Family Services – Community Corner

You’re invited to Adopt‑A‑Family and help us to bring holiday joy to local families in need. The Department of Family Services is partnering once again with Roonga, an interactive online platform that matches generous donors with families involved with DFS who could use support during the holiday season. Last year, thanks to an incredible outpouring from 882 donors, the holidays were brighter for 1,019 families and 2,096 children. With your help, this year, we can reach even higher!

Come find your next volunteering opportunity at the Venture into Volunteering Fair at Springfield Town Center on Oct. 18 from 12–4 p.m. Whether you're just starting your volunteering journey or looking to grow your community involvement, there’s something for everyone!

Attendees can also explore the Beacon 50+ Expo. Admission is free and the event features local resources for older adults, health screenings, vaccines, giveaways, and more. Explore the expo.

To support families throughout the holidays, Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Advocacy Services seeks gift card donations (in $25 dollar increments) for big-box and grocery stores. Gift cards can be dropped off or mailed to the Domestic Violence Action Center (Pennino Building, 12011 Government Center Parkway, Floor 7, Suite 740, Fairfax, VA 22035). To ensure families have enough time to do their holiday shopping, gift cards will be collected until Friday, Dec. 11, 2026. Get more information about donation needs.

Help us celebrate champions of inclusion and equality! Nominations for the Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion and Equality Awards are due BEFORE 5 p.m. this Friday, October 16. These annual awards honor individuals, businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and organizations that go above and beyond to advance equal rights and foster community inclusion for people with disabilities in the Fairfax area. If you know a passionate advocate, trailblazing organization, or inspiring self-advocate who is making a real difference in promoting disability inclusion, nominate them today.

Virginia has begun rolling out new EBT chip cards! Chip cards provide better security for your benefits. Check your mail often. When your new card arrives, you must activate it right away to avoid a delay in using your SNAP benefits. Tip: when you call to activate your card, do not enter the last 4 digits of your card when prompted. Wait to be asked to enter the entire 16-digit number. Curious about the new cards? Watch a video about using your EBT chip card. Learn more at VirginiaChipCard.com.

We offer a Parent Support Line where you can talk with trained parenting specialists for guidance on a wide range of topics including child development, reducing your stress, strengthening the parent-child bond, and accessing community resources. Parents, caregivers, or anyone who works with children can call 703-324-7720, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with questions or concerns. Language support is available. 

Perhaps someone you care about—a family member, friend, or coworker--has told you they are experiencing domestic violence. Or you see signs of abuse in their relationship. You may wonder what to say to help—or if you should say anything at all. That uncertainty is OK. Domestic violence is a difficult subject to talk about both for people experiencing violence and those who care about the victims. Reaching out can be a lifeline to someone who probably feels fear, shame, or embarrassment. Sincere, compassionate support can be crucial to helping victims get to safety and work on building a better life. Follow these safety-focused tips for helping a victim of domestic violence.