SERVING LOCALLY AFFECTS THE WORLD GLOBALLY

On a chilly, Saturday morning, November 21, about 40 people, mostly young people, gathered to raise funds for "Schools of Africa" and for local youth group leadership programs through raking leaves. This annual leaf raking fundraiser has been a tradition in the Northern Virginia (NOVA), community for over 12 years. These last two years, the local Northern Virginia WFWP chapter has partnered with the NOVA Family Church Youth Group to raise funds both for Schools of Africa and for the youth group's leadership programs.

This year the group gathered at 8 o'clock in the morning, to share donuts and coffee and learn about the eight schools in Africa supported by WFWP. Mrs. Zena Ruf, the local WFWP chairwoman, shared about one graduate from a WFWP supported school in Mozambique who went on to study medicine and became a doctor. He is now one of the two doctors in a hospital, and is seeing nearly 90 patients a day from early morning to midnight.

Next Mr. Owin Pierson, the Youth Minister, shared about having the heart of service and how young people can make a significant difference in the lives of others through their service.

Finally, empowered by donuts and coffee and inspired by the speakers, the leaf-rakers were driven to various locations by the Moms, Dads, and young adults, to begin raking leaves for the day. Flyers had been handed out earlier in the week and families had already signed up to have a group of young people rake their lawn for a fundraising benefit.

Also, in prior weeks, local businesses had been contacted for food donations to support the young people in their fundraising effort. Dunkin' Donuts gave coffee and donuts; Subway gave sandwiches for lunch; McDonalds gave hamburgers for lunch; Papa John's and Dominoes gave pizza for dinner; Wegman's gave chicken and snack foods; and Hunan West gave fried rice for dinner. WFWP Moms and Dads helped with the driving, food organization, and food pickup.

At 6 o'clock in the evening, all of the young people returned to the Learning Center to conclude the day with pizza and fried rice. In all, the leaf raking effort this year raised $1,605 to be split evenly between the WFWP Schools of Africa Project and the youth leadership programs. NOVA WFWP thanks all those involved for making this fundraising effort possible.