Many of us are finding that our “legal” work may be a bit scaled back this week due to the Judicial State of Emergency. Our clients are nervous, and we are uneasy about the state of the economy and the potential long term effects of the pandemic.
The goal of the Fairfax Law Foundation is to improve the public’s understanding of and access to the justice system. As the current situation evolves, the Foundation will inevitably find its resources tasked with the increasing legal needs of our community, including matters of landlord/tenant disputes, employment issues, domestic violence, and family law. The Foundation is confident that our members will rise to the occasion in terms of donations of time and money for those causes, as they have in the past.
In the meantime, and in keeping with the altruistic core of the Foundation, we have put together a list of needs in the community for those who are interested in helping our community and have reached out to us about doing so:
- Give Blood. There is a massive and desperate need for blood. To donate, visit inovablood.org/events.
- Help FCPS help the community. The Fairfax County Public School System in an important partner in the work of the Foundation. Please help FCPS help the Fairfax community. Due to state training requirements for food distribution, FCPS is encouraging those interested in helping to contact one of their community partners. These partners are in continuous support of FCPS families and are connected with the larger effort of Fairfax County. Their contact information is available at this link: https://www.fcps.edu/news/coronavirus-update-support
- Help our seniors. Our assisted living centers have closed their doors to friends, family and other visitors. Many centers would love donations of puzzles, games,
DVDs and books to help keep their residents occupied. Sunrise of Fair Oaks has asked for donations of nail polish, nail polish remover and hand lotion so that they can continue to give one-on-one manicures. Call ahead to your local facility, let them know you are coming and leave your donations at the door. Please leave your name and address, as the residents enjoy writing “thank you” letters. - Join a mutual aid networks. Join a mutual aid network. Created by a group of GMU students, the “Northern VA COVID-19 Craziness Supply Exchange” Facebook page grew to over 8,500 members in 5 days. Members of the group share information about supplies (and even share supplies). One provider of daycare services for low income families posted a request for food donations for lunches and several members of the group responded within minutes.
- Dust off your sewing machine. Capital Caring Hospice is in need of approximately 2,000 masks made from bandanas. They need volunteers who are willing to cut fabric and/or sew the masks from home. Materials will be provided and volunteers will deliver and pick up from various locations. Contact kknoble@capitalcaring.org for more information on how to help.
- Patronize our local businesses. The Fairfax Law Foundation has benefited from the generosity of our local businesses that donate prizes for our Heroes v. Villains Run for Justice 5k. It’s time to help them now! Please patronize your local restaurants by placing orders for carry out or delivery, or by purchasing gift cards. Take it one step further, and purchase gift cards in small denominations from a local establishment (such as Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates, a local non-profit that employs adults with disabilities – https://every1canwork.com/), and give them randomly to our overworked first responders and healthcare providers.
- Donate food to local food banks or shelters. These Fairfax organizations need help:
- Food for Others is seeking donations of canned foods, rice, spaghetti sauce, pasta, peanut butter, cracker sleeves and cardboard boxes. foodforothers.org
- Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) is seeking donations of breakfast cereal, kids’ snacks, size 6 diapers, shelf-stable milk, canned fruit or fruit cups. LCAC can also utilize hearty produce (apples, oranges, etc.) for kids to receive as snacks. Additionally, the pantry is now running low on canned tuna and chicken; boxed macaroni & cheese; and canned meals (ravioli, etc.). lortonaction.org.
- Shelter House/Katherine Hanley Shelter. The Katherine Hanley Shelter needs donations of boxed lunches/dinners for their 24 families (72 residents). shelterhouse.org. They will also gladly accept donations of cereal, fruit cups, granola bars, etc.
- The Lamb Center. The Lamb Center does not have the ability to cook right now, but needs donations of items that can be handed over the counter (fruit cups, canned goods, fruits, vegetables, cereals, etc.
- FACETS is seeking non-perishable food donations including breakfast foods (oatmeal, cereal, breakfast bars, granola bars), canned meats or fish; peanut butter and jelly, pasta and pasta sauce, soup, canned vegetables and fruit, packets of peanut butter crackers, bottled water; non-food items: household cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, antibacterial soup, rubber gloves, masks, and gift cards http://facetscares.org/
8. Clean out your closets. What better time than now to clean out your closets, basements and attics, and donate gently used items to local thrift stores such as: INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital Thrift Shop at Fairfax Circle
https://www.inova.org/volunteer-opportunities/thrift-and-consignment-shops
- Goodwill of Greater Washington
https://www.dcgoodwill.org/locations/fairfax-virginia-store-donation-center/).
- Northern Virginia Family Service Clock Tower Thrift Shop https://www.nvfs.org/support/thrift-shops/
9. Don’t Forget the Animals.
- The Humane Society of Fairfax County is accepting donations of food and pet supplies for our four-legged, winged and web-footed friends. They will also accept gently used clothing and household goods for their Second Chance 1 Thrift Store.
(https://hsfc.org/outreach/thrift-store/)
- The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is still facilitating adoptions. In times of economic downturn, an increasing number of pet owners make the difficult decision to relinquish animals to the shelter. Help clear the shelters now (and give yourself some company while you’re at home!) Adoptions are by appointment only. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/animal-shelter-operations-update-covid-19
- Kids can help out animals who are housed in the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. Check out their website for ideas on toys, blankets and other items that kids can make for the animals. (The shelter is asking that the items be held until they are able to accept donations in person again). https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/donate
If you have other ideas for ways that our members can help, please post them on the Fairfax Law Foundation Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/FairfaxLawFoundation/
We are all in this together.