nonprofit | ARLnow.com

After 140 years, faith-based D.C. nonprofit expands to serve South Arlington families in need

Published August 28, 2024 at 11:30AM | Updated August 28, 2024 at 5:49PM

Central Union Mission staff greet visitors at the grand opening of their new Arlington facility (staff photo by James Jarvis)

After 140 years of serving D.C.’s most vulnerable residents, a faith-based nonprofit is expanding into Northern Virginia with a new facility in South Arlington.

Central Union Mission hosted an open house at its new Mission: NOVA Center yesterday (Tuesday) at 5401 7th Road S., on the property of Greenbrier Baptist Church. Strategically located in a high-poverty, diverse area near Long Branch Nature Center, the facility aims to be a one-stop shop for those in need, offering a wide range of resources to help individuals and families regain stability.

Around Town

New airport donation program provides gently used toiletries to local nonprofits

By Dan Egitto

Published August 13, 2024 at 2:30PM

Sorting toiletries at Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Dan Egitto)

A new donation program at Reagan National Airport is providing local charities with unopened and gently used toiletries that would otherwise be thrown away.

Since April, the “Donate Don’t Discard” initiative has collected 2,913 items that failed to comply with TSA restrictions and would otherwise have gone to the landfill. Instead, products such as toothpaste, lotion, hair gel and sunscreen now go to D.C.-area charities that distribute products to unhoused people, domestic violence survivors and other people in need of basic necessities.

Around Town

UPDATED: New Goodwill donation center on Langston Blvd opening is delayed

By Katie Taranto

Published August 1, 2024 at 10:00AM | Updated August 1, 2024 at 3:25PM

A Goodwill Donation Express center is under construction on Langston Blvd (courtesy of anonymous)

Arlington’s third Goodwill location on 5210 Langston Blvd is “not likely” to open later this month, as was previously reported.

The new Goodwill Donation Express will serve primarily as a spot for donation drop-offs, selling “a very limited amount of merchandise.” The operation was previously scheduled to open its doors on Sunday, Aug. 25 — according to a press release Wednesday — but “a few structural issues” still need to be addressed before doors can open, Goodwill spokesperson Brendan Hurley told ARLnow.

Around Town

New art gallery opens in Clarendon, as Gallery Underground in Crystal City is set to close

By Katie Taranto

Published July 23, 2024 at 3:55PM | Updated July 23, 2024 at 4:48PM

Inside of the new Alliance Gallery at 2700 Clarendon Blvd (staff photo)

The work of local artists has a new home at The Crossing Clarendon.

The Arlington Artists Alliance opened a 1,000-square-foot boutique gallery this past Thursday, July 18, to showcase the work of professional artists in the area.

News

Proposed transfer of Reeves Farmhouse heads to County Board for consideration

By Dan Egitto

Published July 16, 2024 at 3:30PM

The Reeves Farmhouse (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

After years of planning, the Reeves Farmhouse is poised to transfer out of county hands to become a home for adults with developmental disabilities.

The future of the historic property is scheduled for consideration at an Arlington County Board meeting on Monday. If approved, agreements would convey the property to Habitat for Humanity DC-NOVA and allocate up to $2.5 million to support renovation efforts.

Around Town

A new Goodwill donation center is coming to Langston Blvd

By Katie Taranto

Published July 15, 2024 at 3:30PM

A Goodwill Donation Express center is under construction on Langston Blvd (courtesy of anonymous)

A Goodwill Donation Express center is slated to open later this year at 5210 Langston Blvd, formerly Tops Cleaners.

The new facility will mainly operate as a donation drop-off spot, a local Goodwill spokesman tells ARLnow, but a limited selection of donated goods will be for sale.

Events

Nonprofit to celebrate two years of trash pickup with first-ever ‘Grabber Olympics’

By Katie Taranto

Published July 12, 2024 at 11:45AM

NOVA Cleanups' Grabber Olympics begin Saturday, July 13 at 11 a.m. (via NOVA Cleanups/Reddit)

The Paris Olympics start later this month and tomorrow (Saturday) in Arlington, a new competition will emerge: the Grabber Olympics, for Northern Virginia’s litter-picker-uppers.

The inaugural event will begin at 11 a.m. by the Clarendon Metro station for a two-hour community cleanup with volunteer nonprofit NOVA Cleanups, sister of District Cleanups. Anyone is welcome to sign up and participate.

Around Town

‘Chopped’ champion to judge national kids’ cooking competition in Arlington

By Katie Taranto

Published July 1, 2024 at 3:30PM

Person preparing vegetables (via Maarten van den Heuvel/Unsplash)

Recent “Chopped” winner David Ho is coming to Arlington next week to take part in a kids cooking competition.

Ho will judge the K12 National Cook-Off, which is being held at Kitchen of Purpose in Arlington on Saturday, July 13. Celebrity chef Isabel Coss and Daniela Hurtado, Kitchen of Purpose’s director of programs, will also serve as judges.

News

County awards $2.4M to local nonprofits through equity-based grant pilot

By Dan Egitto

Published April 25, 2024 at 11:30AM

Arlington County Board members discussing a new grant program (photo via Arlington County/YouTube)

Arlington has awarded $2.4 million to nonprofits in a new equity-based grant program.

The county announced yesterday (Wednesday) that a total of 22 nonprofits received funding through the RACE to Rebuilding Trust and Community grant, designed to “support historically marginalized communities, ensuring equitable access to resources, transparency and accountability.” The Arlington County Board approved the grants in a unanimous vote.

Events

A local nonprofit will host a campaign to raise funds for its medical outreach services

By Savannah Taffe

Published April 5, 2024 at 10:45AM | Updated April 5, 2024 at 11:13AM

Kasia Shaw, registered nurse, working with a volunteer to create sun safety supply kits for unsheltered clients (Photo courtesy of PathForward)

PathForward, a local nonprofit that serves the homeless, will gather Arlington residents, donors and supporters to celebrate and fundraise for its mobile medical outreach program next week.

The “No Place Like Home” celebration will take place on Thursday, April 11 at the Army Navy Country Club (1700 Army Navy Drive) near Arlington Ridge from 6:30-9 p.m. It is set to be hosted by local media personality Tommy McFly and will feature a live auction.

News

Local LGBTQ+ group wants Arlington County to do more, despite high inclusivity rating

By James Jarvis

Published March 25, 2024 at 11:45AM

LGBTQ+ rainbow pride flag (Photo by Sophie Emeny via Unsplash)

Despite consistently receiving high marks from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Equality Arlington says Arlington County still has more work to do to improve services for LGBTQ residents.

Last week, the local LGBTQ nonprofit sent a letter to the Arlington County Board and County Manager, highlighting gaps in services, such as health care, workforce education and outreach, as revealed by the HRC Municipal Equality Index (MEI) — a scoring system used to rate a city’s inclusivity.

News

First Lady Jill Biden spotlights husband’s record on women’s health during conference at Amazon HQ2

By Savannah Taffe

Published March 20, 2024 at 3:55PM | Updated March 20, 2024 at 4:58PM

Jill Biden at Imagine Conference (staff photo by Savannah Taffe)

First Lady Jill Biden came to Amazon’s HQ2 in Pentagon City today and touted her husband’s record on women’s health issues.

Speaking this morning at the Amazon Web Services Imagine: Nonprofit conference, Biden emphasized the President’s recent allocation of $100 million in federal funding for the ARPA-H Sprint for Women’s Health, a program focused on advancing research and development in the field.