The Democratic Women of Clifton and Northern Virginia (DWCNV) will meet Sunday, Nov. 17, from 3-5 p.m., in the Clifton Town Meeting Hall to launch the holiday season with projects benefiting area residents and children. These projects have become annual endeavors of the DWCNV, raising thousands of dollars in toys, gifts and food for Fairfax County families.
Coordinating with the county Fire and Rescue Department, members collect new, unwrapped toys that are distributed to children identified as needy by their schools. The toy drive is the highlight of the holiday season for both the first responders and the young gift recipients. Contributions of gift cards to Old Navy or Target are welcomed as gifts for older children.
In addition to toys, the fire department accepts donations of checks or cash to purchase new coats for children. Each year, it distributes 3,000 new coats to more than 50 schools, shelters, and nonprofit organizations throughout this county and Alexandria. These coats are made in the U.S.A. and purchased at a discount.
Anyone wishing to contribute checks, cash or gift cards for these two projects may send them to DWCNV, P.O. Box 143, Clifton, VA 20124. Checks should be made payable to "Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue." Donations of checks or cash are tax deductible, and receipts can be provided for tax purposes. All donations should be received by Nov. 17 when they’ll be presented to the fire department.
Again this year, the DWCNV is also sponsoring a collection of grocery-store gift cards to benefit Our Daily Bread, a local nonprofit organization providing food assistance to Northern Virginia families experiencing financial hardship. Gift card donations will be accepted until Dec. 31 for distribution to families in early January.
Gift cards of any denomination from local food stores may be mailed to the DWCNV at the address above or brought to the Nov. 17 meeting. Make checks payable to "Our Daily Bread." All Democratic women in Northern Virginia are invited to attend that meeting and an after-meeting party in the Clifton area. Questions may be emailed to cliftonwomendems@aol.com.