Our Daily Bread
| WISH LIST
$500: workbooks for budget class clients;
$1500: 2 weeks of supplemental groceries for 30 families;
$2,500: winter holiday meal and small gift for each child in 100 families
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What is ODB? Whatever Fairfax County needs it to be! Ten years ago, when the county lacked a homeless shelter, Our Daily Bread opened its doors; when the county was able to build its own shelter, ODB moved on to fill another need. These days, its focus is the working poor. There are virtually no services for these formerly self-sufficient families who have fallen on hard times, often because of a medical problem, emergency, or economic crisis. ODB helps families get back on their feet, collecting and delivering free groceries from its network of churches, schools, community organizations, and local businesses; offering “grants” to help with necessities like work uniforms, car repairs, and rental deposits; assisting clients with the daunting task of applying for food stamps, SSDI, or low-cost housing; and introducing them to resources for finding employment, transportation, or day care. Clients identified as especially at-risk receive training from volunteers who help them plan for economic independence with budgeting classes and financial mentoring. Knowing that the holidays can be especially difficult, ODB also provides Thanksgiving meals, and gives new school supplies and book bags to students who would otherwise go without. You can help ODB make sure that no one slips through the cracks.
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