3110 Fairview Park Dr Ste 500, Falls Church, VA 22042

At Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS), one of the region’s largest and most established human services nonprofits, we believe every child deserves to walk into the classroom on the first day of school feeling confident, prepared, and ready to learn. But for many local families, the excitement of a new school year is overshadowed by the financial stress of buying school supplies. By helping families meet this essential need, we can ease financial pressure and give students the tools they need to succeed from day one.
This summer, NVFS is bringing together individuals, businesses, and community partners from across Northern Virginia, to provide new backpacks and essential school supplies to more than 1,500 local students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Together, we're helping children feel prepared for the school year ahead while easing the financial burden on families working toward greater stability.
You can help families start the school year with confidence. Whether you donate, host a supply drive, or spread the word, every contribution helps equip students for success in the classroom, and strengthens families across our community.
Help us reach our goal. There are several ways you can help.
<ul><li>Donate to our Back2School Fund online, and we'll shop for the most-needed supplies on your behalf: <a href="https://nvfs.link/b2sdonate" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">nvfs.link/b2sdonate</a></li></ul>
<ul><li>Shop our Amazon Wish List by July 22: <a href="https://nvfs.link/b2s2026amazon" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">nvfs.link/b2s2026amazon</a></li></ul>
<ul><li>Host a school supply drive or learn more about how you can support the campaign: <a href="https://nvfs.link/b2s" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">nvfs.link/b2s</a></li></ul>
The new school year will be here before we know it. Together, we can make back-to-school season a time to help more than 1,500 local students start the school year strong and give families one less worry as they work toward a brighter future.

Local Event: Join Northern Virginia Family Services in Helping 1,500 Local Students Start the School Year Strong

Fairfax County

Falls Church

Virginia

Join Northern Virginia Family Services in...

At Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS), one of the region’s largest and most established human services nonprofits, we...

Join Northern Virginia Family Services in Helping 1,500 Local Students Start the School Year Strong

Dreamscapes Performing Arts Center

Cascades VA

The (Very) Romantic Concert

Chapman DeMary Trail

Join us at the Chapman DeMary Trail at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 26 to learn about the magic of honeybees and beekeeping. Cornell University Certified Master Beekeeper Ed Kicha with the Loudoun Beekeepers Association (LBA) will share information about these essential pollinators. This event is co-hosted by the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the Tree and Environment Sustainability Committee, and is part of the Discover Nature’s Secrets series held the last Sunday of each month. Sign up online if you plan to join us: <a href="https://purcellvilleva.gov/881/Monthly-Nature-Walks" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://purcellvilleva.gov/881/Monthly-Nature-Walks</a>.
The LBA has been supporting a large and vibrant beekeeping community, ranging from new to commercial beekeepers, for over 40 years. Its focus is to introduce, educate, and foster sustainable beekeeping practices for its members committed to managing honeybees in Loudoun County. As for the real stars of the show - honeybees - they are currently ramping up their population numbers, gathering pollen to synthesize into bee food to feed both the young and adults, and of course gathering nectar from floral sources which they will convert into their primary energy source - honey. The bees are also actively swarming - which is reproduction at the colony level - basically creating new hives in the wild. During this activity, Mr. Kicha will share information about the basics of beekeeping, how to get started as a beekeeper, the various types of beehives and essential equipment, and the tie between plants and pollinators. There will be examples of hives, some tools of the trade, and, weather permitting, live honeybees in an observation hive! The observation hive is designed to allow humans and bees to safely observe each other up close without fear of contact.
Before you join us, be sure to go on the Nature Trivia Walk at the Chapman DeMary Trail and get all the answers. Bring your completed answer sheet with you to get a prize. Copies of the trivia walk sheet are at the trail.The sheet is also available online at <a href="https://purcellvilleva.gov/881/Monthly-Nature-Walks" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://purcellvilleva.gov/881/Monthly-Nature-Walks</a>.
Discover Nature’s Secrets is a monthly series of nature walks and environmental programs designed to inspire appreciation for the natural world.

Local Event: The Magic of Honeybees!

Loudoun County

Leesburg

The Magic of Honeybees!

Join us at the Chapman DeMary Trail at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 26 to learn about the magic of honeybees and beekeeping. Cornell...

Who's Afraid Of Opera?!

Karter School of Cascades

🎪 Karter Karnival at Cascades Campus! 🎪

Karter Karnival Hosted at Karter School of Cascades

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue

UPDATE (December 5, 2025): Exciting news! Our annual coat drive has been extended through January 11, 2026.
ORIGINAL (October 14, 2025): The Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System, Loudoun Career Firefighters Association Local 3756 and Mobile Hope Loudoun have once again joined efforts with One Warm Coat to collect much needed winter apparel for Loudoun County residents in need.
Last year’s campaign was another incredible year, collecting over 1,000 coats, and over 800 cold weather items such as scarves, gloves, and hats. Let’s make this year even better!
From Saturday, October 18 – Sunday, December 7, 2025, we will be accepting donations of clean and gently used or new coats, jackets, scarves, winter hats, gloves, and mittens at all fire and rescue stations throughout the County, the training academy, and at our Leesburg headquarters (801 Sycolin Road). If you would rather make a monetary donation that will help Loudoun residents, please visit Mobile Hope's donation page.&nbsp;

Local Event: *Extended Donation Date* Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue Coat Drive to Benefit Mobile Hope

*Extended Donation Date* Loudoun County...

UPDATE (December 5, 2025): Exciting news! Our annual coat drive has been extended through January 11, 2026.
ORIGINAL (October...

*Extended Donation Date* Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue Coat Drive to Benefit Mobile Hope

Virtual Event

On Jan 17th from 8pm to 9:15pm Eastern Standard Time, Meek Earth&nbsp;Studio in partnership with <a href="https://www.stepdc.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">STEP&nbsp;DC(Their Website)</a> will raise funds to feed our neighbors--families in the Deanwood area through your concert ticket.&nbsp;100% of the base ticket goes to providing meals to families in a food desert in our nation's capital.&nbsp;Deanwood is a historically black neighborhood in Ward 7, and this intimate concert directly supports them.&nbsp;You get an amazing night of music. Families get multiple meals, and you get to see exactly how it happened post-concert.
<a href="https://www.zeponicfarms.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Zeponic Farm(Their Website</a>)&nbsp;and members of their day program will help us deliver the food to a food bank in Ward 7, <a href="https://www.hughesmemorial.org/ministries.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hughes Memorial United Methodist Church's Food Pantry(Their Website).</a>&nbsp;Zeponic Farms employs adults with special needs, and we will purchase as much of their fresh kale as we can.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.findhelp.org/hughes-memorial-united-methodist--washington-dc--food-pantry/5092495626141696?postal=20019" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hughes Memorial UMC's Food Pantry(Their Website)</a>, under their Missions Ministry, gives away free groceries on the last Saturday of each month from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. No sign up is required for their patrons.&nbsp;We have coordinated with them to find out what food their patrons prefer and what they are running low on, so we can supplement their ministry for those in need.
This is an exclusive, live-streamed concert event featuring the pianist and composer, <a href="https://www.musicjoystudio.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Grace J. Reid (Her Website)</a>&nbsp;and the vocalist/dancer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/fromsuna/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Suna(Her Instagram).</a>&nbsp;
Grace Reid is an accomplished composer and classically trained pianist. Her body of original compositions include a series of songs dedicated to <a href="https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art/vinnie-ream" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Vinnie Ream</a>, a teenager the white house commissioned to sculpt Abraham Lincoln.&nbsp; Grace performed her composition at the Lincoln Bicentennial, a concert sponsored by the <a href="https://www.nlapw.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">National League of American Pen Women</a>. Vinnie and Grace are both members of this historic organization of women artists, writers, and creatives. Grace makes the piano talk, speak to you.
Suna is a multi-disciplinary artist who we are honored to have at our concert. She will be singing&nbsp;"In A Sentimental Mood," originally by Phyllis Hyman. You can find her on instagram here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/fromsuna/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">instagram.com/fromsuna/.</a> &nbsp;Suna performed an amazing dance at the Releaven Conference to Nina Simone's version of "Strange Fruit." Suna infuses all her art with her entire being, and you don't want to miss her voice in motion.
THE EVENT EXPERIENCE:
<ul><li>8:00 PM: Welcome &amp; Introductory Remarks</li><li>8:10 PM:&nbsp;Suna will sing&nbsp;"In A Sentimental Mood," originally by Phyllis Hyman</li><li>8:17&nbsp;PM: An intimate, unplugged set of performances by Grace J. Reid, broadcast live from our studio directly to your home.</li><li>9:00 PM: A look inside Meek Earth&nbsp;Studio</li><li>9:05 PM:&nbsp;An interview with Doc Jones from STEP&nbsp;DC, a Deanwood Nonprofit.</li><li>9:15 PM:&nbsp;Concert Adjourned</li></ul>
CHOOSE YOUR IMPACT (The Menu):
$35 — The MEALS TICKET (Meals &amp; Entertainment)
<ul><li>The Concert: Full digital access to the livestream.</li><li>The Impact: This ticket funds&nbsp;as much food as $35 will buy for a family in Deanwood.</li><li>The Promise: 100% of this $35 goes directly to buy food from low-cost wholesale/retail and Zeponic Farms in Lorton, VA</li><li>(This ticket does not fund Meek Earth Studio or the Artist. It is a pure impact contract.)</li></ul>
$75 — THE SUPPORTER TICKET (Impact + Artist/Studio Fee)
<ul><li>The Concert: Full digital access to the livestream.</li><li>The Impact: Funds the $35 "Meals Ticket"&nbsp;(same as above).</li><li>The Investment: Includes a $40 Artist &amp; Studio Fee.&nbsp;This is the only money that pays the humans running the show (Grace J. Reid and Suna and the Meek Earth team) and funds the research and development for our next community event. We will hold additional events of this nature using the funds from this ticket.</li><li>Choose this if you want to be a "Co-Founder" of this new model.</li></ul>
OUR TRANSPARENCY CONTRACT:&nbsp;
After the event, every single attendee will receive a public "Transparency Report." This isn't a newsletter; it's a receipt. We will show you exactly how much money came in, and share the receipts for every dollar paid out to Zeponic, the Wholesale Retailers, the Artists, and Meek Earth&nbsp;Studio in this <a href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/Jft88dG4UHwL0WM8MYvK94" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">WhatsApp Announcement Channel</a> and on our website.
Secure your spot and help us build the future of impact.
And finally, I want to thank God for giving me this vision, and I pray many can be blessed through this work.
To learn more about the history of Deanwood, please visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deanwoodcitizens.org/history-of-dca" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Deanwood Citizens Association.</a>&nbsp;The DCA&nbsp;was founded in 1912 by concerned neighbors.

Local Event: A Virtual Concert For Deanwood In Washington D.C.

Brambleton

A Virtual Concert For Deanwood In Washington D.C.

On Jan 17th from 8pm to 9:15pm Eastern Standard Time, Meek Earth Studio in partnership with STEP DC(Their Website) will raise...

Patch AM Team

Sugarland Run

Countryside

Lowes Island

Dulles Town Center

Sterling

Dranesville

Oak Grove

Great Falls

Washington Metropolitan Area

Herndon

Lansdowne

Cascades

Hands-On Home Improvement Workshops - Fair Oaks Mall

TradeWorx Academy

TradeWorx Academy is Northern Virginia’s hands-on home improvement training center, located inside Fair Oaks Mall. We help homeowners, DIYers, and beginners build the skills and confidence to take on real projects—not just watch someone else do them online. Our workshops are taught by licensed contractors who know how to make home improvement approachable, practical, and fun. From tile work and drywall repair to backsplash installation, power tools, plumbing basics, and minor electrical, each class is designed to help you understand the process, use the right tools, ask better questions, and feel more capable in your own home. With small class sizes, every participant receives hands-on instruction, direct access to the instructor, and the opportunity to practice skills in a supportive, beginner-friendly environment. At TradeWorx Academy, our mission is simple: empower people with practical knowledge, help them save money on home projects, and give them the confidence that comes from learning how to do it the right way. Visit [www.TradeWorxAcademy.com](http://www.TradeWorxAcademy.com) to explore upcoming workshops, reserve your spot, and see why TradeWorx Academy is changing the way Northern Virginia learns DIY.

Fairfax city

Fairfax

TradeWorx Academy is Northern Virginia’s hands-on home improvement training center, located inside Fair Oaks Mall. We help homeowners, DIYers, and...

$115 Off Any Plumbing Service - AllTech Services

Hidden leaks, clogged drains, and aging pipes don't wait — and neither do we. Whether it's a backed-up sewer line, a failing water heater, or a dripping faucet that won't quit, AllTech Services is ready with same-day plumbing solutions to protect your home and your wallet. With over 20 years serving Northern Virginia, our licensed, insured, and background-checked plumbers deliver fast, honest, and reliable service every time. We treat your home like our own.

Michelle Witte

Ashburn

Hidden leaks, clogged drains, and aging pipes don't wait — and neither do we. Whether it's a backed-up sewer line, a failing water heater, or a...

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Events and Things to Do in Cascades, VA

Friday, July 24

Join Northern Virginia Family Services in Helping 1,500 Local Students Start the School Year Strong

JUL

24

12:00 PM

Falls Church, VA

Sunday, July 26

The Magic of Honeybees!

JUL

26

1:00 PM

Chapman DeMary Trail, 355 N Hatcher Ave, Purcellville, VA

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Join Northern Virginia Family Services in Helping 1,500 Local Students Start the School Year Strong

The Magic of Honeybees!

TradeWorx Academy

$115 Off Any Plumbing Service - AllTech Services