Mercy ministry

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Mission Statement

The mission of Timber Lane Elementary School (TLES) is to ensure that all students are respectful and responsible leaders who are collaborative, resilient and skilled problem solvers. Timber Lane Elementary School is committed to increasing the emotional well-being and academic achievement of all students through the inclusive school model. Timber Lane views its diversity as a unique opportunity that enriches and broadens the educational experiences of all learners.

Location  

2737 West St
Falls Church, VA 22046  

Why We Care

Timber Lane Elementary School is a Title I school of the Fairfax County Public School System. Being a Title I school means that the majority (57%) of the children at TLES qualify for free or reduced meals. This means the majority of the children (and families) of TLES live at or below the federal poverty line. While children and families living within these financial means can usually afford housing, they often struggle with something known as "food security." Food security is the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable and nutritious foods. In other words, children and families of TLES often do not know when their next meal will be, or if there will be a next meal available to them. In addition, many families struggle with transportation needs as they do not have access to personal vehicles. 

How We Help

• Teacher Morale Drive (March)
  • Hand-written notes
  • Goodie bags that include snacks, bars, and gift cards 
  • Providing breakfast/lunch
• Spring Break Grocery Store Gift Card Drive (April)
• Providing snacks for students during SOL testing week (April)
• Supplementing any school supplies needed during the school year 
• Thanksgiving Break Grocery Store Gift Card Drive (November)  
• Meeting any urgent needs that come up for students/families throughout the school year 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Falls Church Homeless Shelter, Inc. is to better the lives of single adults who are experiencing homelessness in the Falls Church area by providing temporary shelter and other services, and assisting these individuals to access permanent affordable housing and/or services needed to maintain a stable housing environment.

Location

217 Gordon Road
Falls Church, VA 22046  

Why We Care

FCHS addresses the critical need for emergency housing for the homeless community during the cold winter months. The shelter provides warm beds, meals, and counseling to homeless adults from mid November through March. Shelter staff provide intake and crisis counseling to residents, and also offer year round case management for its residents. Staff also advise shelter residents on various social services available through the city and county.

How We Help 

• Provide dinners for shelter residents (coordinated through our Family Groups)
• Provide winter gear and shelter supplies as needed 
• Provide residents holiday meals (Christmas, Easter) when such opportunities arise
• Help set up and clean the shelter prior to its open season (through our Student Ministry)
• Church members may serve as volunteer staff at the shelter 

Mission Statement

“Empowering Families in Crisis to Rebuild Lives”: The mission of Homestretch is to empower homeless families with children living in Virginia to attain permanent housing and self-sufficiency by giving them the skills, knowledge, and hope they need to become productive participants in the community. Since 1990, Homestretch has assisted over 2,000 families to achieve stability and self-sufficiency. 

Location

303 South Maple Avenue
Falls Church, VA 22046  

Why We Care

Homestretch is designed to address the root causes of homelessness for each family and reverse it. Many of its clients arrive in fervent despair. Many are fleeing for their lives from domestic abuse. Many are trapped in the cycle of poverty. All of the clients have children under the age of 18.

Homestretch is one of the few programs in the country with the comprehensive services needed to wrap-around each family and help them address various and complex issues in hopes of aiding them to pursue permanent change for their lives. Homestretch families are able to achieve transformational change because they have, perhaps for the first time, the chance to address every problem in their lives with sufficient support to make swift and lasting progress.

How We Help 

• Household Supplies Drive (February/September)
• Homestretch Benefit Breakfast (May)
• Back-to-School Clothing Drive (July/August)
• Holiday Adoption Drive (November/December)
• Provide financial assistance for medical/transportation/educational needs
• Provide assistance to Kidstretch (Homestretch’s preschool and childcare center) including supplies, back to school kits 
• Provide financial assistance as needed for urgent client needs
• Provide financial assistance with schooling/professional certification programs, etc. 

Mission Statement

The newly merged Sanctity of Life Ministries (SLM) - Mosaic Virginia exists to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and affirm life in the womb. They fulfill this mission by offering compassionate support, education, and medical services to those facing unplanned crisis pregnancies, and who desire to choose life for their unborn children. SLM-Mosaic Virginia seeks to present “Life in Christ…Life in the Womb” to the many women who come to its centers.

Location

NOVA Pregnancy Help Center of Fairfax/SLM Main Offices 

3919 Blenheim Blvd, Suite 81-B
Fairfax, VA 22030   

NOVA Pregnancy Help Center of Alexandria 

8800-E Pear Tree Village Ct.  
Alexandria, VA 22309 

Mosaic Herndon

505 Huntmar Park Dr #115 

Herndon, VA 20170

Mosaic Landsowne

19415 Deerfield Ave #109 

Lansdowne, VA 20176

Why We Care

SLM - Mosaic Virginia assists over 1,500 women each year through their four centers by providing free pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, peer counseling done by trained volunteers, post abortion counseling through an eight-week Bible study, classes that prepare women for birth and parenting, and a Mosaic House maternity home. As followers of Christ, we believe all life is precious and bear the image of God. We desire to support all families who wish to birth and care for their children. 

How We Help 

• Fellowship Banquet (fundraising event) (April)
• Mother’s Day Diaper Drive (May)
• Silent Auction (fundraising event) donations within the congregation
• Yearly donation to the Critical Care Fund to provide emergency assistance to mothers in need
• Partnership via 15 month follow-up program providing meals and rides
• Provide needed supplies for Earn While You Learn Program 
• Provide Blessing Bags to mothers who enter SLM-Mosaic Virginia for the first time

Mission Statement

Project Belong inspires, recruits, and resources the local church to care for vulnerable children with the love of Christ. 

Why We Care

Project Belong seeks to build a network of local churches in the NoVa area who are inspired and resourced to enter into the work of caring for vulnerable children and their families. This is mainly through the foster care system but also includes families caring for children through adoption and kinship placements. Project Belong seeks to come alongside local churches to provide them with resources, guidance, and support along the way. One of Project Belong’s main programs is to help churches in their network establish their own Family Advocacy Ministry which form Care Communities to support helping families (adoptive, foster, kinship, respite). This ministry provides tangible support to families within and outside of their churches who are currently fostering or adopting, with the understanding that this is difficult work and much support is needed for the thriving of all involved. Additionally, Project Belong seeks to provide long term mentorship to aging out youth from the foster care system through their Don’t Go Alone Program. Project Belong also believes that caring for the betterment of vulnerable children and families involves also providing support for those working within the foster care system. They do this through their Social Stars Program.  

How We Help 

• NewCity’s Family Advocacy Ministry (FAM) provides Care Communities (wrap-around care) around foster/kinship families and other vulnerable families in the community 
• Church members become long term mentors for aging-out youth through the Don’t Go Alone Program 
• Church members may participate in Social Stars Program