Serving our community is important to us at Fairfax Circle Church. Our desire is to show the love of Christ to Northern Virginia and the DC Metro area by meeting various needs in our community. There are several areas of opportunity for you to get involved. For more information, and to learn how you can volunteer, please follow the links provided or email us at info@fairfaxcirclechurch.org.

The Lamb Center

The Lamb Center is a daytime drop-in center for the poor and homeless in central Fairfax County. It offers guests a warm, welcoming environment and services including breakfast, lunch, laundry service, showers, haircuts, pro bono legal counseling, AA and addiction counseling, general healthcare, Bible studies, fellowship, job search help, and much more. Find out how you can help or volunteer.

Our church also provides a lunch one Saturday a month for the guests of the Lamb Center, usually on the 3rd Saturday of the month.  Make sure that you check the church calendar because sometimes holidays or events cause us to move our day.  We start cooking at the church around 9am.  We are always looking for volunteers to help prepare and serve this monthly lunch and are recruiting a volunteer coordinator for this ministry.  If you would like more information about volunteering, please email us at info@fairfaxcirclechurch.org.

FACETS

One of our local ministry partners is an organization called FACETS. Founded in 1988, FACETS is a well-established nonprofit organization that touches and improves the lives of thousands of families and individuals every year. They do this by helping people meet their emergency shelter, food, and medical needs, helping them gain safe, sustainable and permanent housing and working with them to end the cycle of poverty through educational, life skills and career counseling programs. Their multi-disciplinary professional staff manages a comprehensive range of programs and services and a volunteer base of several thousand people.

FACETS works in three community centers from Fairfax to Centreville: Ragan Oaks, Robinson Square and Barros Circle. Families living in these affordable housing communities have limited financial resources, with an average annual income for a family of four of approximately $18,000.

Below are some ministry opportunities currently available through our partnership FACETS:

• Tutoring for Local Students – Tutoring and other supportive programs for students take place after school and in the evenings and focus on academics, building self-esteem, substance abuse prevention, forming healthy relationships and college or career planning. In FY12, approximately 450 youth participated in FACETS’ community programs. Nearly 90% of children who received homework and tutoring help improved their GPAs or overall academic performance.
• Back to School Back Pack Ministry – Each August we collect school supplies and new backpacks for low income children in Fairfax County. The supplies and backpacks are distributed in communities through “Back to School” parties coordinated through FACETS.

Hypothermia Response Program

Each year, hundreds of individuals living on the streets, in cars, and in abandoned buildings in Fairfax County/City search for shelter from the winter weather. Beginning each year in late November, FACETS works with 34 faith communities in the area to offer safe places to sleep and nutritious meals to homeless men and women through their Hypothermia Prevention and Response Program. This program is one of five operated across Fairfax and Falls Church in partnership with the Fairfax County government.

In operation since 2003, the program has evolved from solely offering a safe haven to also offering life-enhancing programs. Last year 244 guests were served in the Hypothermia Prevention and Response Program. Approximately half of these guests participated in case management services, leading to 10 individuals moving off the streets and into housing.

Fairfax Circle serves in this program in March. We transition our building into a one-week shelter providing guests with a place to sleep, three meals a day plus snacks, metro fare cards and other services. This ministry requires a large number of volunteers.

Side By Side Ministries

Side By Side Ministries, a non-profit started by our church, serving vulnerable children.

Braddock Glen

On the first Sunday of each month after the 2nd service, we gather at the church to go over the craft before heading over to Braddock Glen Assisted Living Facility to lead a simple craft class for the older adults.  Make sure that you bring a bag lunch or grab lunch on the way over.  Our purpose is to love on and assist the seniors with the craft.  Braddock Glen is at 4027 Olley Lane, Fairfax.  This is a great family activity!  If you would like more information about volunteering, please email us at info@fairfaxcirclechurch.org.