Holiday Appeal: Your Support Positively Impacts Our Families

The face-paced holiday season has us on ice skates as we wrap up 2023, spend time with family and friends, and attend all the events we can possibly squeeze into one month.

December 31st is quickly approaching.

As we amplify our mission to the broader community, we request your help with support and resources for working families.

Community Lodgings' families are working - in many cases more than 1 job - and because of escalating prices for housing food, utilities, healthcare, and other costs associated with living in the region, it is challenging to make ends meet.

Children in our program are in 1st-12th grades, enrolled in Alexandria City Public Schools, and participate in out-of-school time activities such as mentoring, tutoring, field trips, Power Hour, Peace Club, Spitfire Book Club, and other activities.

We are currently providing services to more than 500 people in the community, and up to 125 children are actively enrolled and engaged in our Youth Education Program, Monday through Friday.

Will you show your support by giving to our end-of-year/Holiday Appeal?

*Scroll down to review giving levels and ways you can continue and show your support before December 31!*

Please share your blessings this holiday season.

Giving Tuesday + YOU = Success!

Thank you to everyone who supported our Giving Tuesday Campaign!

We are grateful for your outpouring of support which led us to exceed our goal!

Together, we raised $5,300 for our Transitional Housing Program, which provides case management, supportive services, mentoring and structural supports to economically marginalized families.

Del Ray Business Association's 8th Annual Candy Cane Bar Crawl

Del Ray Business Association hosted the 8th Annual Candy Cane Bar Crawl on December 9th. The event was festive, fun, and filled with amazing holiday spirit!

Jen Walker Team, Presenting Sponsor, along with several community sponsors and partners, 25 Del Ray restaurants, and 50 amazing volunteers came together to spread some holiday cheer.

Proceeds from this year's amazing event support Community Lodgings and Mother of Light Center.

Community Lodgings is excited to receive $6,000 to support Arlandria-Chirilagua families in need and grateful to be the recipient of the proceeds.

Thank you to the entire community for your unwavering dedication and outpouring of support.

Gratitude Spotlight

The children in our Youth Education Program send their biggest THANK YOU to all who supported and contributed to the program and its success!

Community Lodgings is also grateful for the ongoing support given to our weekend food bag program, which serves families in our community who struggle with food insecurity. The time between Friday when kids are out of school and Monday morning is critical. Children receive free lunch while at school, and when they are home over the weekend we want to ensure they continue to receive nutritious snacks and meals, which is why we continue to partner with ALIVE!, Capital Area Food Bank, and Great Harvest Bread of Alexandria, and Kitchen of Purpose for meals, snacks, and food.

Thank You to Alexandria City Public Schools, Beverly Hills Methodist Church and New Brookside/Alexandria Community Services Corporation, who serve as Learning Center partners, along with our Fifer Learning Center.

We share our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. Larry Hayward, Rev. Patrick Hunnicutt, Donna Cramer, Janet Hawkins, and Barbara Watts, who asked us to participate in their Alternative Giving Bazaar. The event gave us a wonderful opportunity to speak with members of the Church and share information about our Youth Education Program, Transitional Housing Program and Affordable Housing redevelopment.

Our hearts are overflowing with immense gratitude for our community of supporters!

Thank You to a special volunteer group within the U.S.. Air Force for your donation of food and helping pack weekend food bags. Thank You to Bishop Ireton students for donating snacks as well as gifts for the children's wish lists. Thank You to Boss Lady Nation for supporting Santa's visit and providing gifts for the holidays. Huge Thank You to Cake4Kids for your longstanding partnership providing birthday cakes for the kids. Thank You to the Commonwealth Republican Women's Club for your numerous donations, and Holiday Store gifts. We appreciate your many years of support. Thank You to The Garden Club of Alexandria for the beautiful cornucopias you provided as centerpieces for our families during Thanksgiving. Thank You to MK Wallk and Beth Bills for being the first of many dedicated donors to this year's Holiday Store! Thank You to the Spitfire Book Club and Peace Club volunteers for your ongoing commitment with our children. Santa (Matt Friedman) stopped by to wish our children a very Merry Christmas! Thank YOU, Santa, for making the holiday season bright!

Meet Paola, who is in the 7th grade and a student in our out-of-school time programming at New Brookside Learning Center. Paola is an English Language Learner (ELL). When she began school in this summer, her English speaking and comprehension skills were limited. She didn't feel confident and initially became resistant to speaking English.

The Community Lodgings staff and support team encouraged her to speak English and practice regularly. One of her teachers shared that Paola has been more willing to speak English over the last few months, and in doing so, she also moved to an Honors science class.

Paola told us, "I like the program because the teachers help me with my homework. The teachers also support me, I get food, and it's really fun to be here."

Paola achieved A's and B's in all of her classes! We are proud of her academic achievements. She is on a good path and moving forward in her education. It has been incredible to witness Paola's resilience and tenacity.

Our Youth Education Program has grown from serving 50 children in one learning center in 2003 to 113 children across 3 learning centers as of last month.

Here's how YOU can support children and low-income working families. 

Volunteer: You can assist our staff as a tutor and mentor and directly impact and influence the life of a child.

Donate: Your financial contribution will make a positive difference in how we execute our mission, and directly impacts and provides services for families struggling to make ends meet. With your support, we will grow this vital program together and help more students like Paola thrive and achieve their highest potential.

Your gift today will make a positive difference.

$25 – Buys one week of snacks at our Family Learning Center 

$50 – Covers college application fees for one student in our Next Up Program

$100 – Pays for internet service for one month at one Family Learning Center

$250 – Provides two weeks of nutritious food in the weekender tote bag for 120 students

$500 – Funds one field trip or college tour for 25 students



$1,000 – Subsidizes one month of rent for a transitional housing family

Please click the green button below to make an online donation.

All gifts in any amount are welcome. Every gift makes a difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.

Please make checks payable to Community Lodgings and mail to:

Community Lodgings, 3912 Elbert Avenue, Suite 108, Alexandria, VA 22305

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