The holidays are a time of giving, not only to friends and family, but also to complete strangers in need.
The Herndon-Reston area has a number of nonprofit organizations who provide food or other assistance throughout the year. But this time of the year is when many of the groups reach out to the community for donations and volunteers to help make the holidays happy for others.
"We have had an excellent adopt-a-family program this year," said Terri Cavalier, the social services department program manager at Reston Interfaith Inc. "We had 1,200 individuals sponsored this year. The donations have been extremely generous."
BELOW IS A LIST of some of the local nonprofit organizations.
* The Bargain Loft, 336 Victory Drive, Herndon, 703-437-0600, a nonprofit thrift shop, which accepts donations of furniture and household items. The Loft is open Tuesdays-Saturdays, from 10 am.-2 p.m. It will be closed Dec. 24-Jan. 1, 2004.
* The Closet, 845 Station St., Herndon, 703-437-7652, a nonprofit thrift shop that accepts donations of clothing and small household items. The shop will reopen for shopping Jan. 3, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and for donations Jan. 8 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
* Herndon-Reston FISH (Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help), 703-391-0105, provides emergency assistance to families in Herndon and Reston ranging from furniture and household goods, financial assistance and transportation to medical appointments. Anyone wishing to volunteer should call 703-860-8804 or 703-471-9024. Check donations can be made payable to Herndon-Reston FISH, 336 Victory Drive, Herndon, Va. 20170.
* LINK, 703-437-1776, provides emergency food to residents in the Herndon-Sterling area. Check donations can be sent to LINK Inc., P.O. Box 443, Sterling, Va. 20167.
* Reston Interfaith Inc., 703-787-3100, offers assistance with housing, food, child care and advocacy. The nonprofit will begin its clothing drive in February and is always accepting donations of food items, which can be dropped off at 11484 Washington Plaza West, Suite 100, Reston.