Throughout the year, many hard-working people contribute their time to Meals on Wheels, bringing meals to the elderly, disabled and temporarily injured who can't put together their own nourishment. Currently about 1,200 people volunteer for Meals on Wheels in Fairfax County, where the organization has been active for at least 30 years. There are two routes in the Burke area – Burke Lake Gardens, which has about 17 volunteers serving three clients, and the West Springfield/Burke route, which has about 39 volunteers serving ten clients. There are 47 different routes in Fairfax County. "These …
Earlier this week, Canine Partners for Life (CPL) service dog program set up at Borders in Springfield to offer customers their gift-wrapping skills and a chance to learn more about their program. Many people are aware of service dogs trained to assist the blind; dogs are also employed to help in numerous ways from seizure alert to arthritic issues. The Canine Partners for Life brochure says that CPL is one of only five organizations in the world that offers seizure alert dogs. In some cases they can sense a seizure 30 minutes before it happens. CPL brought Sharon and her service dog Chuck …
This past weekend, the Children's Ministry at Burke United Methodist Church teamed up with The Duffy House to put together a top secret workshop just for kids. On Saturday, December 11, I had the privilege of attending this workshop. It took place at the church, located at the corner of Burke Centre Parkway and Burke Lake Road, and ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The workshop was set up to give kids the chance to shop for their families and friends all on their own, with only the help of some very talented elves. The secret workshop itself was located in a room inside the church that was off-…
What happens behind closed doors at the Burke Centre Library does not stay behind closed doors. In fact, Tuesday night's meeting in the small conference room of this local library is an indication of just that. Upon entering the hallowed halls of literature, you might think that you've stumbled upon a book club. A reading. Or perhaps a local author's signing event. Instead, it was a group called Carpe Futurum, assembling gift bags for the Orphan Foundation of America. Carpe Futurum? Orphan Foundation of America? Gift bags?! (Rewind, rewind, rewind...) Carpe Futurum Well, starting with …
What’s better than a shiny new bike under the Christmas tree? Bike Lane is collecting money to purchase new high quality safe Trek bikes and helmets to donate to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots. “Being able to give a needy child a brand new bike is an amazing feeling. A bike is fun and brings freedom and independence to every child,” said Anne Mader, co-owner of Bike Lane in Burke. Bike Lane has been hosting the Toys for Tots Bike Fundraiser for the past six years and has donated a total of over 150 bikes and helmets. The hope this year is to donate 40 bikes and 40 helmets…
Eleni Linardakis of Spartans Restaurant in Burke, was looking for a cause to donate to after losing her father, Chris Sarantis, suddenly three years ago. The family used to do charity drives together, and have always tried to be involved in the community. After the grief her family felt, it made sense to Linardakis's family to choose the Pajama Program this year, which donates new pajamas and books to local children who are in foster care without a parent to tuck them in at night. Xenia Sarantis, Eleni Linardakis's mother, first discovered the Pajama Program while visiting Fairfax …
Have you ever cleaned out your closet, collected a huge pile of clothes you don't wear any more to give to charity, and then the bag of clothes just sits in your garage for a month because you don't know where to take it? Do you still have some of those books from college that just really aren't your style any more? Do you just want to go buy up canned food at the grocery store and give it to someone who needs it? Today, we're going to kick off our new charity and giving column with a list of the places in Burke where you can donate your clothes, books and other items. We're putting what we …
