NOVA’S SOCIAL JUSTICE REGULAR COMMITMENT PROJECTS
OTHER COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS INVOLVING MONEY
COMMUNITY MEMBER COMMITMENTS OF TIME AND RESOURCES
2024
In January, NOVA held its annual Social Justice Meeting to decide on the projects for our regular commitments for the year. We began the meeting with these words
from our co-chair Joe Keyes:
“We acknowledge with gratitude our community’s ability to make generous financial commitments to organizations – and to NOVA’s own projects – on a yearly basis. We also acknowledge individual members’ separate donations throughout the year to further support NOVA’s own projects, such as the rental assistance program and the Dreamer’s stipend scholarship program, outside these regular commitments. And we acknowledge members’ generous responses to special collections as needs and crises arise. …
“We are confident that we can approach these matters in a spirit of generosity and compassion, and with a sense of gratitude for the marvelous gifts we have been given to share. We have been admonished to give from our substance not merely our surplus, but I am confident that we are so overflowing with blessings that our generous response will not cut deeply into our own well being.”
The projects, as approved by acclamation, are listed below. The money will be distributed to these projects in two payments – in January and July. 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 SPONSOR
ACTION AFRICA Jeanne Clarkson
Action Africa is active in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the DC-Maryland-Virginia region. The education project in Nigeria has established a remote teaching capability. Digital whiteboards have been installed in many of the villages, which are connected to the internet. Classes can either be live or recorded. Teaching aides are hired in each village to set up equipment and promote an environment conducive to learning. Work in the DMV especially targets the needs of new immigrants, including their housing and medical needs. Particularly successful has been a food distribution program through which Action Africa and its partners currently transport more than 300 boxes of food each week to its distribution sites throughout the DMV, up from 25 boxes at the end of 2020. These supplies are donated through various warehouse and grocery channels such as Trader Joes, Safeway, Giant, Wegmans, Whole Foods and local bakeries. Action Africa’s ability to receive more, pick up more and share more has been limited by not having adequate means for picking up and transporting goods to its distribution sites. It is looking for funding to purchase a used box truck, estimated to cost $7,500, to be able to make regular and sizable pick-ups. Jeanne is NOVA’s liaison with Chris Egbulem, founder of Action Africa and a long-time NOVA member serving in the Padre Cadre.
AFAC Dianne Carroll
Arlington Food Assistance Center distributes groceries to families in need every week, allowing
families to devote their limited financial resources to obligations such as housing, utilities,
medication and other basic needs. Those served are elderly residents, families and individuals with disabilities. The numbers of those who are food-insecure are increasing. Some clients work at low-wage jobs, others are unemployed, others have applied for assistance but are not eligible for food stamps. Families’ child care costs and rent leave little left for food. AFAC operates under the Choice Model to give clients as much choice as possible and is committed to distributing as much nutritious food as possible. AFAC relies on volunteers, over 40,000 hours annually, and generous donations of food and money from the Arlington community. Dianne oversees NOVA donations of food each week – more than 6,000 pounds in 2023 – primarily cereal but also other non-perishables.
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 decisionmakers. BFW Institute seeks justice for hungry people by engaging in research and education on policies related to hunger and development. Peggy does not actively participate in Bread for the World. Her motivation to support this organization is that Jesus told us to feed the hungry, and more and more people are suffering from hunger.
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 and in poverty. Three years ago, Bridges merged with the Bonder
and Amanda Johnson Community Development Corp, a small nonprofit that
serves the Nauck community of Arlington. One of Bridges’ signal accomplishments has
been the integration of the two operations and the development and expansion of a
community services center in Nauck. Aside from Sullivan House, Bridges has moved all
of its operations to this community services center. With the addition of these services,
Bridges doubled the size of its youth development program. With schools open, employment of clients has improved substantially. Three of four adults in the Workforce Development program maintained or increased their income last year. NOVA was one of the original founding congregations of Bridges (then Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless.) Kopp talks with the staff at Bridges occasionally during the year and passes on to NOVA opportunities to donate and to volunteer.
CO-PARTNERS OF CAMPESINAS Archer Heinzen
Archer leads Co-partners of Campesinas, an all-volunteer, U.S. nonprofit that has been working
since 1994 with organizations of rural women and youth in El Salvador and Guatemala using a motto of “Learn, earn and lead.” The group gives small grants to partner organizations, and supports them by technical assistance and monitoring via email and phone and an annual visit.
This year, Co-partners aims to fund transportation scholarships in Guatemala and El Salvador. In rural areas of both countries, schools go only through 6th grade, and parents must pay expensive transportation costs for children to continue their education in centrally located schools. The local associations will select high achieving and motivated students whose families are unable to pay for them to continue school without this transportation aid. The grading system in El Salvador and Guatemala is on a scale of 1-10. To be awarded a scholarship, students must have an average of seven; and to continue to receive the scholarship, must maintain an average of seven.
DREAM PROJECT Emma Violand-Sanchez
The Dream Project serves scholars from 20 countries whose immigration status creates barriers to higher education. It provides emergency funds, coaching, counseling, and computer funds. The need for Dream Project services increases because in Virginia there are about 5,000 high school graduates who are undocumented. In 2023 the Dream Project increased the amount of scholarship to $3,500. Since 2012, the Dream Project has invested in more than 700 students through their college careers. It has a 90% retention rate. This year the Dream Project will also award three scholarships to students who will benefit from a Career/Technical certificate. Emma recommends NOVA’s continued support for the Dream Project. Both she and Meg Tuccillo participate actively as board members.
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 secondary education by providing for their school fees and school supplies, and helping them to overcome obstacles, i.e. the need for shoes, feminine hygiene products, etc. that would keep them from attending school. Nancy serves on the board and is in regular contact with ETG's onsite representative, who is in contact with each girl and each girl's teachers and who distributes the ETG funds. Nancy also conducts basket sales and seeks donations through an annual end-of-year appeal letter, and she manages all the administrative tasks associated with a 501(c)(3) organization. Over the next six years, Nancy expects the level of support needed from NOVA to decline as the girls in the program complete their education.
ELDERS CLIMATE ACTION Gloria Mog
This innovative and energetic organization responds to the increased consciousness about how much of a social justice issue the climate emergency is. Also, it has a new initiative to bring AARP with its 38 million members into the climate education issue and another initiative to partner more actively with youth-oriented climate organizations. Gloria founded the Virginia Chapter of ECA in 2022 and continues to coordinate its leaders. Several NOVA members are very involved in ECA's work through the chapter.
EMMAH’S GARDEN – KENYA Clyde Christofferson
The project was formed to help a village of about 2,300 people, mostly farmers, in Nyandoche Ibere in western Kenya. The concept is not to provide assistance from the outside but for the villagers themselves to own the project. The initial focus on providing clean water has expanded to support what are now five kitchen gardens. Emmah, who has a degree in agribusiness, and her brother Alloys organized the first four groups of about 10 (mostly) women, providing each group with land to learn and practice better farming techniques. A fifth group has organized on its own. A high-capacity water filter system installed at the high school is working well. In the coming year, the project will continue to train the kitchen garden groups in intensive but small-scale techniques. This training is being developed with help from an expert at the local extension service as we build toward the productivity being modeled by Neversink Farm. Clyde serve on the board, which meets weekly.
GREENWELL John Tarrant
Greenwell Foundation is expanding its veterans program in Greenwell State Park in Hollywood, Md., to include intensive weekends for veterans having issues caused by their service. The equestrian program for kids and adults as well as nature programs with kids from the public schools will continue. John is NOVA’s liaison to this project.
HOMELESS RETREAT PROJECT John Mooney
This project, the Ignatian Spirituality Project retreats for homeless persons in recovery, offers four retreats/year and weekly and monthly follow-up spiritual accompaniment to about 400 homeless brothers since its start in 2008. NOVA’s donation helps cover the cost of one retreat. John Mooney has served on the ISP leadership team since its start and helps facilitate two retreats/year.
JUST NEIGHBORS CLIENT ASSISTANCE FUND Joe Keyes
This fund directly helps very low-income immigrant families pay fees needed to successfully apply for legal status. These required expenses (USCIS application fees, medical exams, country-expert reports needed seekers, court documents, etc.) often stand in the way of a family’s ability to obtain a green card, citizenship or work permit. As prices of food and basic necessities continue to rise, Just Neighbors has seen it become harder for families to pay these fees. Part of the NOVA grant went to helping a family from Cuba (mom, dad and two children) who were eligible for green cards but needed funds to pay $3,950 in filing fees or risk deportation. These family members were among 1,167 clients served in 2023. NOVA is one of the only groups that provides funds for these fees for Just Neighbors clients. Joe no longer serves on the board but continues to meet with the group’s leaders on governance issues and was one of three recipients of the group’s Torchbearer Award in 2023.
LITTLE FRIENDS FOR PEACE Scott Spaine
NOVA’s support has helped Little Friends for Peace run its virtual Peace Academy every Friday on Zoom, where women and children experience, learn and practice the tools of peacebuilding. Scott joins in the teaching. Mental health has improved in many ways, including better self-esteem, solving problems nonviolently and better attitudes toward daily life. Overall, the violence has decreased. A big plus is helping the women get sewing machines and giving them something to do that is full of learning, productive and helping them achieve goals. Victor, one of the site leaders, is trying to get a place to meet in the refugee camp. Daniel, another site leader, would like to bring the Peace Academy to the schools in Uganda and help the teachers get equipped with nonviolent tools for resolving conflict and ways to discipline the children.
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. The school is up and running and expanding its facility. Eric receives periodic updates from Pete Henriot.
NETWORK ADVOCATES FOR CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE Pat Sodo
Network is a known presence and a voice on Capitol Hill. The religious and lay staffs are engaged in/have had success at molding federal legislation and policies that reflect the teachings of Catholic social justice. Pat regularly updates NOVA on Network’s work and alerts NOVA members to Network-produced educational materials and workshops. 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.
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. Raquel’s organization, DIA, and the Ramón Vargas Foundation continue to work together to teach at the school and in nearby towns about human rights, the rights of equality and nondiscrimination and the rights of people with disabilities. Raquel requests the increase in funds to help pay for gas for the motorcycle, medicines and transportation to the children’s medical appointments. The school would also like to hire a full-time job person who lives in the community and knows the culture, the exclusion of people with disabilities and the fights between Chontales and Zapotecos, indigenous peoples of Oaxaca.
PATHFORWARD Meg Tuccillo
PathForward is a program of positivity with the goal of not just meeting immediate and emergency needs of the homeless but helping individuals toward permanent housing and long-term support as needed. Meg is chair of PathForward’s Emeritus Council, chair of the 30th anniversary and member of the development committee. NOVA continues to participate in the now annual Mike Timpane Memorial Walkathon to raise funds for PathForward. NOVA has a long association with PathForward, since its founding as A-SPAN in 1993.
SALOMON KLEIN ORPHANAGE Emma Violand-Sanchez
Emma visits the orphanage in Cochabamba, Bolivia, at least once a year. NOVA’s donation has made a significant difference to 150 children, newborn to age 7. Every dollar donated goes directly to supporting children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected. NOVA’s contribution is used to pay the salaries of caregivers. The orphanage also offers a Montessori pre-K program, a full-time kindergarten and a first-grade enrichment and cultural arts program.
STREET SENSE MEDIA CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Tom Clarkson
The program helps the 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 over 66 people secure permanent housing. In 2024, the program, which costs about $90,000 annually, will have no dedicated grant funding and therefore relies on a patchwork of donations from individuals and groups like NOVA. Tom Clarkson, in 2024, will begin serving as sponsor of this NOVA project and will be NOVA’s liaison with Street Sense CEO Brian Carome.
UPPER-NILE ORPHANS CARE ORGANIZATION Scott Spaine
Hand of Hope Community School serves orphaned and very vulnerable children in South Sudan. NOVA member Mary Grace, as president of UOCO, has weekly conversations or interaction with her board or the school’s founder, and occasional interaction with the head teacher at the school. NOVA members Scott and Yaneth Spaine also serve on the board. The school recently received a very large one-time donation, affirming this work. This support will be used to expand the school compound itself, to accommodate 50 children (27 now). However, since that funding is one-time, there is ongoing need to care for the children, and protect and educate them. Board members are also seeking airline mile donations so we can visit the school this summer or next.
VOICE Nancy Veldhuis
Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) is a nonpartisan citizens’ organization of over 50 interfaith and civic institutions in Northern Virginia of which NOVA is a member. VOICE organizes to build power and do justice in middle- and low-income communities in Fairfax, Prince William and Arlington counties and Alexandria City. Nancy and John have participated in numerous internal VOICE planning meetings, and they have attended gatherings at the Arlington County Board and the Alexandria City Council throughout the year in support of changes that dismantled old zoning structures that restricted minority home ownership. A number of NOVA members were particularly involved in the effort in Arlington County. John and Nancy also toured the Alexandria Crisis Evaluation Center with VOICE to see how the emphasis on decriminalization of mental illness and addiction cases are initially responded to.
WEEKEND FOOD PACKS 4 KIDS Cathy Showalter
Crossroads Connection is a community service organization that provides a weekend food program for food-insecure children in the public schools of Gainesville and Haymarket, VA. The goal is to eliminate hunger as an obstruction to classroom learning. The packs contain 15 shelf-stable items. The program serves 350 students in 15 schools, a 17% increase over the previous year. Food insecurity remains acute in the area, and the program would like to expand to 20 schools. The volunteers moved in June to a larger, less expensive facility so that more money can go toward food packs. Cathy feels happy when she can help children in her area.
WOMEN’S ORDINATION FUND Nancy Veldhuis
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. WOC is 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. Nancy follows WOC’s progress throughout the year and brings special events to NOVA's attention through emails.
ZIMBABWE CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP & FOOD PROJECT Pat & Don Sodo
This scholarship project continues to grow with the addition of over 20 new students, bringing the total to over 50. One student, sponsored over four years, has graduated from college. Kuda Munemo has been doing community development work and intends to go to graduate school. This project will continue to sponsor her and one other college student, studying education. Remaining students attend primary and secondary school. A video exchange program suggested by a Temple University professor, is being set up between the Zimbabwe students and Philadelphia public school students. In addition to receiving support provided by NOVA, Don and Pat continue to raise funds separately for student scholarships, now generating over $10,000 from about 60 donors annually. However, food insecurity remains an issue because of unstable economic and environmental conditions. Zimbabwe's rainy season is less predictable than years ago. Drought occurs November through March. As a result, families become dependent on food aid provided by this program through its in-country partner agency, Children in the Wilderness. In 2023, NOVA-donated funds provided more than 1,000 meals in monthly food packages for the families of almost 30 children in the school program. With the student population now exceeding 50 children, the project needs to prepare for increased food security needs. The Sodos will travel to Zimbabwe in July to meet with CITW and visit schools, sponsored children and their families. They will be accompanied by nine friends/donors as they seek to expand awareness and financial commitments to the program. See also Facebook page: Sodo Friends Zimbabwe Scholarship Project.
NOVA’S OWN PROJECTS
RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS Dianne Carroll
The NOVA rental assistance program provides rental assistance on an emergency basis for
families in need in the Arlington Public Schools community. School social workers screen the
requests and send the requests to Dianne on a form designed by NOVA. This NOVA program is vital. No other county or church program in Arlington is able to respond as immediately as NOVA to provide stability to families with a one-time financial need so that they can continue to live in Arlington and their children can stay in school. The challenge for NOVA is that the need has grown exponentially.
MARIE KEEFE AND MARIE PINHO NOVA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY STIPEND Linda and Jack Christie and team
When Marie Pinho died in 2015, she left her estate to NOVA. Several proposals were submitted on how to deal with those considerable funds. This team, including Eric Carroll, Kathy Scheimer, Christina Smith and Meg Tuccillo, proposed creating scholarships in Marie’s name to assist Dreamers in obtaining their college degrees. The proposal was accepted by NOVA. When Marie Keefe died in 2021, her family also wanted to support these scholarships in her name. Students submit applications and if approved, the student receives $300 a month for nine months of a given school year – $2,700 per academic year – to help with incidentals that other scholarships might not cover such as transportation costs, books and school supplies. NOVA usually supports three students full- or part-time per year. Five stipend recipients have successfully graduated from four-year colleges. One (on his own) is pursuing his master's.
OTHER 2024 COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS INVOLVING MONEY
GIFT CARDS PROJECT Dianne Carroll, Markie Harwood
NOVA members donate gift cards or cash for gift cards at the beginning of the school year and
at Christmas. The cards are given to the families of refugees supported by NOVA and to Arlington school social workers who then distribute them to families in need. The school social workers were able to distribute 157 $25 gift cards to families in need in December.
KEN CHAISON FAMILY EMERGENCY FUND Dianne Carroll
This program uses the same application form as the rental assistance program, and applicants are screened by school social workers. Donations have been provided by Ken’s family, friends and NOVA members over the years. These funds are for emergency needs of families that cannot be met in any other way. In 2023, 16 families were assisted with various needs such as payments of electric bills, cab vouchers, and medical bills.
PATHFORWARD HOMELESS WALKATHON Meg Tuccillo
NOVA has participated in a PathForward (formerly A-SPAN) walkathon to assist individuals experiencing homelessness for many years. In spring 2022, we decided to honor the legacy of our own dear Mike Timpane (former A-SPAN board member and longtime supporter) by naming our NOVA walkathon the “Mike Timpane Memorial Walkathon.” We were thrilled to have Gen Timpane and her son Paul participate in the first annual Mike Timpane Memorial Walkathon and hope to continue it for many years to come.
VILLA CANDELARIA SCHOOL, Cochabamba, Bolivia Dianne Carroll
Twenty-two NOVA members sponsor students at this school, which serves age 2 through 6th
grade. Children get a quality education, and low-income families are provided school materials and other items they need. Money is sent to Cochabamba once a year -- $120 for each student sponsored.
COMMUNITY MEMBER COMMITMENTS OF TIME AND RESOURCES
BOOK GROUPS Watch the NOVA Sunday announcements for the groups that are meeting.
CARE FOR CREATION Gloria Mog and team:
Kathy Scheimer, Richard Urban, Carmela Ormando, Rosemarie Annunziata, Scott Spaine, Carolyn Miller, David Mog, Jeanne Clarkson, Cathy Showalter, Markie Harwood, Judy Christofferson and Joe Keyes.
The team was formed in March 2019 in response to the climate crisis and the growing realization that people of faith play an increasingly critical role in the worldwide response to this crisis. The team’s mission:
• Provide education in the NOVA Community around environmental issues and actions needed to make progress on this problem.
• Develop 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.
CHRIST HOUSE EVENING MEAL Tim White
Since the pandemic, in lieu of preparing hot meals every other month, NOVA has been furnishing bagged meals. In speaking with Christ House in December, Tim learned there are no plans to return to sit-down meals any time soon. He recommends NOVA continue serving bagged meals every other month. If sit-down meals are restarted, the community can decide if members are able to resume hot meal preparation.
MY FRIENDS HOUSE INC Teddi Ahrens
Teddi collects needed items for those Eve Birch serves in Martinsburg, West Virginia, including fresh food, blankets, clothes, building materials, sewing materials, paint, craft materials. Eve welcomes helpers to spend a few hours or even overnight to paint, organize, do yard work or other "handy" work.
PRAYER GROUP Bill Meyer
NOVA members meet together to pray for intentions. A Prayer Book is available at liturgy for people to record an intention.
TRINITY NOVA TOGETHER FOR RACIAL JUSTICE Carmela Ormando
Dedicated to conversations, exploration and action toward creating a more racially just and inclusive community, the interfaith and interracial partnership of NOVA and Trinity Episcopal Church enthusiastically begins its ninth year. The third Sacred Ground study group began in January 2023.
WOMEN’S PRISON BOOK PROJECT Pat Sodo
This project, based in Minneapolis, provides books to women across the country who are incarcerated. (Virginia does not have the program in its prisons; however, NOVA was positioned to provide books on a one-time basis in 2023 when Prince William County's Public Defender's Office created a library in the PWC Jail.) NOVA members support WPBP by donating books. Some are traded at a used book store for requested subject matter, and then everything makes its way to WPBP as books or cash. The project is self-sustaining and beneficial to both NOVA members and WPBP.
OTHER COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS INVOLVING MONEY
COMMUNITY MEMBER COMMITMENTS OF TIME AND RESOURCES
2024
In January, NOVA held its annual Social Justice Meeting to decide on the projects for our regular commitments for the year. We began the meeting with these words
from our co-chair Joe Keyes:
“We acknowledge with gratitude our community’s ability to make generous financial commitments to organizations – and to NOVA’s own projects – on a yearly basis. We also acknowledge individual members’ separate donations throughout the year to further support NOVA’s own projects, such as the rental assistance program and the Dreamer’s stipend scholarship program, outside these regular commitments. And we acknowledge members’ generous responses to special collections as needs and crises arise. …
“We are confident that we can approach these matters in a spirit of generosity and compassion, and with a sense of gratitude for the marvelous gifts we have been given to share. We have been admonished to give from our substance not merely our surplus, but I am confident that we are so overflowing with blessings that our generous response will not cut deeply into our own well being.”
The projects, as approved by acclamation, are listed below. The money will be distributed to these projects in two payments – in January and July. 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 SPONSOR
ACTION AFRICA Jeanne Clarkson
Action Africa is active in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the DC-Maryland-Virginia region. The education project in Nigeria has established a remote teaching capability. Digital whiteboards have been installed in many of the villages, which are connected to the internet. Classes can either be live or recorded. Teaching aides are hired in each village to set up equipment and promote an environment conducive to learning. Work in the DMV especially targets the needs of new immigrants, including their housing and medical needs. Particularly successful has been a food distribution program through which Action Africa and its partners currently transport more than 300 boxes of food each week to its distribution sites throughout the DMV, up from 25 boxes at the end of 2020. These supplies are donated through various warehouse and grocery channels such as Trader Joes, Safeway, Giant, Wegmans, Whole Foods and local bakeries. Action Africa’s ability to receive more, pick up more and share more has been limited by not having adequate means for picking up and transporting goods to its distribution sites. It is looking for funding to purchase a used box truck, estimated to cost $7,500, to be able to make regular and sizable pick-ups. Jeanne is NOVA’s liaison with Chris Egbulem, founder of Action Africa and a long-time NOVA member serving in the Padre Cadre.
AFAC Dianne Carroll
Arlington Food Assistance Center distributes groceries to families in need every week, allowing
families to devote their limited financial resources to obligations such as housing, utilities,
medication and other basic needs. Those served are elderly residents, families and individuals with disabilities. The numbers of those who are food-insecure are increasing. Some clients work at low-wage jobs, others are unemployed, others have applied for assistance but are not eligible for food stamps. Families’ child care costs and rent leave little left for food. AFAC operates under the Choice Model to give clients as much choice as possible and is committed to distributing as much nutritious food as possible. AFAC relies on volunteers, over 40,000 hours annually, and generous donations of food and money from the Arlington community. Dianne oversees NOVA donations of food each week – more than 6,000 pounds in 2023 – primarily cereal but also other non-perishables.
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 decisionmakers. BFW Institute seeks justice for hungry people by engaging in research and education on policies related to hunger and development. Peggy does not actively participate in Bread for the World. Her motivation to support this organization is that Jesus told us to feed the hungry, and more and more people are suffering from hunger.
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 and in poverty. Three years ago, Bridges merged with the Bonder
and Amanda Johnson Community Development Corp, a small nonprofit that
serves the Nauck community of Arlington. One of Bridges’ signal accomplishments has
been the integration of the two operations and the development and expansion of a
community services center in Nauck. Aside from Sullivan House, Bridges has moved all
of its operations to this community services center. With the addition of these services,
Bridges doubled the size of its youth development program. With schools open, employment of clients has improved substantially. Three of four adults in the Workforce Development program maintained or increased their income last year. NOVA was one of the original founding congregations of Bridges (then Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless.) Kopp talks with the staff at Bridges occasionally during the year and passes on to NOVA opportunities to donate and to volunteer.
CO-PARTNERS OF CAMPESINAS Archer Heinzen
Archer leads Co-partners of Campesinas, an all-volunteer, U.S. nonprofit that has been working
since 1994 with organizations of rural women and youth in El Salvador and Guatemala using a motto of “Learn, earn and lead.” The group gives small grants to partner organizations, and supports them by technical assistance and monitoring via email and phone and an annual visit.
This year, Co-partners aims to fund transportation scholarships in Guatemala and El Salvador. In rural areas of both countries, schools go only through 6th grade, and parents must pay expensive transportation costs for children to continue their education in centrally located schools. The local associations will select high achieving and motivated students whose families are unable to pay for them to continue school without this transportation aid. The grading system in El Salvador and Guatemala is on a scale of 1-10. To be awarded a scholarship, students must have an average of seven; and to continue to receive the scholarship, must maintain an average of seven.
DREAM PROJECT Emma Violand-Sanchez
The Dream Project serves scholars from 20 countries whose immigration status creates barriers to higher education. It provides emergency funds, coaching, counseling, and computer funds. The need for Dream Project services increases because in Virginia there are about 5,000 high school graduates who are undocumented. In 2023 the Dream Project increased the amount of scholarship to $3,500. Since 2012, the Dream Project has invested in more than 700 students through their college careers. It has a 90% retention rate. This year the Dream Project will also award three scholarships to students who will benefit from a Career/Technical certificate. Emma recommends NOVA’s continued support for the Dream Project. Both she and Meg Tuccillo participate actively as board members.
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 secondary education by providing for their school fees and school supplies, and helping them to overcome obstacles, i.e. the need for shoes, feminine hygiene products, etc. that would keep them from attending school. Nancy serves on the board and is in regular contact with ETG's onsite representative, who is in contact with each girl and each girl's teachers and who distributes the ETG funds. Nancy also conducts basket sales and seeks donations through an annual end-of-year appeal letter, and she manages all the administrative tasks associated with a 501(c)(3) organization. Over the next six years, Nancy expects the level of support needed from NOVA to decline as the girls in the program complete their education.
ELDERS CLIMATE ACTION Gloria Mog
This innovative and energetic organization responds to the increased consciousness about how much of a social justice issue the climate emergency is. Also, it has a new initiative to bring AARP with its 38 million members into the climate education issue and another initiative to partner more actively with youth-oriented climate organizations. Gloria founded the Virginia Chapter of ECA in 2022 and continues to coordinate its leaders. Several NOVA members are very involved in ECA's work through the chapter.
EMMAH’S GARDEN – KENYA Clyde Christofferson
The project was formed to help a village of about 2,300 people, mostly farmers, in Nyandoche Ibere in western Kenya. The concept is not to provide assistance from the outside but for the villagers themselves to own the project. The initial focus on providing clean water has expanded to support what are now five kitchen gardens. Emmah, who has a degree in agribusiness, and her brother Alloys organized the first four groups of about 10 (mostly) women, providing each group with land to learn and practice better farming techniques. A fifth group has organized on its own. A high-capacity water filter system installed at the high school is working well. In the coming year, the project will continue to train the kitchen garden groups in intensive but small-scale techniques. This training is being developed with help from an expert at the local extension service as we build toward the productivity being modeled by Neversink Farm. Clyde serve on the board, which meets weekly.
GREENWELL John Tarrant
Greenwell Foundation is expanding its veterans program in Greenwell State Park in Hollywood, Md., to include intensive weekends for veterans having issues caused by their service. The equestrian program for kids and adults as well as nature programs with kids from the public schools will continue. John is NOVA’s liaison to this project.
HOMELESS RETREAT PROJECT John Mooney
This project, the Ignatian Spirituality Project retreats for homeless persons in recovery, offers four retreats/year and weekly and monthly follow-up spiritual accompaniment to about 400 homeless brothers since its start in 2008. NOVA’s donation helps cover the cost of one retreat. John Mooney has served on the ISP leadership team since its start and helps facilitate two retreats/year.
JUST NEIGHBORS CLIENT ASSISTANCE FUND Joe Keyes
This fund directly helps very low-income immigrant families pay fees needed to successfully apply for legal status. These required expenses (USCIS application fees, medical exams, country-expert reports needed seekers, court documents, etc.) often stand in the way of a family’s ability to obtain a green card, citizenship or work permit. As prices of food and basic necessities continue to rise, Just Neighbors has seen it become harder for families to pay these fees. Part of the NOVA grant went to helping a family from Cuba (mom, dad and two children) who were eligible for green cards but needed funds to pay $3,950 in filing fees or risk deportation. These family members were among 1,167 clients served in 2023. NOVA is one of the only groups that provides funds for these fees for Just Neighbors clients. Joe no longer serves on the board but continues to meet with the group’s leaders on governance issues and was one of three recipients of the group’s Torchbearer Award in 2023.
LITTLE FRIENDS FOR PEACE Scott Spaine
NOVA’s support has helped Little Friends for Peace run its virtual Peace Academy every Friday on Zoom, where women and children experience, learn and practice the tools of peacebuilding. Scott joins in the teaching. Mental health has improved in many ways, including better self-esteem, solving problems nonviolently and better attitudes toward daily life. Overall, the violence has decreased. A big plus is helping the women get sewing machines and giving them something to do that is full of learning, productive and helping them achieve goals. Victor, one of the site leaders, is trying to get a place to meet in the refugee camp. Daniel, another site leader, would like to bring the Peace Academy to the schools in Uganda and help the teachers get equipped with nonviolent tools for resolving conflict and ways to discipline the children.
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. The school is up and running and expanding its facility. Eric receives periodic updates from Pete Henriot.
NETWORK ADVOCATES FOR CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE Pat Sodo
Network is a known presence and a voice on Capitol Hill. The religious and lay staffs are engaged in/have had success at molding federal legislation and policies that reflect the teachings of Catholic social justice. Pat regularly updates NOVA on Network’s work and alerts NOVA members to Network-produced educational materials and workshops. 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.
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. Raquel’s organization, DIA, and the Ramón Vargas Foundation continue to work together to teach at the school and in nearby towns about human rights, the rights of equality and nondiscrimination and the rights of people with disabilities. Raquel requests the increase in funds to help pay for gas for the motorcycle, medicines and transportation to the children’s medical appointments. The school would also like to hire a full-time job person who lives in the community and knows the culture, the exclusion of people with disabilities and the fights between Chontales and Zapotecos, indigenous peoples of Oaxaca.
PATHFORWARD Meg Tuccillo
PathForward is a program of positivity with the goal of not just meeting immediate and emergency needs of the homeless but helping individuals toward permanent housing and long-term support as needed. Meg is chair of PathForward’s Emeritus Council, chair of the 30th anniversary and member of the development committee. NOVA continues to participate in the now annual Mike Timpane Memorial Walkathon to raise funds for PathForward. NOVA has a long association with PathForward, since its founding as A-SPAN in 1993.
SALOMON KLEIN ORPHANAGE Emma Violand-Sanchez
Emma visits the orphanage in Cochabamba, Bolivia, at least once a year. NOVA’s donation has made a significant difference to 150 children, newborn to age 7. Every dollar donated goes directly to supporting children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected. NOVA’s contribution is used to pay the salaries of caregivers. The orphanage also offers a Montessori pre-K program, a full-time kindergarten and a first-grade enrichment and cultural arts program.
STREET SENSE MEDIA CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Tom Clarkson
The program helps the 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 over 66 people secure permanent housing. In 2024, the program, which costs about $90,000 annually, will have no dedicated grant funding and therefore relies on a patchwork of donations from individuals and groups like NOVA. Tom Clarkson, in 2024, will begin serving as sponsor of this NOVA project and will be NOVA’s liaison with Street Sense CEO Brian Carome.
UPPER-NILE ORPHANS CARE ORGANIZATION Scott Spaine
Hand of Hope Community School serves orphaned and very vulnerable children in South Sudan. NOVA member Mary Grace, as president of UOCO, has weekly conversations or interaction with her board or the school’s founder, and occasional interaction with the head teacher at the school. NOVA members Scott and Yaneth Spaine also serve on the board. The school recently received a very large one-time donation, affirming this work. This support will be used to expand the school compound itself, to accommodate 50 children (27 now). However, since that funding is one-time, there is ongoing need to care for the children, and protect and educate them. Board members are also seeking airline mile donations so we can visit the school this summer or next.
VOICE Nancy Veldhuis
Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) is a nonpartisan citizens’ organization of over 50 interfaith and civic institutions in Northern Virginia of which NOVA is a member. VOICE organizes to build power and do justice in middle- and low-income communities in Fairfax, Prince William and Arlington counties and Alexandria City. Nancy and John have participated in numerous internal VOICE planning meetings, and they have attended gatherings at the Arlington County Board and the Alexandria City Council throughout the year in support of changes that dismantled old zoning structures that restricted minority home ownership. A number of NOVA members were particularly involved in the effort in Arlington County. John and Nancy also toured the Alexandria Crisis Evaluation Center with VOICE to see how the emphasis on decriminalization of mental illness and addiction cases are initially responded to.
WEEKEND FOOD PACKS 4 KIDS Cathy Showalter
Crossroads Connection is a community service organization that provides a weekend food program for food-insecure children in the public schools of Gainesville and Haymarket, VA. The goal is to eliminate hunger as an obstruction to classroom learning. The packs contain 15 shelf-stable items. The program serves 350 students in 15 schools, a 17% increase over the previous year. Food insecurity remains acute in the area, and the program would like to expand to 20 schools. The volunteers moved in June to a larger, less expensive facility so that more money can go toward food packs. Cathy feels happy when she can help children in her area.
WOMEN’S ORDINATION FUND Nancy Veldhuis
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. WOC is 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. Nancy follows WOC’s progress throughout the year and brings special events to NOVA's attention through emails.
ZIMBABWE CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP & FOOD PROJECT Pat & Don Sodo
This scholarship project continues to grow with the addition of over 20 new students, bringing the total to over 50. One student, sponsored over four years, has graduated from college. Kuda Munemo has been doing community development work and intends to go to graduate school. This project will continue to sponsor her and one other college student, studying education. Remaining students attend primary and secondary school. A video exchange program suggested by a Temple University professor, is being set up between the Zimbabwe students and Philadelphia public school students. In addition to receiving support provided by NOVA, Don and Pat continue to raise funds separately for student scholarships, now generating over $10,000 from about 60 donors annually. However, food insecurity remains an issue because of unstable economic and environmental conditions. Zimbabwe's rainy season is less predictable than years ago. Drought occurs November through March. As a result, families become dependent on food aid provided by this program through its in-country partner agency, Children in the Wilderness. In 2023, NOVA-donated funds provided more than 1,000 meals in monthly food packages for the families of almost 30 children in the school program. With the student population now exceeding 50 children, the project needs to prepare for increased food security needs. The Sodos will travel to Zimbabwe in July to meet with CITW and visit schools, sponsored children and their families. They will be accompanied by nine friends/donors as they seek to expand awareness and financial commitments to the program. See also Facebook page: Sodo Friends Zimbabwe Scholarship Project.
NOVA’S OWN PROJECTS
RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS Dianne Carroll
The NOVA rental assistance program provides rental assistance on an emergency basis for
families in need in the Arlington Public Schools community. School social workers screen the
requests and send the requests to Dianne on a form designed by NOVA. This NOVA program is vital. No other county or church program in Arlington is able to respond as immediately as NOVA to provide stability to families with a one-time financial need so that they can continue to live in Arlington and their children can stay in school. The challenge for NOVA is that the need has grown exponentially.
MARIE KEEFE AND MARIE PINHO NOVA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY STIPEND Linda and Jack Christie and team
When Marie Pinho died in 2015, she left her estate to NOVA. Several proposals were submitted on how to deal with those considerable funds. This team, including Eric Carroll, Kathy Scheimer, Christina Smith and Meg Tuccillo, proposed creating scholarships in Marie’s name to assist Dreamers in obtaining their college degrees. The proposal was accepted by NOVA. When Marie Keefe died in 2021, her family also wanted to support these scholarships in her name. Students submit applications and if approved, the student receives $300 a month for nine months of a given school year – $2,700 per academic year – to help with incidentals that other scholarships might not cover such as transportation costs, books and school supplies. NOVA usually supports three students full- or part-time per year. Five stipend recipients have successfully graduated from four-year colleges. One (on his own) is pursuing his master's.
OTHER 2024 COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS INVOLVING MONEY
GIFT CARDS PROJECT Dianne Carroll, Markie Harwood
NOVA members donate gift cards or cash for gift cards at the beginning of the school year and
at Christmas. The cards are given to the families of refugees supported by NOVA and to Arlington school social workers who then distribute them to families in need. The school social workers were able to distribute 157 $25 gift cards to families in need in December.
KEN CHAISON FAMILY EMERGENCY FUND Dianne Carroll
This program uses the same application form as the rental assistance program, and applicants are screened by school social workers. Donations have been provided by Ken’s family, friends and NOVA members over the years. These funds are for emergency needs of families that cannot be met in any other way. In 2023, 16 families were assisted with various needs such as payments of electric bills, cab vouchers, and medical bills.
PATHFORWARD HOMELESS WALKATHON Meg Tuccillo
NOVA has participated in a PathForward (formerly A-SPAN) walkathon to assist individuals experiencing homelessness for many years. In spring 2022, we decided to honor the legacy of our own dear Mike Timpane (former A-SPAN board member and longtime supporter) by naming our NOVA walkathon the “Mike Timpane Memorial Walkathon.” We were thrilled to have Gen Timpane and her son Paul participate in the first annual Mike Timpane Memorial Walkathon and hope to continue it for many years to come.
VILLA CANDELARIA SCHOOL, Cochabamba, Bolivia Dianne Carroll
Twenty-two NOVA members sponsor students at this school, which serves age 2 through 6th
grade. Children get a quality education, and low-income families are provided school materials and other items they need. Money is sent to Cochabamba once a year -- $120 for each student sponsored.
COMMUNITY MEMBER COMMITMENTS OF TIME AND RESOURCES
BOOK GROUPS Watch the NOVA Sunday announcements for the groups that are meeting.
CARE FOR CREATION Gloria Mog and team:
Kathy Scheimer, Richard Urban, Carmela Ormando, Rosemarie Annunziata, Scott Spaine, Carolyn Miller, David Mog, Jeanne Clarkson, Cathy Showalter, Markie Harwood, Judy Christofferson and Joe Keyes.
The team was formed in March 2019 in response to the climate crisis and the growing realization that people of faith play an increasingly critical role in the worldwide response to this crisis. The team’s mission:
• Provide education in the NOVA Community around environmental issues and actions needed to make progress on this problem.
• Develop 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.
CHRIST HOUSE EVENING MEAL Tim White
Since the pandemic, in lieu of preparing hot meals every other month, NOVA has been furnishing bagged meals. In speaking with Christ House in December, Tim learned there are no plans to return to sit-down meals any time soon. He recommends NOVA continue serving bagged meals every other month. If sit-down meals are restarted, the community can decide if members are able to resume hot meal preparation.
MY FRIENDS HOUSE INC Teddi Ahrens
Teddi collects needed items for those Eve Birch serves in Martinsburg, West Virginia, including fresh food, blankets, clothes, building materials, sewing materials, paint, craft materials. Eve welcomes helpers to spend a few hours or even overnight to paint, organize, do yard work or other "handy" work.
PRAYER GROUP Bill Meyer
NOVA members meet together to pray for intentions. A Prayer Book is available at liturgy for people to record an intention.
TRINITY NOVA TOGETHER FOR RACIAL JUSTICE Carmela Ormando
Dedicated to conversations, exploration and action toward creating a more racially just and inclusive community, the interfaith and interracial partnership of NOVA and Trinity Episcopal Church enthusiastically begins its ninth year. The third Sacred Ground study group began in January 2023.
WOMEN’S PRISON BOOK PROJECT Pat Sodo
This project, based in Minneapolis, provides books to women across the country who are incarcerated. (Virginia does not have the program in its prisons; however, NOVA was positioned to provide books on a one-time basis in 2023 when Prince William County's Public Defender's Office created a library in the PWC Jail.) NOVA members support WPBP by donating books. Some are traded at a used book store for requested subject matter, and then everything makes its way to WPBP as books or cash. The project is self-sustaining and beneficial to both NOVA members and WPBP.