Announcements

REAL LIFE is a nonprofit that helps create pathways to attain and sustain a thriving life for Virginians who desire change and a different path — whether that be free from addiction, incarceration, or violence.

Each holiday season, they have an angel tree to help the children of the adults in their program. As their clients work to rebuild their lives free from addiction and incarceration, angel tree helps also build the relationships with the family and their children. Last year, they collected nearly 200 gifts for children. 

Miriam’s House in Lynchburg is a nonprofit with a mission to end homelessness and rebuild lives.

In 2024, they served over 400 of our homeless neighbors by placing them in stable housing and providing them with support to remain housed.

This holiday season, Miriam’s House invites you to join in their holiday tradition of working to ensure that every family has a home this holiday season – and for all the seasons to come.

Lynchburg Daily Bread is a nonprofit soup kitchen in Lynchburg, dedicated to serving nutritious meals to our neighbors in need every day of the year, no questions asked.

During this holiday season, they’re reflecting on the 280,000 meals they’ve provided this year, working to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry.

The Bedford Community Christmas Station is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that provides Christmas assistance to families that live in Bedford, earn a low income, and include a child, senior citizen, or disabled adult. 

Their facility is set up like a department store during their Christmas distribution program, held during the second week of December, with clothing for children, toys and teen gifts, and household items.

Eligible families shop and select gift items for household members and receive a food box including items they can use to prepare their Christmas meal. 

The Women’s Initiative is a nonprofit in Charlottesville that offers trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health counseling and programs for women who experience financial or other barriers to care.

They also offer services designed to meet the unique needs of Black, BIPOC, Latine, and LGBTQ+ communities.

The Women’s Initiative welcomes you to get started with their counseling services by visiting them during their wellness clinic hours to discuss your needs and learn about your care options. Clinics are offered four days a week and are open to all women and members of the gender-expansive community.

Literacy Volunteers Charlottesville/Albemarle is a nonprofit that promotes adult literacy in the Greater Charlottesville area through confidential one-to-one English and Citizenship tutoring. They’re seeking compassionate and enthusiastic volunteers to tutor adults in English speaking, reading, and writing. Many of their students are also in need of support in preparing for their U.S. Citizenship interviews.

If you would like to provide one-to-one instruction to adults in our community, they invite you to attend one of their monthly New Tutor Trainings. No teaching experience is required, only a desire to help a learner reach their educational goals. You can learn more or register online at literacyforall.org. 

The Virginia Public Access Project, also known as VPAP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to remaining fiercely non-partisan. Their mission is to simplify complex information about Virginia’s state and local politics and government so our fellow citizens can better understand and make informed decisions that align with their values.

They invite you to visit vpap.org/civics to learn more about Civics Navigator, their new civics education program designed specifically for educators. This program offers tools and resources to help teachers bring civic education to life in their classrooms. From interactive activities to professional development opportunities, Civics Navigator supports educators in guiding students to better understand government and engage in civic life.

Sustainably Eco is a nonprofit that seeks to grow a culture of eco-conscious living in Richmond. They invite you to bring your entire family out to the senior parking lot at James River High School on Sunday, November 24th from 11-2 for their market—featuring sustainable product vendors, live music, family-friendly activities, and vegan food truck options.

Sylvia’s Sisters is a nonprofit working to end period poverty in greater Richmond. Many people in our community can’t afford the period products they need to live their lives. Studies show that 1/4 of girls in our community miss school for this reason.

They provide period products to people in need in order to create a more equitable community so that all people can have the same opportunities. You can learn more about how you can help keep a girl in school online at sylviassisters.org.

ForKids is a nonprofit in Hampton Roads fighting for children and families living in poverty. They provide emergency assistance as well as long term solutions for economic stability.

They’re the beneficiary of this year’s Nor-FOLK Festival taking place on Saturday, November 23rd at Elation Brewery in Norfolk. 

The festival begins at noon, is family friendly, and admission is open to the public. The lineup features Tessa & Chance McCoy, Troy Breslow, and others.

More information is on Facebook at ForKids.