of children in this age group come to ECHO by appointment to choose gifts for their children from our “store.”
Donors can help ECHO spread joy by providing new children's toys or teen gifts (not gift-wrapped, please) no later than MONDAY, DECEMBER 4th. Gifts can be delivered to our donation door during our hours of operation. Popular items are: skateboards or scooters (with helmets), soccer balls and nets, headphones, art supplies, remote control toys, car and track sets, riding toys, kitchen sets, and baby dolls. We also have an Amazon Wishlist that may be accessed from our web page. Pease contact Holiday Shop Co-Chairs at ECHOHOLIDAYSHOP@gmail.com if you have questions.
4 – From a recent Braddock District Newsletter:
Stuff the Bus is a partnership between Fairfax County Government and local nonprofit organizations to support food assistance efforts for families and households. The program uses Fairfax County’s FASTRAN buses to collect donations for local food banks every winter.
This year, Stuff the Bus launched a virtual food drive that allows individuals and community organizations to give monetary donations directly to local non-profit organizations that provide food assistance in Fairfax County until November 30.
5 - The Victim Services Division remains dedicated to assisting child victims and witnesses of domestic and sexual violence, as well as those who have lost a loved one to homicide. Many of these children are unable to enjoy the holiday celebrations due to the financial strain on their family resulting from being victims of crime. In the genuine spirit of the season, we invite you to join us in bringing holiday cheer to these resilient children by participating in our 10th Annual Gift Card drive.
From now until Saturday, December 16, 2023, we are actively seeking gift cards for our young and teenage child victims. These cards can be for establishments such as Giant, Amazon, Safeway, Walmart, TJ Maxx, Target, Kohl’s, local restaurants, and clothing stores. Gift cards empower parents and guardians to actively engage in purchasing gifts and essential items for each child that they might otherwise go without.
Your generous donation of gift cards will make a significant impact on families most affected by crime, bringing smiles to the faces of children who have endured challenging experiences due to the violence they witnessed or experienced themselves. Each child selected for the holiday gift card drive has been vetted by their assigned Victim Specialist and has been personally affected by crime. Every family we choose truly represents those in need. Some will use the gift cards to buy toys and other gifts, while others will invest them in winter clothing for the children or use them to buy food for their holiday meals.
We sincerely appreciate your support in advance. Your generosity will illuminate the eyes and hearts of our child victims, bringing immense joy, and, most importantly, making a positive impact this holiday season.