Britepaths assistance programs in Fairfax County VA.
Britepaths supports northern Virginia and Fairfax County. The faith based organization can provide financial assistance to disadvantaged families, both by referrals and their own programs. Examples of services include Food Bridge, grants for rent or utility bills, free food or clothes and even free back to school supplies or workforce programs. Find details on Britepaths assistance programs below, and please note the charity was formerly called Our Daily Bread.
Find emergency and immediate financial assistance programs or basic needs
The agency, Britepaths (formerly called ODB) for short, administers the Food Bridge program. This is a resource that will provide short-term assistance to impoverished county residents as they work towards self-sufficiency. Social workers refer qualified clients to the program, and most clients receive food assistance or some type of hunger prevention support for four to six months.
Emergency financial assistance is also available on a limited basis for clients in crisis. Britepaths not only maintains a pantry comprising non-perishable food for the program, but also distributes grocery gift cards or funds for certain bills, as noted below. The gift cards allow residents of Fairfax County to meet their unique dietary needs and obtain fruits, vegetables, bread, meats, and dairy items that the agency cannot store in its pantry.
Moreover, the grocery gift cards help clients practice financial management skills to get the most out of every dollar they spend on their monthly grocery bills. At least one day per week, Britepaths delivers either food or free gift cards to dozens of the agency’s Food Bridge clients. The non-profit organization is always in need of volunteers and/or donations from the community to help operate this program.
Individuals and families who are in financial trouble can turn to Britepaths for help. The organization notes that because Fairfax County lacks a sufficient amount of affordable housing in the area, unexpected medical emergencies, car problems and other money-related issues can force many residents to the brink of homelessness.
To help address this problem, Britepaths provides modest monetary aid to clients who are facing a crisis. There may be cash grants for rent or even utility bills. Community members donate the funds necessary to provide this service.
The Our Daily Bread agency administers a financial literacy service to help working individuals and families make the most out of their resources by developing strong budgeting skills. The program also helps residents rebuild credit as well as offer tips on prioritizes saving money for the future.
In addition to classes on budgeting and credit, the program features six-month-long financial mentoring sessions. ODB provides numerous opportunities for clients to access the financial literacy program, giving them flexibility to fit the service into their schedule.
Every year from June through August, Britepaths partners with Collect for Kids of Fairfax County Virginia to manage the back to school program. This countywide effort aims to ensure that children from indigent families in northern Virginia have the supplies as well as clothing they need to succeed in school. This can also include free cell phones, tablets or wireless devices, including from Lifeline or other telephone programs in the region. Find more details on free government phones in VA.
The program is supported by Fairfax County Public Schools, Kids R First, the Fairfax County Office of Public and Private Partnerships, Apple Federal Credit Union, and many community-based organizations and businesses.
During the holiday season, Britepaths oversees a Thanksgiving as well as Christmas program that distributes food and gifts to needy families. This service benefits thousands of local families as well as senior citizens. It allows them to celebrate the holidays. Community support is crucial to the successful operation of this program.
Comprehensive social services from Britepaths
Project BRIDGE is initiative that is a combination of the agency’s food, financial aid, budgeting and free holiday programs. This are combined together and leverage community resources to provide individualized, flexible services to working-poor individuals and families in Fairfax County VA.
Project BRIDGE is a comprehensive, supportive program that emphasizes personal financial management as well as career development with the goal of helping clients move beyond public assistance. The goal is to help low-income families achieve long-term financial self-sufficiency. The program includes tangible incentives for success, such as graduation bonuses.
This resource also encourages clients to enroll in the Workforce Incentive program, in which people can receive up to a $500 stipend for use towards certain bills. The money, or no interest loan, can be used to pay for job development training or skill certification programs. There are also free apprentiship programs and classes with major companies in northern VA, and the agency can help fill those roles. Learn more on, and find out what an apprenticeship is.
Information on applying for help
For more information regarding any of the services available, please contact Britepaths (formerly Our Daily Bread). The office is located at 3959 Pender Dr #200, Fairfax, VA 22030. Call (703) 273-8829
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