2024 Social AND Good Projects
While on Vacation, S4G Continues to Make an Impact in July
S4G took a break from project work in July but continued to do good by issuing $2,300 in grants to the following nonprofits:
Specially Adapted Resource Club (SPARC) provides adults with severe disabilities learning opportunities and social connections. Our grant will provide cooking appliances and grocery gift cards to teach cooking life skills to clients.
All Ages Read Together educates children in need with free preschool programs in their communities. Our grant will allow them to purchase books and classroom supplies.
Vecinos Unidos provides homework and academic support to Herndon youth who need assistance that they cannot find at home. Our grant will allow them to purchase summer books for their students attending their summer program.
Rustic Love brings the community together to help the food insecure. We will sponsor their mural in Vienna, supporting their efforts to help food-insecure kids and families in our community.
June Project Supports BRAWS in Their Fight for Menstrual Equity
S4G members gathered at Trousseau in downtown Vienna to celebrate another successful project in support of BRAWS, our critical need partner. Tara Bloch, Executive Director, educated members about the growing need for period products and the challenges women face when having to choose between purchasing menstrual products for themselves or feeding their families.
Member contributions raised $4,185 to help fill one pallet with menstrual products and provide pads, new sports bras, and new bralettes to local tweens and teens in need. In addition, for every 5 bras purchased by S4G members at the event, Trousseau donated one bra to BRAWS.
In May, S4G Brought Comfort & Relief to Those Struggling with Serious Mental Illness
S4G members gathered together to hear from representatives from The Wellness Circle Crisis Stabilization Unit (WCCSU) and The Northern Virginia Mental Health Foundation (NVMHF). Members also wrote notes of encouragement to Wellness Circle clients and staff. Here are May’s impressive results, totaling $5,049:
$2,507 in financial donations to NVMHF for the provision of grants to people in treatment, including Wellness Circle patients.
$2,542 in in-kind donations for Wellness Circle clients in treatment, including 15 sleeping bags, 20 backpacks, 4 TracPhones + 1600 minutes, and EVERY SINGLE ITEM on our Amazon Wish List!
In April, S4G Helped Combat Childhood Hunger
In April S4G partnered with Food For Neighbors (FFN) to collect 646 pounds of food and toiletries for the food pantry at Luther Jackson Middle School. S4G’s in-kind donation was the largest received during FFN’s April 27 Red Bag event. S4G also provided $2,830 in financial donations so FFN can purchase grocery gift cards for the most vulnerable teens for when they would otherwise go hungry. On National Volunteer Day on April 27, 15 S4G volunteers participated in FFN’s Red Bag Program’s food sort, which in total across nine operational areas collected 25,800 pounds of food and toiletries from 1,969 participating households!
In March, S4G Created Book Bags for Summer Reading Program Targeting Title I, Pre-K Students
S4G raised $4,076 in financial donations to help the Assistance League of Northern Virginia (ALNV) supply 375 Pre-K children in need with a book bag and three books that they can keep and read over the summer. Using our donations, ALNV was able to purchase the books in bulk at a significant discount. S4G members assembled the book bags at a social event, where they also learned about ALNV's efforts to meet the basic needs of students at nine Title I schools in our community. The evening ended with a member book swap.
In February, S4G Hosted An Incredible Evening + Provided Supplies and Enrichment for Underserved Students!
S4G raised over $5,000 to support the Belong!'s after-school mentoring program. Financial donations will be used to support field trips and enrichment opportunities and in-kind donations provided educational resources and games for Belong!'s growing program.
The project culminated in an engaging Build & Learn event with dinner, craft activities, the creation of a mural that reflects the value of Belong!'s program, and quality time spent with the students and mentors!
In January, S4G Provided Essential Supplies to At-Risk Babies!
S4G raised $4,570 to support the Jennifer Bush Lawson Foundation’s Nursery Project (JBLF). Financial donations will be used by JBLF to purchase: car seats to ensure at-risk babies leave the hospital and travel safely; and pack-n-plays to support safe sleep. In-kind donations created breastfeeding kits to support a healthy breastfeeding relationship. Each gift to new moms and babies was accompanied by a note of encouragement written by S4G members.