Assistance League of Northern Virginia gratefully acknowledges and thanks ACT for Alexandria for supporting its mission to continue responding to human needs during the current pandemic and economic crisis. In late-May, the nonprofit organization received a grant award from the ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund, which was established by ACT and the City of Alexandria to provide emergency funding to nonprofits that are delivering the critical services and programs that are needed by Alexandrians right now.

The funds awarded will help Assistance League expand its food security program at Cora Kelly Elementary School, in Alexandria, to provide three additional months’ worth of emergency relief in the form of grocery store gift cards for students and their families who are experiencing financial hardships. With the ACT funds, the organization will help each month during the summer 100 low-income working families who live without a financial safety net and have suffered tremendously during the pandemic due to job losses, rent increases, and lack of access to food and other basic needs. The nonprofit’s strong partnership with Cora Kelly allows it to rely on that school’s administrators to distribute the gift cards monthly to the neediest families in its community. The children and families who benefit are immensely grateful to Assistance League and all the other frontline nonprofits that have continued to provide services during these unprecedented times.

Members of the organization admiringly applaud the prominent business leaders, and the extraordinary individuals in our community, who have contributed generously to the Fund, thereby helping Assistance League and many other nonprofits in the region. Their support shows the vulnerable that they are part of a caring community. The ACT Now COVID-19 Response Fund has to date awarded $909,859 to 80 organizations providing emergency relief to support Alexandrian neighbors affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Assistance League of Northern Virginia transforms lives and strengthens communities in the City of Alexandria and in Fairfax and Prince William Counties by partnering with eleven Title I elementary schools during the academic year to provide hand-packed weekend food bags, new clothing and literacy support for children living in low-income families. The volunteer-based organization is continuing to deliver essential services to improve well-being during the pandemic, while striving to keep its team, and those who benefit from its programs, safe and healthy. To learn more about Assistance League’s mission, and how your organization can help, visit www.alnv.org.