Serving Locally
Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA)
ACCA is a group of 26 churches working together to help those in need in our community. St. Barnabas' supports ACCA both financially and with volunteer energy. ACCA provides financial assistance and food, distributes donated furniture, gives rides to medical appointments, and provides scholarships to students with special challenges. St. Barnabas' participates enthusiastically in the annual Rebuilding Together project and the Annandale CROP Walk, which raises funds for Church World Service's hunger and refugee relief programs and the ACCA food pantry.
Annandale Neighborhood Food Program
Volunteers distribute groceries to hungry families every Thursday evening at the Annandale United Methodist Church Mission Center located at 7901 Heritage Drive in Annandale. Food collected from a variety of local groups and churches is given to people in need without asking questions or requiring a referral. See this local blog article from 2010. (The site name has changed; the mission remains the same.)
Annandale Safe Youth Project (ASYP)
This after-school program, housed at St. Barnabas', is a partnership with Fairfax County and Second Story. On any given day, 10 - 15 children are provided a safe environmen which offers homework help, team-building activities, and tender loving care. It gives them a chance to become part of a stable group, grow and develop their personalities, and have caring adult mentors. Second Story (formerly Alternative House) provides a professional program coordinator and assistant, while St. Barnabas' provides most of the volunteers. New volunteers are always welcome.
Fairfax Area Christian Emergency and Transitional Services (FACETS)
This hot meals program, in cooperation with 20 other Fairfax County churches, gives St. Barnabas' the opportunity to engage in direct, hands-on outreach to those challenged by homelessness. On the first Sunday of each month, volunteers prepare and deliver complete hot meals for homeless families temporarily housed in motels by Fairfax County. Over 30 parish members shop, cook and deliver for this program--"We love our work!"
Hypothermia Shelter
This year St. Barnabas assisted St. Patrick's Episcopal Church when they hosted the Bailey’s Crossroads Hypothermia Program, February 17-21. St. Barnbas' parishioners donated, prepared, and served meals five consecutive nights to 45-50 hypothermia guests, and St. Barnabas' Children and Youth prepared enough snack bags to last the entire week. In addition, St. Barnabas' hosted the last three nights of the hypothermia program Sunday, March 29-Tuesday, March 31, 2020.
