News

The McLean Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) took a sizable step toward its goal of acquiring a new fire engine yesterday (Wednesday) after accepting the biggest single donation in its history.

An estate planning attorney and administrative volunteer for the department, Bob Freda, presented a check for $75,000 to MVFD President Patricia Moynihan on behalf of the Patricia A. Henriques Charitable Foundation.


News

Going forward, Centre Ridge Elementary School will incorporate vegetables into the classroom as well as the cafeteria, thanks to a newly installed garden.

A “learning garden” from the nonprofit Captain Planet Foundation was unveiled at the Centreville school yesterday (Thursday). Built by a group of sixth-grade students and donated by Cox Enterprises, the conglomerate that owns the broadband company Cox Communications, the vegetable and herb garden will serve as an educational tool, while also providing access to produce.


News

Reston Association’s summer camps have donated over 1,000 pounds of cans for a local food pantry with a “Cans from Campers” food drive.

Over nine weeks, the kids and teens participating in Reston Camps — which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year — collected a total of 1,120 pounds of cans to benefit South Lakes High School’s food pantry, according to RA Recreation Manager Katherine Caffrey.


News

Hundreds of students at Reston’s Forest Edge Elementary School will head to class later this month with brand-new backpacks, thanks to a donation drive organized by a local church.

Congregants brought 240 backpacks filled with school supplies to the Trinity Church Reston campus (1950 Isaac Newton Square West) on Sunday (Aug. 4), according to campus pastor Robbie Hall, who thanked the donors for their generosity during the church’s 10 a.m. service.


News

The food pantry run by South Lakes High School’s PTSA has collected 2 million pounds of food and toiletries to help local students and their families.

The parents, staff and other volunteers who operate the pantry achieved the milestone during their most recent distribution event held last Thursday (July 18) at the Reston school (11400 South Lakes Drive).


Around Town

The Closet of Greater Herndon is holding its annual toy sale this Saturday, July 20, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Laura Greenspan, the toy sale coordinator, said this is the nonprofit thrift shop’s last off-site toy sale, but it doesn’t mean The Closet is ending toy sales altogether.


News

A Reston-based national food brand and multiple nonprofits are distributing thousands of pounds of food to combat food insecurity in Fairfax County and the broader Northern Virginia region.

Last week, the American canned seafood company StarKist, the D.C.-based nonprofit Feed the Children and Reston nonprofit Cornerstones announced they collected over 100,000 pounds of food during their third annual Summer Food Rally on June 6 in Sterling.


News

George Mason University is planning a new look and name for its Center for the Arts.

The GMU College of Visual and Performing Arts announced today (Monday) that it has received a $5 million gift to support a “reimagining” of the performing arts venue (4373 Mason Pond Drive) at its Fairfax campus. The donor was the Peterson Family Foundation, a regular supporter of the college and recipient of this year’s Jinx Hazel Award from ArtsFairfax.


Countywide

Fairfax County is now bringing nature to residents’ doorsteps.

Last week, the Fairfax County Park Authority launched a new, fully electric mobile nature center called the Wonder Wagon. The tricked-out nature-themed van, operated by park staff, is intended to bring outdoor wonders to underserved communities and Title 1 schools.


News

Commuting will be easier for four families in the D.C. area, thanks to their new vehicles from a quartet of Virginia and Maryland automobile dealerships.

The businesses handed off the donated vehicles to their recipients — all single mothers — with a ceremony on March 18 at the National Automobile Dealers Association’s (NADA) headquarters (8484 Westpark Drive) in Tysons.


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