IN THE ALEXANDRIA AREA: 

Franconia is currently collecting pantry items (dry goods, canned foods, cleaning supplies) for Koinonia and Rising Hope. Please place your contributions in the marked bins in Cokesbury Hall. Koinonia is also collecting gently-used seasonally-appropriate clothing for their clients.

Annual CROP Walk

The CROP Walk is held annually to benefit both local and global missions. Crop Walk is supported by Church World Services. Volunteers to help support the crop walk (either by walking or with financial support) are greatly appreciated.

FUMC Community - Job Jar

The men run a "job jar" as time and resources permit. If you or any member of the Franconia family needs help with tasks around the home - OR - if you can help perform "handyperson" type tasks, please contact Bruce Bartolain or place a note in the Men's mailbox outside of the small kitchen.

FUMC Facilities - Snow Removal

When the snow hits, we have a contractor who plows but does not shovel walks, steps or stairwells. All ages are enthusiastically welcomed to help. If you'd like to be put on the list to be notified when the church needs you, please email Julius Porias.

Hearts and Hammers/Rebuilding Together (formerly known as "Christmas in April")

Neighbors helping neighbors, like the barn-raising of old, is the American spirit in action. Rebuilding Together was born of that spirit as people came together to help their low-income neighbors fix their houses.  The Fairfax County chapter of Rebuilding Together is run by RPJ Housing Development Corporation, which also sponsors Hearts and Hammers. Hearts and Hammers is a year-round volunteer home repair program that serves low-income homeowners, particularly persons with disabilities and older adults in Washington, D.C., Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church and Winchester.

Koinonia Foundation 

Located literally in our church’s backyard, Koinonia seeks to support the homeless and unemployed in our community by providing them with food, clothing, household items, and counseling. Koinonia is a Greek word which means "the community of caring and sharing." Cash donations, contributions of clothing (seasonal and in good condition), food, and volunteer work are greatly appreciated. They are particularly in need of household cleaning supplies. Koinonia also has a collection bin in Cokesbury Hall. More infomation on the Koinonia foundation can be found here.

Mondloch House

Mondloch House

Mondloch House

Located on Lockheed Blvd., in Alexandria, Mondloch House is operated by New Hope Housing, a non-profit service organization that supports homeless persons in our community. Mondloch House shelters single mothers with children; contributions of school supplies,diapers and formula are always welcome.

Phoenix Rising Meal Program: 4th Thursdays/Fridays of each month

Phoenix Rising Meal Program: Delivery 4th Fridays of each month, with meal preparation the Thursday before

Every Friday night at 6 PM, assigned teams from local churches and organizations support the Route One Shalom Cooperative food ministry program. The respective teams set out with sandwiches and pre-packed food items, making several stops along the Route One corridor from the beltway to the Fairfax County Parkway, south of Ft. Belvoir, Alexandria, delivering a nutritious bagged meal to those who are homeless and living in tents, vehicles, and in motels. These meals provide nourishment to those who may not otherwise have something to eat that weekend, filling their stomachs and touching their hearts, as well as nourish those of us doing the serving.

Franconia’s Phoenix Rising team is responsible for meal packaging and delivery onfor the 4^th Friday of each month. On the Thursday before the 4^th Friday at 6:30 PM, Franconia volunteers meet in the FUMC’s Cokesbury Hall and large kitchen to make 150-200 sandwiches and put together the meal items for delivery.  All ages can help in this ministry; the jobs vary (prepare sandwiches, assemble the bag lunches, write personal messages of encouragement and faith to place in the bags, and assist in delivery - with adult partners). Adults and youth volunteers are needed for meal preparation and delivery teams. For those who would like to otherwise support the FUMC Phoenix Rising food ministry, donations are welcome: Bibles and related literature, and food items, such as peanut butter, preserves, jelly, fresh white bread, and single-serving pre-packed items, such as cookies, applesauce, fruit cup, pudding, granola bars, juice boxes, chips, chocolate, boxed meat-salad meal (tuna, chicken, ham), and utensil kit (knife, fork, spoon, napkin); and, financial donations are always welcome, as we shop for meal items needed.

Rising Hope UM Mission Church

Join fellow Franconians in helping Rising Hope continue its mandate of helping the homeless and downtrodden on the Route One Corridor in Alexandria.

Basic pantry items (dry pastas, soups, cereals, canned goods, and cleaning products) are collected on an on-going basis for delivery to Rising Hope. Please deposit your contributions in the “Rising Hope” bin in Cokesbury Hall.

Volunteers are needed in a variety of ways, please consult their website for further details.

Pictures of Franconia hosting Thanksgiving Dinner at Rising Hope in recent years.

Click here for local projects supported by the Alexandria 
District (Link will open in a separate window.)