Help a needy family enjoy the holidays

Members of the Key Club at Woodson High School organized a food drive in October to benefit Britepaths’ food pantry. [Britepaths]

Make some room in your holiday celebration for helping a local family in need. Britepaths (the organization formerly known as Our Daily Bread) hosts an annual program to match potential donors who can provide a Thanksgiving, meal December holiday meal, and/or children’s gifts for lower-income families.

You can sign up online for one or both holidays, volunteer to help a family or individual, and select a preferred location. A group of friends or co-workers can join in to provide a memorable, happy holiday for a large family. Britepaths is also accepting financial donations for its holiday program.

Britepaths expects to have more than 3,000 families in Fairfax County, Alexandria, and Falls Church on this year’s holiday assistance list.

Families are referred to the program by Fairfax County Public Schools social workers and counselors and Fairfax County social services agencies. Many of the families work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Others are searching for work after being laid off or cannot work because of illness, injury, or some other crisis.

Another way to help needy families during the holidays is by attending Britepath’s Wine & Wonderment wine-tasting fundraiser at the 2941 Restaurant in Falls Church Nov. 30.

For more information about Britepaths’ holiday program, contact Joanne Walton at [email protected] or 703-273-8829, x 888.