After losing a brother who experienced homelessness, Carter G. Woodson High School student Minn Vo became aware on a personal level of how vulnerable people without shelter can be — and how often they’re overlooked by society.
That was a call to action for Vo, who founded the nonprofit Hands in Hope to organize service projects and fundraise to benefit individuals experiencing homelessness in Fairfax County.
“Visiting a shelter and seeing the conditions first hand was a moment that stayed with me and pushed me to take action rather than just feel helpless,” Vo told FFXnow. “Hands in Hope was created as a way to give people experiencing homelessness the dignity, care, and compassion that everyone deserves.”
So far, Hands in Hope has organized two student-led service projects, starting with a winter donation drive on Dec. 10, 2025 that collected supplies for the colder months.
Students from Woodson, Falls Church, Langley, Oakton, Lake Braddock, Fairfax, Madison and Marshall high schools contributed 71 pairs of socks, gloves, hand warmers, lip balms, beanies, hand creams, blankets and other winter essentials for the drive. The donations were taken to the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter in Fair Lakes.
For the second event on Jan. 7, students assembled 72 dental hygiene kits in partnership with Woodson’s Key Club. Each kit included a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and a handwritten encouragement card.
The hygiene kits were distributed in partnership with Second Story, a Dunn Loring-based nonprofit that serves homeless youth and young mothers in the region. Hands in Hope also raised hundreds of dollars to support Second Story.
Students and others in the community can get involved by volunteering, donating items, supporting fundraisers or spreading awareness about Hands in Hope on social media, according to Vo.
Hands in Hope plans to hold additional donation drives and community service events, while raising funds to support care packages and outreach.
