Bank of America and Metaphase volunteers help youth “shop” for presents for their siblings during FACETS’ Holiday Sibling Shops held at four Fairfax public and affordable housing communities. Photos contributed
FACETS, a nonprofit that opens doors for people who suffer the effects of poverty in Fairfax County, hosted four Sibling Shops in preparation for the holidays. Sibling Shops are holiday parties for children whose families live in affordable and public housing communities and have an average income under $20,000 for a family of four, as well children whose families were recently homeless. The parties—which feature food and games—allow the children to “shop” among the donated gifts for a present for their brothers and/or sisters and then wrap them to give during the holiday season.
The parties were held at Barros Community Center, Centreville; the Ragan Oaks Community Center, Fairfax (near Fair Oaks); Robinson Square Community Center (near GMU), Fairfax; and Wedgewood Community Center (Fairfax’s largest public housing community), Annandale.
Nearly 300 children, clients, volunteers from partner organizations, including Bank of America, eMotion, and Metaphase and FACETS leadership participated in four Sibling Shops in mid-December.