Arlington County Council of PTAs (CCPTA) today announced the official launch of Fill the Break: The 2026 Arlington CCPTA Food Security Challenge. Running from September 16 through December 12, 2026, this countywide initiative aims to bridge the nutrition gap for Arlington Public Schools (APS) students during weekends, holidays, snow days, and extended school breaks when school-provided meals are unavailable.
To seed the effort, CCPTA membership has directly committed $2,000 from its central fund. Through the &ldquo;Fill the Break&rdquo; campaign, CCPTA is inviting local families, neighborhood businesses, civic organizations, and community members to match &ndash; and exceed &ndash; this initial investment.
The fundraiser incorporates a friendly competition between APS school PTAs &ndash; the one that raises the most money will win an award, as will the school PTA that earns the most individual donations!
All funds raised through the campaign directly support the newly established CCPTA Fill the Break Food Security Grant Fund. Member PTA and PTSAs across Arlington will be eligible to apply for micro-grants to finance localized food initiatives, such as emergency &ldquo;Snow Day Packs,&rdquo; weekend pantry drives, and grocery gift card distributions. Make sure to select your school&rsquo;s PTA to receive credit for your donation, whether you donate online or by check!
Donations may be made online at <a href="https://www.givebacks.com/causes/arlington-ccpta/campaigns/arlingtonccpta" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.givebacks.com/causes/arlington-ccpta/campaigns/arlingtonccpta</a>
Checks may be mailed to: Arlington CCPTA, Attn: Food Security, 2110 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22204
*Please write the name of the APS school PTA you want to get credit on the memo line

Arlington County

Michael O'Connell

Washington Metropolitan Area

Arlington

Virginia

CCPTA Launches "Fill the Break" Out-of-School...

Arlington County Council of PTAs (CCPTA) today announced the official launch of Fill the Break: The 2026 Arlington CCPTA Food Security Challenge....

CCPTA Launches "Fill the Break" Out-of-School Food Security Fundraiser!

Arlington, VA. September 29th,2026 &ndash;<a href="https://www.codeninjas.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Code Ninjas</a>, the nation&rsquo;s largest kids coding franchise, recently opened its newest Arlington location with a soft opening in June. Located at 2499 North Harrison Street, the center helps children ages 5-14 build coding, robotics, and AI skills through interactive, game-based learning. The program offers a fun, safe environment where kids can explore technology, develop problem-solving skills, and gain confidence along the way. 
To celebrate the grand opening, Code Ninjas of Arlington will host a celebratory event on Saturday, October 10. The celebration will kick off at 11:00 a.m. &ndash; 2:00 p.m., with the ribbon cutting at 12:00 pm. After the ribbon-cutting, food and refreshments will be served while guests can explore fun, interactive STEM stations and a tour of the facility. 
Following the grand opening celebration, Code Ninjas of Arlington will host a free community Hackathon on Saturday, October 17 in partnership with <a href="https://cmn.org/hospital/childrens-national-hospital/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Children&rsquo;s National Hospital</a>, the Washington metro area&rsquo;s local Children&rsquo;s Miracle Network Hospital. The events are free to attend, with donations encouraged to benefit Children&rsquo;s National Hospital.
Meet the Local Owner
Code Ninjas of Arlington is locally owned by Ramon Reyes, whose daughter spent five years at Code Ninjas, where he watched her grow from a curious beginner into a confident, capable coder. Her transformation, not just in technical skill, but in confidence and problem-solving, left a lasting impression on Reyes and became the driving force behind his decision to bring that same experience to other families in the community.
Reyes, who holds a master's degree in business administration and computer science and has worked in the tech industry for over three decades, has long dreamed of owning his own business. As a father of three with another child on the way, Reyes decided to explore his dream of entrepreneurship to build something for his family. Combining his skills in computer science and business with the inspiration he found in his daughter's journey, Reyes discovered Code Ninjas and will be opening another location in McLean in the future.
"Seeing my daughter's confidence and problem-solving skills improve with Code Ninjas showed me exactly what this kind of education can do for a child," says Reyes. "I wanted to bring that same opportunity to other families here in Arlington, and to help kids in our community build the skills and confidence they'll need for the future."
Empowering the Next Generation of Coders 
Designed to make STEM education both accessible and engaging, Code Ninjas helps children ages 5&ndash;14 build practical skills in coding, robotics and AI through interactive, game-based programs. Accredited by the <a href="https://iste.org/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">International Society for Technology in Education</a> (ISTE), the curriculum is modeled after martial arts, guiding students through nine belt levels&mdash;from white to black&mdash;as they progress.
Families can choose from a range of programs tailored to different ages and skill levels, from early learning in Code Ninjas JR to the CREATE program, where kids build their own video games. Students explore coding through platforms like Minecraft and Roblox, as well as robotics and AI, turning screen time into skill-building time.
While the program is self-paced, students are supported by trained instructors, known as Code Senseis, and collaborate with peers in a fun, encouraging environment. Milestones like &ldquo;Belt-Up&rdquo; celebrations keep students motivated, and by the end of the program, each child will have created and published their own app, building real-world skills and confidence along the way.
Code Ninjas Arlington offers flexible weeknight drop-in sessions, weekend camps, and Parents Night Out events. To learn more about programs, please visit <a href="https://www.codeninjas.com/locations/en-us/va/arlington/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.codeninjas.com/locations/en-us/va/arlington/</a>or call (703) 424-9134. For more information on the Hackathon event, please visit <a href="https://members.codeninjas.com/e/?uuid=3addac4a-eca3-410b-aa67-7bb196ed026e" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://members.codeninjas.com/e/?uuid=3addac4a-eca3-410b-aa67-7bb196ed026e</a>

Inspired by His Daughter, Arlington Dad Brings...

Arlington, VA. September 29th,2026 –Code Ninjas, the nation’s largest kids coding franchise, recently opened its newest Arlington location with a...

Inspired by His Daughter, Arlington Dad Brings Code Ninjas to town October 10

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Sign the Petition: Stop the Arlington Deer Kill...

Please sign, comment, and share the petition: Stop the Arlington Deer Kill Program Now!For more information on Non-lethal, humane deer strategies...

Sign the Petition: Stop the Arlington Deer Kill Program Now!

Last spring, a family in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_County,_Virginia" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Arlington, VA</a> called us about a house on a quiet street not far from the Marine Corps War Memorial. Their father had lived there for forty years, and after he passed, three adult children were left staring at a home full of decades of furniture, tools, and memories none of them had the heart to sort alone.

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We showed up with a full crew and worked through the house room by room. What could be donated went to local charities. What could be recycled was kept out of the landfill. What was left went out fast, and by Sunday evening, the family stood in an empty living room and told us they finally felt like they could breathe.

That estate cleanout is one of dozens we handle across the county each year, alongside furniture removal, appliance removal, and property cleanouts for landlords prepping units near Ballston Quarter for new tenants. Whatever the size of the job, our approach stays the same. Show up, work hard, treat every home like it matters, because it does.

If you're typing <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/6SgSfmouiQYxWDESA" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">junk removal near me</a> tonight because a garage, a basement, or an entire house has become too much to face alone, know that help is close. Live Junk Free serves Arlington, VA every day, and we would be glad to be the crew that helps you exhale too.
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A Full House, One Weekend, And A Family That...

Last spring, a family in Arlington, VA called us about a house on a quiet street not far from the Marine Corps War Memorial. Their father had lived...

A Full House, One Weekend, And A Family That Could Finally Breathe

I'm the owner of <a href="https://www.livejunkfree.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Live Junk Free</a>, and I like to get to the point fast, so here it is. If you need junk gone today, not next week, call us. We built Live Junk Free around one promise, that a homeowner or business owner in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_County,_Virginia" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Arlington, VA</a> never has to live with clutter longer than they choose to.

Every day, someone in this county searches for <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/6SgSfmouiQYxWDESA" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">junk removal near me</a> hoping for a crew that actually shows up on time and treats their home with respect. That's the standard we hold ourselves to on every single job.

Junk removal is our main focus, but we also handle furniture removal for the couch that won't fit through a new doorway, appliance removal for the refrigerator that finally quit, and full estate cleanouts for families working through a loved one's belongings. We take on office cleanouts too, which matters in a county with as much commercial turnover as Arlington sees near Ballston and Rosslyn.

Here's the value in plain terms. Our crew does the lifting, the loading, and the hauling. We sort what can be donated, recycle what we can, and leave your space swept and usable again. Homeowners near Clarendon call us to clear out a garage before a renovation. Property managers near Long Bridge Park call us between tenants. Families near Arlington National Cemetery call us during a difficult move, and we treat that work with the care it deserves.

Arlington moves fast, and your space should keep up. Reach out to Live Junk Free today, and get your home or office back this week.
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I'm the owner of Live Junk Free, and I like to get to the point fast, so here it is. If you need junk gone today, not next week, call us. We built...

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