Guide to Giving 2020
These local nonprofits are providing support to those hit hardest by the pandemic. Here's how you can support them.
Arlington Community Foundation
The Arlington Community Foundation seeks to promote, protect and improve the quality of life of those who live or work in Arlington. ACF provides philanthropic leadership and raises capital for grants and scholarships to strengthen local nonprofits and address the most critical issues of our time. Last year, ACF awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to support more than 100 nonprofits and 180 scholarship students. Individuals, families, nonprofits and corporations may also work with the foundation to establish their own charitable funds. At press time, ACF had disbursed more than $800,000 in grants through its Covid-19 Prompt Response Fund to Arlington nonprofits providing emergency services.
Headquartered: Arlington
Serves: Arlington and beyond
What a donation provides:
❱❱ $500 supports a small community grant.
❱❱ $1,500 provides one college scholarship or a prompt-response grant (e.g., a replacement washer and dryer for a homeless shelter).
❱❱ $10,000 or more can start a permanent scholarship fund or charitable giving fund (to be named by the donor) to support the donor’s charitable interests.
Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers assist with fundraising events, community outreach and professional services, and serve on grant or scholarship review committees.
Canned goods donations. Courtesy photo
Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC)
The Arlington Food Assistance Center feeds neighbors in need by providing dignified access to supplemental groceries. Since 1988, AFAC has remained dedicated to its simple but critical mission of obtaining and distributing groceries, directly and free of charge, to people living in Arlington who cannot afford to purchase enough food to meet their basic needs. With the Covid-19 outbreak, AFAC has seen a profound increase in the demand for food, and a record number of new family referrals.
Headquartered: Arlington
Serves: Arlington County
What a donation provides:
❱❱ $200 provides weekend and holiday meal packs to needy children in Arlington Public Schools for one year through AFAC’s Backpack Buddies program.
❱❱ $750 provides fresh fruits and vegetables to 55 families in one month.
❱❱ $1,350 provides groceries to an AFAC family for one year.
Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers organize food drives; help with re-bagging bulk purchases of produce; glean vegetables at local farms and garden through the Plot Against Hunger program.
Medical director Joan Bowes Ritter conducts a telehealth visit. Courtesy Photo
Arlington Free Clinic
Arlington Free Clinic provides free, high-quality health and dental care to low-income, uninsured Arlington County adults. Since 1994, the clinic has been filling the gap in health care access for the community’s most vulnerable residents. Covid-19 has made this mission more important than ever.
Headquartered: Arlington
Serves: Arlington County
What a donation provides:
❱❱ $250 pays for 40 digital thermometers or five blood pressure cuffs for patients’ at-home health monitoring.
❱❱ $1,000 covers 16 emergency visits for patients whose dental needs cannot wait.
❱❱ $10,000 covers three months of generic medications. Most medications (about $3 million worth each year) are donated, but some cannot be accessed for free. AFC patients, including those with hypertension, diabetes or cancer prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, still need access to life-saving medications.
Volunteer opportunities: AFC currently needs volunteers to sew and donate cloth masks. Check back for a wide range of additional medical/nonmedical opportunities once social distancing mandates have been lifted.
Arlington Neighborhood Village
Arlington Neighborhood Village is dedicated to helping older Arlington residents continue living in their own homes, safely and independently.
Headquartered: Arlington
Serves: Arlington County
What a donation provides:
❱❱ $250 covers six months of benefits for a low-income senior, including running errands, providing rides to medical appointments and friendly phone calls to reduce feelings of isolation and depression.
❱❱ $2,000 funds independent background checks on volunteers.
❱❱ $20,000 would meet the expected increased demand on ANV’s 2020-21 Financial Aid Fund, which allows the most vulnerable and in-need seniors to have access to all services and programming.
Volunteer opportunities: During the Covid-19 crisis, adult volunteers are running errands for at-home seniors, shopping for groceries and picking up prescriptions; providing transportation to critical medical appointments; and connecting with isolated seniors via telephone visits. Training is provided. Volunteers also help with information technology, website maintenance, communications and marketing, fundraising, office support and special programs.
