Regional Day to Serve Includes 3K Walk and Benefit Concert to Fight Hunger in Fairfax County

Regional Day to Serve Includes 3K Walk and Benefit Concert to Fight Hunger in Fairfax County

By Ken Orton

In mutual cooperation, the administration of three local states, including Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC, have all signed proclamations in support of the Day to Serve, officially declaring 15-29 September 2013, as a time to encourage all citizens to help the needy of our area.

Governor McDonnell of Virginia has signed the declaration for the Day to Serve to assist the poor in our area and combat hunger in Virginia by supporting the local food banks, which provide constant assistance to those in need. Because of scheduling, the effort has been expanded to a week’s period to allow more activities.

·       A 3K (1.8 mile) walk in the Burke area of Fairfax County is one of the numerous events planned to support this effort during this time. This wholesome early morning family activity will take place 28 September at Robinson Secondary School. Show time for the walk will be 8:00 AM with a short kick off ceremony, start time about 8:15, from the Robinson Secondary School north side parking lot nearest the baseball practice field. The Robinson Secondary School address is: 5035 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA. 22032. The walk route will be around the Oak View Elementary School through the shady streets of the Country Club View neighborhood, back to Robinson. This will be an activity all ages will enjoy, including children in strollers. This would be a great way to teach and encourage our children to render service and to learn to feel the satisfaction of helping others. Participants are requested to provide donations of non-perishable food items for our local food banks. The link "tinyurl.com/Fairfax3KWalk" will provide basic information and a sign-in, if you wish to do so.

·       As a “Thank You” to all and with a sense of gratitude to the community for supporting Day to Serve, a free community concert “With Gratitude We Share”, is scheduled to commemorate and celebrate the Virginia Governor’s Day to Serve. The concert will be presented at the Fairfax High School auditorium, 29 September, 7:00 PM, 3501 Rebel Run, Fairfax, VA. The concert will feature Grammy-nominated Jenny Oaks Baker, who was first violinist with the National Symphony Orchestra for seven years and has released 10 studio albums. She began playing violin at age four and performed her first solo at the age of eight. The concert will also feature the Mormon Choir of Washington, DC, 80 voices strong. The concert is free. However, a donation of non-perishable food for the local food banks will be gratefully accepted.

Even though Fairfax County is a relatively well to do area, there are many in our midst who are in a daily struggle in the current economy to provide for their families and to make ends meet. Because we will always try to assist one another, there are numerous organizations that exist to support those in need. A few organizations in the Fairfax area supported by the Day to Servefood donations include the following:

·       Ecumenical Community for Helping Others (ECHO) is supported by 25 area congregations and provides both food and other household support to low income families.

·       Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA) supported by 26 area congregations and provides assistance to thousands of families and individuals each year.

·       Our Daily Bread (ODB) supports low-income families who need not only food assistance but also need support and assistance with the rigors of daily living and social needs.

These organizations provide assistance to all in need and the assistance is always free of charge to those who receive.

We encourage all to make plans to participate in both the walk and concert to assist those in need in our community. For further information, or if you have a desire to join the activities, contact Karma McLeskey at karma375@gmail.com or 703-455-9309.