ACT for Alexandria
Food distribution through ALIVE!
Every April, Alexandrians step up for their neighbors through Spring2ACTion, Alexandria’s Giving Day, hosted by community foundation ACT for Alexandria. The giving portal provides an easy way for you to support the nonprofits and causes that are important to you and learn about new ones! This year, during the donation checkout process, you will also have the opportunity to once more join with others taking action to support Alexandrians in need by adding a small (or large) donation to the Alexandria Resilience Fund.
The Alexandria Resilience Fund provides emergency financial assistance for food, eviction prevention, medical expenses, and other supports to help Alexandrians in crisis. Our vulnerable neighbors continue to face significant financial hurdles that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The abrupt end to pandemic-related rental and food supports paired with cost-of-living increases has left many Alexandrians to make difficult decisions between food, shelter, and other basic needs. Local food providers such as ALIVE! are reporting overwhelming numbers, often at levels seen at the height of the pandemic. In March, 531 eviction cases were filed, the second highest level since January 2019. Those impacted are our neighbors who have raised their families, supported local businesses and the community, and made their home here.
The City of Alexandria anticipated and worked to prepare for this hardship, investing American Rescue Plan Act dollars in service navigation and other emergency supports via the ARISE Guaranteed Income Pilot and the Community Access and Emergency Support Programs, in partnership with ACT. With the average amount of rent owed at judgement in eviction cases currently more than $6,000, roughly three months’ rent in Alexandria, community partners now regularly pool together resources to provide adequate support to our neighbors. From June 2022 through April 2023, ACT Emergency Support grantees will have disbursed more than $1.3 million in support of our neighbors.
Lifelines provided by this emergency support will disappear once funding runs out. The Alexandria Resilience Fund answers that challenge and eases the path to stability by funding tangible emergency support. You can contribute to the Fund and support your fellow Alexandrians in your Spring2ACTion giving this year.
On April 26th, 190 locally serving organizations will tap into the collective spirit of giving by participating in Spring2ACTion, Alexandria’s 13th annual Giving Day. Last year, neighbors, like you, answered the call – 7,700 donors gave $2.65M to Alexandria nonprofits through Spring2ACTion. Will you join us in giving back to the community we love? You can invest in your neighbors by taking just 5 minutes to give $5 to an organization of your choice. While the official giving day is April 26, early giving has started! Like early voting, you can make a donation anytime between now and April 26.
To learn more about Alexandria’s Giving Day, visit: www.Spring2ACTion.org. Spring2ACTion is hosted by ACT for Alexandria and presented by Amazon and the City of Alexandria.
About ACT for Alexandria (ACT)
Launched in 2004, ACT is Alexandria’s community foundation and the home for philanthropy and people who want to make a difference. For more information about ACT and how you can support the pressing needs of the nonprofit community in Alexandria, contact ACT at 703-739-7778 or visit www.actforalexandria.org.
