Committee for Helping Others

At our last Board meeting, Steward and Marlyn Gordon, David Wilson, and Sandra Frederick gave a brief presentation about the inaugural Vienna Robert Burns Ball held at the Vienna Moose Lodge on Jan 24, 2026. The Ball included a silent auction; and they presented a check to CHO for $2849.06.

As Scotland's national poet himself said, "The heart benevolent and kind, The most resembles God.” Thank you !

We are excited that Giant Food has selected CHO to benefit from the Community Bag Program throughout the month of MARCH.

Every time a $2.75 reusable Community Bag is purchased at the Vienna Giant located at 359 Maple Ave E., $1 will be donated to CHO. This is a great way to broaden awareness of our mission and help our cause.

Please buy a bag, and share the news with friends and family!

Thanks, Anne Moran, CHO Publicity

CHO Christmas Store Spreads JOY
One hundred and two families (615 individuals) were helped at this year’s CHO Christmas Store, and some gift cards and packages are still being delivered. Thanks to the 80 volunteers who showed up to help and to all who donated toys, cash and gift cards! We couldn’t have done it without you!

Our third shed for furniture is finally up and available for our use. Thanks to all who helped make it happen. As a reminder, we do accept donations of gently used furniture that would be useful for smaller dwelling areas; beds and tables and chairs most needed. Call 202-681-5279 for more information.

CHO Chair Todd Hall joined other faith leaders and representatives of the Lamb Center at the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service sponsored by the Shepherd's Center and hosted by Emmaus United Church of Christ and Vienna Baptist Church. Todd spoke about CHO's mission and the intense happiness some of the smallest of gifts can bring to our neighbors in need.

HELP CHO THIS GIVING TUESDAY
YOUR DONATION MAY BE MATCHED !

This year, CHO is participating in Giving Tuesday (December 2nd) in a special way. A group of individuals approached CHO and offered to match 100% of all donations up to $20,000 made between November 2 and December 2 in support of Giving Tuesday. Your donation could double in value this year! To make a donation go to cho-va.org and use the DONATE NOW button at the bottom of the page, or send a check to CHO, PO Box 233, Vienna VA 22183. Thank you for your important gift.

The Vienna CROP Hunger Walk raised $18,000 for local and international hunger relief efforts and had around 120 walkers on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Congratulations to all team captains, to CROP Walk Chair Lisa Hechtman, and to Marsha Komandt from Emmaus UCC, and Belinda Addae from Church World Services. Special thanks to Nancy Scott, who organized snack bags for kids to be distributed by the CHO Food Closet. Thanks to Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert, Elder Robert Faison from Emmaus and Reverend Jon Strand from the Church of the Holy Comforter and Todd Hall from CHO for joining our opening program.

Many thanks to the individuals and teams participating, including Emmaus UCC, Vienna Baptist Church, the Church of the Holy Comforter, the Baha’i Faith of Vienna, The Church of the Latter Day Saints – Oakton Ward, Hope United Methodist Church, Lillique Training Institute of Fairfax, Team CHO, and Westwood Country Club.

Help the CHO Christmas Store today and tomorrow! It's Amazon Prime day today and tomorrow, and folks thinking about taking advantage of the deals can also browse the CHO Christmas Store toy list and add a few items to bring joy to less fortunate children at our Christmas Store this December 6. Some of these items may be on sale.

The link to a list of suggested toys is below.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2PQP1SZW1FOVH?ref_=wl_share

Drop off your donations at Vienna Presbyterian Church (VPC) on December 5 between 9 a.m. and noon, or call 703-281-7614, box #1 to make early donations. You can also send them directly from Amazon using the above link; there is an option to send to Amy Hanson, who is collecting the toys.

Thanks for all you do !

Help CHO by purchasing a reusable bag from the Vienna Giant !

Starting today and through September 30, CHO will receive $1 for every reusable Community Bag purchased for $2.75 at the Giant Food store located 359 Maple Avenue East, Vienna, through Giant’s Community Bag Program! Let’s get started ! Please share the news with friends , family, and your community.

Shout out to our volunteers!

We held a reception on June 1 to thank our many volunteers at CHO, including those who help at our Food and Clothes Closet, and those who support our furniture distribution and emergency services, as well as those who organize food and clothing drives and work at the Christmas Store. We could not do it without you ! Many, many thanks to all of you, to the Church of the Holy Comforter for allowing us to use their space, and especially to Shawna, Heather, and Nancy, who put the event together.

Thanks to all who participated in the Stuff the Bus event on Saturday January 18. We collected almost 770 pounds of food. Many thanks to Giant Food and its employees, Fairfax County and the Vienna Oakton Young Men's Service League whose volunteers helped to collect donations, "stuff the bus" and unpack the bus at the Food Closet.