Serving Our Community
Be the Church. Make a Difference.
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. Isaiah 58:10
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Providence members are making a difference here at home and abroad. Some of us make a difference by donating to organizations that help others. Some of us volunteer our time and talents. All of us help keep the food pantry well stocked.
Regardless of whether it’s financial or hands-on support, Providence members get involved – children, youth, and adults. Here are some examples of what we’re doing:
Local Services
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Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA)
ACCA provides day care, food, rental assistance, furniture, and other services to low-income families in the Annandale/Bailey’s Crossroads, Culmore and Lincolnia areas, regardless of religion, race or ethnic background. Providence is one of 27 churches in the Annandale community that supports ACCA, both financially and through volunteering. Our members actively participate in coordinating the pick-up and delivery of donated furniture on an as-needed basis.
Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter and Services
The Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter is a 50 bed emergency shelter for adult men and women, open 24 hours a day. The shelter also provides transitional resources such as medical assistance, food assistance, and unemployment help. Providence members regularly prepare, deliver and serve meals at the shelter.
Fairfax County Hypothermia Support
Fairfax County provides overnight shelter with a “no turn-away” policy at six emergency shelters for individuals and families who are homeless. In addition, a hypothermia prevention program operates throughout the county during the winter to provide additional safe, warm space for homeless individuals at night. Providence regularly supports this county program by preparing dinner and food bags.
Food & Friends
Food and Friends seeks to improve the lives and health of people with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other serious illnesses by preparing and delivering specialized meals and groceries; providing nutritional counseling and wellness education; and creating a strong sense of community that reduces the social isolation that often comes with serious illnesses. Providence supports Food and Friends by delivering meals and groceries.
For Immediate Sympathetic Help (FISH)
FISH provides financial support for basic needs (food, utilities, rent) for the disadvantaged in and around the Fairfax area. Providence provides FISH with financial support and houses one of the 6 FISH food pantries.
Providence Food Pantry
Providence provides food to families and individuals in need in the Fairfax area. Our members and friends work to keep the food pantry well stocked. The church also provides modest financial support to buy food supplies that are not met by donations.
Lamb Center
The Lamb Center is a day drop-in program for homeless individuals in the Fairfax Circle area. Providence, in partnership with other local congregations, provides financial and hands-on support.
Opportunities, Alternative, and Resource (OAR)
OAR’s mission is to rebuild lives and break the cycle of crime with opportunities, alternatives, and resources for offenders and their families to create a safer community. Providence provides financial support to educational programs for those transitioning back into the community. We also provide Christmas cards for programs at the Adult Detention Center.
Youth Mission
The youth of Providence support many of the same ministries as adults and make special trips on weekends and in the summer to places like DC Central Kitchen. Several times a year Providence Youth Fellowship devotes some of its time to preparing meals for the homeless or assembling packages for needy families.
The youth of Providence have also done an amazing job of leading us in mission with annual projects supporting Hosanna Industries. Hosanna Industries travels to disaster areas to help mobilize large groups of volunteers to build and repair homes damaged by tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, or other catastrophic events to bring hope and restoration to hurting individuals and communities. With sweat, some tools, and a bit of adult supervision our youth have worked in several places in the United States creating shelter for needy people, learning about God’s world and gaining a better appreciation for their own lives in the process.
Providence Singers Music Ministry
This volunteer mission choir performs Broadway show tunes and other well loved songs at retirement centers and nursing homes in the area. Anyone is welcome to join the group. The audition is simple – you come and you’re in!
Computer CORE Program
Computer CORE teaches computer and business skills to help the low-income students gain more meaningful employment. Providence supports Computer CORE through volunteers, funding, and providing space for classes. Classes take a break in June and July.
American Red Cross Blood Donation
Giving blood is a simple thing to do, but it can make a big difference in the lives of others. For many years, Providence has partnered with the Fairfax Lions Club to hold blood drives two to three times a year. This community outreach has provided the American Red Cross with several thousand units of blood to date — ordinary people giving the extraordinary gift of life.
Holiday Adopt-a-Family
Providence members and friends provide families in the Fairfax and Annandale areas with Thanksgiving food baskets as well as Christmas gifts, children’s stockings, and food baskets.
Operation Share-a-Coat
Along with other churches, Providence gathers and distributes hooded sweatshirts, jackets, gloves, and hats to day laborers in need of warm clothing in the Annandale/Little River Turnpike area. Children’s coats are given to children at the ACCA Child Development Center. Women’s clothing is shared with guests at the Baileys Crossroads Shelter.
The Littlest Tree
A tree is set out at Christmas on which Providence members hang children’s hats, mittens, and underwear to be distributed to needy children at the ACCA Child Development Center.
