NOVA’S SOCIAL JUSTICE REGULAR COMMITMENT PROJECTS
OTHER COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS INVOLVING MONEY
COMMUNITY MEMBER COMMITMENTS OF TIME AND RESOURCES
2021
In March 2020 the world stopped due to Covid 19. Many adjustments had to be made to our hands-on projects, to projects where schools were closed, to the homeless walk and for Christ House evening meal we provided. Some of those adjustments have been noted here in the list. Some were able to continue with the help of Zoom.
In December 2020 NOVA held the Social Justice Meeting on Zoom to decide on the projects for our regular commitments in 2021. They are listed below. It was also decided to distribute the money to these projects in 2 payments - January and July. The community believed that the money was still needed as quickly as possible during this pandemic. Each project has a NOVA member who brought the need to the community and "watches over it " and brings us news.
NOVA’S SOCIAL JUSTICE REGULAR COMMITMENTS 2021
COMMITMENT SPONSOR
ACTION AFRICA Marie Keefe
Action Africa provides services in the vital areas of health, education, micro-enterprise development, and human rights for African children and families in rural villages, currently in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, and for immigrants in the Washington, D.C., area. www.actionafrica.org
AFAC Dianne Carroll
AFAC (Arlington Food Assistance Center) distributes groceries to needy families. Due to the pandemic, AFAC has seen a 45% increase in referrals: 5,000 families (12,300 individuals) have utilized AFAC’s services. Volunteer hours are down and grocery donations are down. Donated food is valued at $2.5 million. NOVA is collecting food every week (about 200 pounds a week generally). Cereal donations are especially appreciated. Use the website to find out more ways people can help. https://afac.org
A-SPAN Meg Tuccillo
A-SPAN, Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, has had NOVA’s support for almost 30 years and at least four members have served on its board over the years. It is a true grassroots organization that began with two women making bagged meals and leaving them on their front porch for Arlington homeless folks. It has grown over the years and in this time of COVID, it has provided invaluable service to one of our most vulnerable populations. While its services expand, the need for support from our NOVA Community continues. http://www.a-span.org
BREAD FOR THE WORLD Peggy Meyer
Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian citizens movement seeking justice for the world’s hungry people by lobbying our nation’s decision makers. BFW Institute seeks justice for hungry people by engaging in research and education on policies related to hunger and development. http://www.bread.org/
BRIDGES TO INDEPENDENCE Kopp Michelotti
Bridges To Independence operates the Sullivan House homeless shelter and provides
training, counseling, and referral services to shelter families and other families in danger of homelessness. NOVA should continue to support Bridges at least at this level since many B2I clients have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and B2I is devoting a larger proportion of its budget to rental subsidies. The big news for Bridges this year is that they merged with the Bonder and Amanda Johnson Community Development Corporation, a much smaller nonprofit budget-wise that nonetheless serves about 400 people in the Nauck community of Arlington. https://bridges2.org
BRYANT SCHOOL COMMUNITY FOOD ASSISTANCE Carolyn Miller
When the pandemic hit and the schools closed, Nancy Chang, project manager and former teacher at Bryant distributed the food and supplies that were still in the food pantry to the neediest children and their families. Since then, she has been providing them with food cards twice a month, using the money provided by NOVA for 2020 and her own resources. She has been assigned to a different school for this school year. She has established strong bonds with the Bryant Alternative School community and continues to help them. (the 2020 project was to establish the food pantry at Bryant and keep food in the pantry for distribution; therefore this is now under new projects)
CO-PARTNERS OF CAMPESINAS Archer Heinzen
Unable to implement our program of scholarships and vocational training during the pandemic, we have focused on the distribution of food, medicine and seeds in Central America. Due to acute nutritional needs in Guatemala, we ask NOVA to support a small animal husbandry project that will be implemented with support from extension agents from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food. www.copartners.org
DREAM PROJECT Emma Violand-Sanchez
The Dream Project empowers students whose immigration status creates barriers to education by working with them to access and succeed in college through scholarships, mentoring, family engagement and advocacy. The Dream Project would like to request funding for services including 100 scholarships for $2,500 and virtual mentoring to 38 high school students. In addition, financial support is needed to continue the Emergency Relief Fund that provides grants to scholars, mentees and alumni who are facing significant economic challenges due to loss of jobs, COVID, the lack of health insurance, counseling, and rental assistance. Immigrants who are undocumented do not qualify for federal, state, and local government services or unemployment benefits. www.dreamproject-va.org
EDUCATE THE GIRLS Nancy Veldhuis
NOVA’s financial contribution to ETG, a 501(c)(3), enables girls in the rural village of Kanoni, Uganda, to obtain primary and secondary education by providing for their school fees, school supplies, and helping them to overcome obstacles, i.e. shoes, feminine hygiene products, etc. that would keep them from school. During the pandemic shutdown, all private movement throughout Uganda was forbidden for a time, and schools were closed; the girls helped at home planting maize, beans, and ground nuts to provide food for their families. Now just about all of our 19 secondary school students and one primary school student are back in classes as the
government reopens classes by educational tiers and the girls work hard to make up lost time preparing for the government required exams to continue their education. https://www.facebook.com/EducateTheGirls/?fref=ts
ELDERS CLIMATE ACTION Gloria Mog
David and I have been members of ECA for the past 5 years and have proudly helped it grow from a small struggling enterprise to a solid, national network of seniors working together to address the climate crisis through education, legislative lobbying on the local, state and national level, and support and partnering with over 100 other climate organizations. ECA has built 14 regional chapters in the last few years and has a vision of local chapters available to members throughout the country. David and I are currently working on establishing a Northern Virginia Chapter. www.eldersclimateaction.org
EMMAH’S GARDEN – KENYA Clyde Christofferson
The project was formed to help a village of about 2,300 people in Nyandoche Ibere, in western Kenya. The aim is to pay for purchase, delivery, and maintenance of water purification systems. The overall concept is not to provide assistance from the outside but for the villagers themselves to own the project. If the concept works out it can be replicated in other villages. The initial focus has been on the water supply, and has been expanded to provide food for poor families in the village, an education center, and most recently cultivation of tomatoes using water pumped from a nearby stream. Soon Emmah’s Garden hopes to add a micro-lending program to provide seeds for village farmers who otherwise are limited to subsistence. https://emmahsgarden.com/
GREENWELL John Tarrant
The Greenwell Foundation provides therapeutic riding for children and wounded veterans in Greenwell State Park in Hollywood, MD. During lockdown this year, when veterans were quarantined at the veterans home, the Greenwell Foundation brought the horses to the veterans home to lift the men’s spirits, and it was a great hit. http://greenwellfoundation.org/
HOMELESS RETREAT PROJECT John Mooney
This project supports four Ignatian Spirituality Project retreats/year and monthly follow-up spiritual accompaniment, serving about 200 homeless brothers since its start in 2008. During COVID, weekly texts & emails and weekly Zoom/phone chat & pray sessions. The request for $2,400 covers most of the cost of one full retreat (12 retreatants, 3 leaders). National website: https://ispretreats.org/
JOE KENNA FUND Joe Kenna/Marie Keefe
Joe Kenna counsels the most marginalized folks in Baltimore. This fund allows him to assist them with immediate life emergencies such as food, rent and health issues until they can get social services.
JUST NEIGHBORS CLIENT ASSISTANCE FUND Joe Keyes
This fund directly helps very low-income clients pay fees needed to successfully apply for legal status. These required expenses (USCIS application fees, medical exams, country-expert reports needed for asylum seekers, court documents, etc.) often stand in the way of a family’s ability to obtain a green card, citizenship or work permit. Due to the economic impact the pandemic has had on immigrant families as well as recent changes in immigration policies that eliminated fees waivers for very low-income clients and increased the filing fees for many applications, Just Neighbors is raising funds to help families pay these expenses. www.justneighbors.org
MALAWI JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL Eric Carroll
This project, sponsored by Fr. Pete Henriot, former NOVA padre, provides infrastructure support for the school which is now graduating students. http://loyola-malawi.org/
NETWORK ADVOCATES FOR CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE Pat Sodo
Network is a known presence and a voice on Capitol Hill. The religious and lay staff is engaged in/has had success at molding federal legislation and policies that reflect the teachings of Catholic social justice. It has never been more important for NOVA members to actively advocate for the health, safety, and welfare of all, for immigration reform, and racial justice. Following Network’s lead and prompting, NOVA members are positioned – on a daily basis – to transform our political system into one that supports the dignity of all people and creates an economy of inclusion. Simply put, Network works on our behalf and summons us to be involved. In addition, as a supporter, the NOVA community has the benefit of Network-produced educational materials and workshops.https://networklobby.org
OAXACA SCHOOL PROJECT Raquel Pastor
Teachers at the school in Quiegolani, Mexico, go out into the remote local mountainous villages to train parents how to detect disabilities and how to value and care for their children with disabilities, which is considered a curse or at a minimum shameful. Nearest medical facilities are hours away and the poverty level is so severe that families cannot pay for medicines, so the training is essential.
RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS Dianne Carroll
The NOVA program provides rental assistance on a one-time, emergency basis for those in need in the Arlington Public Schools community. School social workers screen the requests and send the request on a form designed by NOVA. The regular commitment could remain at $12,000 with the understanding that when needed, money would come from the NOVA general fund.
SALOMON KLEIN ORPHANAGE Emma Violand-Sanchez
Salomon Klein Orphanage in Cochabamba, Bolivia, serves as a loving, safe haven for abandoned or orphaned and abused children from newborns to age six. The pandemic has had a major impact in Salomon Klein due to COVID infection of staff and some children. There are 150 children who need round-the-clock care with food, medicine, milk/formula, clothing etc. The Bolivian Government finances 30% of the total budget. A nonprofit has been established in the area to provide funding for staff, emergencies, and medical assistance. www.salomonkleinkidsfund.org
STREET SENSE MEDIA CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Brian Carome
The program helps our corps of vendors – men and women who are homeless – navigate to subsidized housing, health and mental health care and employment and income support for persons with disabilities. The program provides services to over 60 individuals a month, and since its start in 2017, has helped 43 people secure permanent housing. This program has been expanded significantly in the last 6 months. As a result, costs have jumped from $82,000/year to over $140,000/year. The program has very little dedicated grant funding (about $30,000/year) and therefore relies on a patchwork of donations from individuals and groups like NOVA.
www.streetsensemedia.org
VOICE Nancy Veldhuis
Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) is a nonpartisan citizens’ organization of almost 50 interfaith and civic institutions in Northern Virginia. VOICE organizes to build power and do justice in middle- and low-income communities in Fairfax, Prince William and Arlington counties and Alexandria City. 2020 has been an intense year for VOICE starting early in the pandemic to put pressure on Governor Northam to issue a moratorium on evictions for Virginia residents; successfully campaigning for the establishment of the first-ever Public Defenders Office in Prince William County; successfully working with the racially diverse tenants of Arlington House Corporation properties to convince County Board members to hold AHC accountable for fixing serious,long-term maintenance and management problems. http://www.voice-iaf.org/
WEEKEND FOOD PACKS 4 KIDS Cathy Showalter
Since the pandemic, the Crossroads Connection ministry of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church of Haymarket VA has had to adjust its methods. The goal is to alleviate hunger as an obstruction to learning for food-insecure children in the public schools of Gainesville and Haymarket. Instead of sending a pack of ready-to-eat snacks with each needy student for the weekend, school counselors now try to supply meals for the child and the child’s family for a month. They expect to need to change their operation in January. I recommend NOVA continue the donation and reassess in April. Crossroads-connection.org
WOMEN’S ORDINATION FUND Nancy Veldhuis
Celebrating its 45th birthday this year, the Women’s Ordination Conference is the world’s oldest
and largest organization working solely for the ordination of women as priests, deacons and
bishops into an inclusive Catholic Church, dedicated to renewing church governance to be
inclusive, accountable and transparent; bringing about justice and equality for Catholic women;
and incorporating women-centered theologies into everyday Catholicism. https://www.womensordination.org
ZIMBABWE CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP & FOOD PROJECT Pat & Don Sodo
The needs of children and families in the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, area have increased dramatically as virtually all tourism has ceased due to the COVID pandemic. Zimbabwe's poverty was severe before COVID, now it has reached a point where food insecurity is widespread because parents' income from the tourist trade is gone. Last year's funding from NOVA was used to provide food packages for the families of 17 children participating in our scholarship program. Each family has received food packages that will feed a family of four for one month. If it's possible to increase the grant, we would add more children and families to the scholarship program in 2021. The work in Zimbabwe is provided by Children in the Wilderness (childreninthewilderness.com).
2021
OTHER COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS INVOLVING MONEY
A-SPAN HOMELESS WALK-A-THON Meg Tuccillo
NOVA members participate in a mini walk in October to benefit the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network. During the pandemic this has been virtual.
KEN CHAISON FAMILY EMERGENCY FUND Dianne Carroll
This provides funds for an emergency need of a family that cannot be met in any other way. School social workers screen the requests and send the request on a form designed by NOVA. 24 families were helped in 2020 with a variety of requests -- cab vouchers, electric bill help, food cards, summer school, etc.
LEGAL DEFENSE FUND Bob O’Toole/committee
The LDF was created and funded to provide legal representation to individuals who are facing deportation.
*The Fund has received 10 applications for assistance. Nine applicants were referred to our legal aid partners for processing. All applicants have received a delay in the hearing dates for their cases. The lawyers believe this is the best outcome. All our cases are open, pending further processing.
* Project has some money remaining in the allocation. * So far we have directly helped 9 individuals to avoid deportation.
NOVA MARIE PINHO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Linda Christie/committee
Funded by Marie Pinho bequest
This project provides $300 a month during the academic year (works out to nine months per year) to those who are granted the scholarship.
VILLA CANDELARIA SCHOOL, Cochabamba Bolivia Dianne Carroll
Twenty-seven NOVA members have provided $120 a year to sponsor students at this school, which serves age 2 through 6th grade. They get a quality education, and low-income families are provided school materials. Some children who live in prison with their mothers are able to leave the prison and attend school
COMMUNITY MEMBER COMMITMENTS OF TIME AND RESOURCES
BOOK GROUPS:
Watch the NOVA Sunday announcements for the groups that are meeting. Book groups continue on zoom.
CARE FOR CREATION Gloria Mog & team members: Kathy Scheimer, Richard Urban, Carmela Ormando, Rosemarie Annunziata, Scott Spaine, Ted & Carolyn Miller, Tim White, David Mog, Jeanne Clarkson, Cathy Showalter.
The Team was formed in March 2019 in response to the climate crisis and the growing realization that people of faith are playing an increasingly critical role in the worldwide response to this crisis. The Mission of the Team is:
CHRIST HOUSE EVENING MEAL Tim White
During Covid 19 NOVA was required to change the meal that is prepared on the NOVA night every other month. The team headed by Tim White has developed a plan that meets Christ House’s regulations.
http://www.ccda.net/programs_christhouse.php
CHRISTMAS GIFTS PROJECT Cathy Goldschmidt
NOVA members sign up to prepare gifts for a child for Christmas.
MY FRIENDS HOUSE, INC. Teddi Ahrens
Teddi collects needed items for those Eve Birch serves in West Virginia including fresh food, blankets, clothes, building materials, sewing materials, paint, craft materials. http://myfriendshouse.org
PAPER PRODUCTS FOR DOORWAYS Cece/Kopp Michelotti
Since Covid 19 NOVA members bring paper towels, toilet paper, napkins in the first week of the month to the same drop off places used for AFAC food. They are then delivered to the women’s shelter.
https://www.doorwaysva.org
PRAYER GROUP Bill Meyer
NOVA members meet together to pray for intentions. A Prayer Book is available for people to record an intention.
RAMADAN BASKETS OF KINDNESS Dianne Carroll/Marie Keefe
In cooperation with the Muslim Women’s Coalition and the director Uzma Farooq, NOVA has provided items for 11 families to be delivered to the shelter in Arlington during Ramadan. MWC provides the instructions for what is needed in the baskets, and NOVA members sign up to bring them. We are able to get the number and age of the children in each family so we can provide something for each of them. During Ramadan, Muslims are called to fast from dawn to dusk and to give food/alms to the needy so they consider this project a labor of love. During Covid NOVA members donated gift cards to be distributed to the families in need.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL-NOVA PARTNERSHIP ON RACE Carmela Ormando
The 2020 group finished the program Sacred Ground -learning about the history of race and racism. Currently a new group of NOVA members and Trinity members has begun the program Sacred Ground, a film and reading-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith.
WOMEN’S PRISON BOOK PROJECT Pat Sodo
NOVA members support this project by donating used books.
In December 2020 NOVA held the Social Justice Meeting on Zoom to decide on the projects for our regular commitments in 2021. They are listed below. It was also decided to distribute the money to these projects in 2 payments - January and July. The community believed that the money was still needed as quickly as possible during this pandemic. Each project has a NOVA member who brought the need to the community and "watches over it " and brings us news.
NOVA’S SOCIAL JUSTICE REGULAR COMMITMENTS 2021
COMMITMENT SPONSOR
ACTION AFRICA Marie Keefe
Action Africa provides services in the vital areas of health, education, micro-enterprise development, and human rights for African children and families in rural villages, currently in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, and for immigrants in the Washington, D.C., area. www.actionafrica.org
AFAC Dianne Carroll
AFAC (Arlington Food Assistance Center) distributes groceries to needy families. Due to the pandemic, AFAC has seen a 45% increase in referrals: 5,000 families (12,300 individuals) have utilized AFAC’s services. Volunteer hours are down and grocery donations are down. Donated food is valued at $2.5 million. NOVA is collecting food every week (about 200 pounds a week generally). Cereal donations are especially appreciated. Use the website to find out more ways people can help. https://afac.org
A-SPAN Meg Tuccillo
A-SPAN, Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network, has had NOVA’s support for almost 30 years and at least four members have served on its board over the years. It is a true grassroots organization that began with two women making bagged meals and leaving them on their front porch for Arlington homeless folks. It has grown over the years and in this time of COVID, it has provided invaluable service to one of our most vulnerable populations. While its services expand, the need for support from our NOVA Community continues. http://www.a-span.org
BREAD FOR THE WORLD Peggy Meyer
Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian citizens movement seeking justice for the world’s hungry people by lobbying our nation’s decision makers. BFW Institute seeks justice for hungry people by engaging in research and education on policies related to hunger and development. http://www.bread.org/
BRIDGES TO INDEPENDENCE Kopp Michelotti
Bridges To Independence operates the Sullivan House homeless shelter and provides
training, counseling, and referral services to shelter families and other families in danger of homelessness. NOVA should continue to support Bridges at least at this level since many B2I clients have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and B2I is devoting a larger proportion of its budget to rental subsidies. The big news for Bridges this year is that they merged with the Bonder and Amanda Johnson Community Development Corporation, a much smaller nonprofit budget-wise that nonetheless serves about 400 people in the Nauck community of Arlington. https://bridges2.org
BRYANT SCHOOL COMMUNITY FOOD ASSISTANCE Carolyn Miller
When the pandemic hit and the schools closed, Nancy Chang, project manager and former teacher at Bryant distributed the food and supplies that were still in the food pantry to the neediest children and their families. Since then, she has been providing them with food cards twice a month, using the money provided by NOVA for 2020 and her own resources. She has been assigned to a different school for this school year. She has established strong bonds with the Bryant Alternative School community and continues to help them. (the 2020 project was to establish the food pantry at Bryant and keep food in the pantry for distribution; therefore this is now under new projects)
CO-PARTNERS OF CAMPESINAS Archer Heinzen
Unable to implement our program of scholarships and vocational training during the pandemic, we have focused on the distribution of food, medicine and seeds in Central America. Due to acute nutritional needs in Guatemala, we ask NOVA to support a small animal husbandry project that will be implemented with support from extension agents from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food. www.copartners.org
DREAM PROJECT Emma Violand-Sanchez
The Dream Project empowers students whose immigration status creates barriers to education by working with them to access and succeed in college through scholarships, mentoring, family engagement and advocacy. The Dream Project would like to request funding for services including 100 scholarships for $2,500 and virtual mentoring to 38 high school students. In addition, financial support is needed to continue the Emergency Relief Fund that provides grants to scholars, mentees and alumni who are facing significant economic challenges due to loss of jobs, COVID, the lack of health insurance, counseling, and rental assistance. Immigrants who are undocumented do not qualify for federal, state, and local government services or unemployment benefits. www.dreamproject-va.org
EDUCATE THE GIRLS Nancy Veldhuis
NOVA’s financial contribution to ETG, a 501(c)(3), enables girls in the rural village of Kanoni, Uganda, to obtain primary and secondary education by providing for their school fees, school supplies, and helping them to overcome obstacles, i.e. shoes, feminine hygiene products, etc. that would keep them from school. During the pandemic shutdown, all private movement throughout Uganda was forbidden for a time, and schools were closed; the girls helped at home planting maize, beans, and ground nuts to provide food for their families. Now just about all of our 19 secondary school students and one primary school student are back in classes as the
government reopens classes by educational tiers and the girls work hard to make up lost time preparing for the government required exams to continue their education. https://www.facebook.com/EducateTheGirls/?fref=ts
ELDERS CLIMATE ACTION Gloria Mog
David and I have been members of ECA for the past 5 years and have proudly helped it grow from a small struggling enterprise to a solid, national network of seniors working together to address the climate crisis through education, legislative lobbying on the local, state and national level, and support and partnering with over 100 other climate organizations. ECA has built 14 regional chapters in the last few years and has a vision of local chapters available to members throughout the country. David and I are currently working on establishing a Northern Virginia Chapter. www.eldersclimateaction.org
EMMAH’S GARDEN – KENYA Clyde Christofferson
The project was formed to help a village of about 2,300 people in Nyandoche Ibere, in western Kenya. The aim is to pay for purchase, delivery, and maintenance of water purification systems. The overall concept is not to provide assistance from the outside but for the villagers themselves to own the project. If the concept works out it can be replicated in other villages. The initial focus has been on the water supply, and has been expanded to provide food for poor families in the village, an education center, and most recently cultivation of tomatoes using water pumped from a nearby stream. Soon Emmah’s Garden hopes to add a micro-lending program to provide seeds for village farmers who otherwise are limited to subsistence. https://emmahsgarden.com/
GREENWELL John Tarrant
The Greenwell Foundation provides therapeutic riding for children and wounded veterans in Greenwell State Park in Hollywood, MD. During lockdown this year, when veterans were quarantined at the veterans home, the Greenwell Foundation brought the horses to the veterans home to lift the men’s spirits, and it was a great hit. http://greenwellfoundation.org/
HOMELESS RETREAT PROJECT John Mooney
This project supports four Ignatian Spirituality Project retreats/year and monthly follow-up spiritual accompaniment, serving about 200 homeless brothers since its start in 2008. During COVID, weekly texts & emails and weekly Zoom/phone chat & pray sessions. The request for $2,400 covers most of the cost of one full retreat (12 retreatants, 3 leaders). National website: https://ispretreats.org/
JOE KENNA FUND Joe Kenna/Marie Keefe
Joe Kenna counsels the most marginalized folks in Baltimore. This fund allows him to assist them with immediate life emergencies such as food, rent and health issues until they can get social services.
JUST NEIGHBORS CLIENT ASSISTANCE FUND Joe Keyes
This fund directly helps very low-income clients pay fees needed to successfully apply for legal status. These required expenses (USCIS application fees, medical exams, country-expert reports needed for asylum seekers, court documents, etc.) often stand in the way of a family’s ability to obtain a green card, citizenship or work permit. Due to the economic impact the pandemic has had on immigrant families as well as recent changes in immigration policies that eliminated fees waivers for very low-income clients and increased the filing fees for many applications, Just Neighbors is raising funds to help families pay these expenses. www.justneighbors.org
MALAWI JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL Eric Carroll
This project, sponsored by Fr. Pete Henriot, former NOVA padre, provides infrastructure support for the school which is now graduating students. http://loyola-malawi.org/
NETWORK ADVOCATES FOR CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE Pat Sodo
Network is a known presence and a voice on Capitol Hill. The religious and lay staff is engaged in/has had success at molding federal legislation and policies that reflect the teachings of Catholic social justice. It has never been more important for NOVA members to actively advocate for the health, safety, and welfare of all, for immigration reform, and racial justice. Following Network’s lead and prompting, NOVA members are positioned – on a daily basis – to transform our political system into one that supports the dignity of all people and creates an economy of inclusion. Simply put, Network works on our behalf and summons us to be involved. In addition, as a supporter, the NOVA community has the benefit of Network-produced educational materials and workshops.https://networklobby.org
OAXACA SCHOOL PROJECT Raquel Pastor
Teachers at the school in Quiegolani, Mexico, go out into the remote local mountainous villages to train parents how to detect disabilities and how to value and care for their children with disabilities, which is considered a curse or at a minimum shameful. Nearest medical facilities are hours away and the poverty level is so severe that families cannot pay for medicines, so the training is essential.
RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS Dianne Carroll
The NOVA program provides rental assistance on a one-time, emergency basis for those in need in the Arlington Public Schools community. School social workers screen the requests and send the request on a form designed by NOVA. The regular commitment could remain at $12,000 with the understanding that when needed, money would come from the NOVA general fund.
SALOMON KLEIN ORPHANAGE Emma Violand-Sanchez
Salomon Klein Orphanage in Cochabamba, Bolivia, serves as a loving, safe haven for abandoned or orphaned and abused children from newborns to age six. The pandemic has had a major impact in Salomon Klein due to COVID infection of staff and some children. There are 150 children who need round-the-clock care with food, medicine, milk/formula, clothing etc. The Bolivian Government finances 30% of the total budget. A nonprofit has been established in the area to provide funding for staff, emergencies, and medical assistance. www.salomonkleinkidsfund.org
STREET SENSE MEDIA CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Brian Carome
The program helps our corps of vendors – men and women who are homeless – navigate to subsidized housing, health and mental health care and employment and income support for persons with disabilities. The program provides services to over 60 individuals a month, and since its start in 2017, has helped 43 people secure permanent housing. This program has been expanded significantly in the last 6 months. As a result, costs have jumped from $82,000/year to over $140,000/year. The program has very little dedicated grant funding (about $30,000/year) and therefore relies on a patchwork of donations from individuals and groups like NOVA.
www.streetsensemedia.org
VOICE Nancy Veldhuis
Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) is a nonpartisan citizens’ organization of almost 50 interfaith and civic institutions in Northern Virginia. VOICE organizes to build power and do justice in middle- and low-income communities in Fairfax, Prince William and Arlington counties and Alexandria City. 2020 has been an intense year for VOICE starting early in the pandemic to put pressure on Governor Northam to issue a moratorium on evictions for Virginia residents; successfully campaigning for the establishment of the first-ever Public Defenders Office in Prince William County; successfully working with the racially diverse tenants of Arlington House Corporation properties to convince County Board members to hold AHC accountable for fixing serious,long-term maintenance and management problems. http://www.voice-iaf.org/
WEEKEND FOOD PACKS 4 KIDS Cathy Showalter
Since the pandemic, the Crossroads Connection ministry of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church of Haymarket VA has had to adjust its methods. The goal is to alleviate hunger as an obstruction to learning for food-insecure children in the public schools of Gainesville and Haymarket. Instead of sending a pack of ready-to-eat snacks with each needy student for the weekend, school counselors now try to supply meals for the child and the child’s family for a month. They expect to need to change their operation in January. I recommend NOVA continue the donation and reassess in April. Crossroads-connection.org
WOMEN’S ORDINATION FUND Nancy Veldhuis
Celebrating its 45th birthday this year, the Women’s Ordination Conference is the world’s oldest
and largest organization working solely for the ordination of women as priests, deacons and
bishops into an inclusive Catholic Church, dedicated to renewing church governance to be
inclusive, accountable and transparent; bringing about justice and equality for Catholic women;
and incorporating women-centered theologies into everyday Catholicism. https://www.womensordination.org
ZIMBABWE CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP & FOOD PROJECT Pat & Don Sodo
The needs of children and families in the Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, area have increased dramatically as virtually all tourism has ceased due to the COVID pandemic. Zimbabwe's poverty was severe before COVID, now it has reached a point where food insecurity is widespread because parents' income from the tourist trade is gone. Last year's funding from NOVA was used to provide food packages for the families of 17 children participating in our scholarship program. Each family has received food packages that will feed a family of four for one month. If it's possible to increase the grant, we would add more children and families to the scholarship program in 2021. The work in Zimbabwe is provided by Children in the Wilderness (childreninthewilderness.com).
2021
OTHER COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS INVOLVING MONEY
A-SPAN HOMELESS WALK-A-THON Meg Tuccillo
NOVA members participate in a mini walk in October to benefit the Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network. During the pandemic this has been virtual.
KEN CHAISON FAMILY EMERGENCY FUND Dianne Carroll
This provides funds for an emergency need of a family that cannot be met in any other way. School social workers screen the requests and send the request on a form designed by NOVA. 24 families were helped in 2020 with a variety of requests -- cab vouchers, electric bill help, food cards, summer school, etc.
LEGAL DEFENSE FUND Bob O’Toole/committee
The LDF was created and funded to provide legal representation to individuals who are facing deportation.
*The Fund has received 10 applications for assistance. Nine applicants were referred to our legal aid partners for processing. All applicants have received a delay in the hearing dates for their cases. The lawyers believe this is the best outcome. All our cases are open, pending further processing.
* Project has some money remaining in the allocation. * So far we have directly helped 9 individuals to avoid deportation.
NOVA MARIE PINHO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Linda Christie/committee
Funded by Marie Pinho bequest
This project provides $300 a month during the academic year (works out to nine months per year) to those who are granted the scholarship.
VILLA CANDELARIA SCHOOL, Cochabamba Bolivia Dianne Carroll
Twenty-seven NOVA members have provided $120 a year to sponsor students at this school, which serves age 2 through 6th grade. They get a quality education, and low-income families are provided school materials. Some children who live in prison with their mothers are able to leave the prison and attend school
COMMUNITY MEMBER COMMITMENTS OF TIME AND RESOURCES
BOOK GROUPS:
Watch the NOVA Sunday announcements for the groups that are meeting. Book groups continue on zoom.
CARE FOR CREATION Gloria Mog & team members: Kathy Scheimer, Richard Urban, Carmela Ormando, Rosemarie Annunziata, Scott Spaine, Ted & Carolyn Miller, Tim White, David Mog, Jeanne Clarkson, Cathy Showalter.
The Team was formed in March 2019 in response to the climate crisis and the growing realization that people of faith are playing an increasingly critical role in the worldwide response to this crisis. The Mission of the Team is:
- Provide education in the NOVA Community around environmental issues and actions needed to make progress on this problem.
- Take leadership in developing concrete personal and communal actions that members can take.
- Integrate Care for Creation themes in the liturgical and prayer life of the community
- Advocate for legislative progress locally, statewide and nationally.
- Engender hope and motivation by reporting on progress being made.
CHRIST HOUSE EVENING MEAL Tim White
During Covid 19 NOVA was required to change the meal that is prepared on the NOVA night every other month. The team headed by Tim White has developed a plan that meets Christ House’s regulations.
http://www.ccda.net/programs_christhouse.php
CHRISTMAS GIFTS PROJECT Cathy Goldschmidt
NOVA members sign up to prepare gifts for a child for Christmas.
MY FRIENDS HOUSE, INC. Teddi Ahrens
Teddi collects needed items for those Eve Birch serves in West Virginia including fresh food, blankets, clothes, building materials, sewing materials, paint, craft materials. http://myfriendshouse.org
PAPER PRODUCTS FOR DOORWAYS Cece/Kopp Michelotti
Since Covid 19 NOVA members bring paper towels, toilet paper, napkins in the first week of the month to the same drop off places used for AFAC food. They are then delivered to the women’s shelter.
https://www.doorwaysva.org
PRAYER GROUP Bill Meyer
NOVA members meet together to pray for intentions. A Prayer Book is available for people to record an intention.
RAMADAN BASKETS OF KINDNESS Dianne Carroll/Marie Keefe
In cooperation with the Muslim Women’s Coalition and the director Uzma Farooq, NOVA has provided items for 11 families to be delivered to the shelter in Arlington during Ramadan. MWC provides the instructions for what is needed in the baskets, and NOVA members sign up to bring them. We are able to get the number and age of the children in each family so we can provide something for each of them. During Ramadan, Muslims are called to fast from dawn to dusk and to give food/alms to the needy so they consider this project a labor of love. During Covid NOVA members donated gift cards to be distributed to the families in need.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL-NOVA PARTNERSHIP ON RACE Carmela Ormando
The 2020 group finished the program Sacred Ground -learning about the history of race and racism. Currently a new group of NOVA members and Trinity members has begun the program Sacred Ground, a film and reading-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith.
WOMEN’S PRISON BOOK PROJECT Pat Sodo
NOVA members support this project by donating used books.