ECHO's Needs for September/October

Food Drives for ECHO

A county-wide Stuff the Bus Day is scheduled for September 19, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Food donated at the Springfield Governmental Center, 6140 Rolling Road, is designated for ECHO’s Food Pantry. For the past 15 years, this Fairfax County Government initiative has brought thousands of pounds of urgently needed, non-perishable food and hygiene supplies to area non-profit organizations. 

The September Burke-Springfield Interfaith Food Drive for ECHO will collect food on Saturday, September 19 at the Huntsman Giant, 7501 Huntsman Blvd, Springfield, from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM and on September 26 from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 6942 Sydenstricker Road, Springfield. Look for flyers or other announcements if more collection sites are added. This drive is hosted by the Rolling Valley, Springfield, and Burke Congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who are inviting more congregations to join this effort to help feed the hungry in our community. 

Please mark your calendar for these food drives and help ECHO keep our pantry stocked. ECHO can use most kitchen staples sized for a household of 4-5. We cannot use opened, expired, or re-packaged products. Please consider donating some of these important items: brown paper grocery bags and reusable grocery bags, spaghetti sauce and pasta, canned fruit, peanut butter and jam, cereal, lemon juice, dry beans, masa flour, rice, toilet paper, adult toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shampoo.

Spend a Spooky Halloween Morning at the ECHO Yard Sale

Treat yourself on Halloween by searching for treasures at ECHO’s famous Fall Yard Sale. Join the fun on Saturday, October 31, 8:00 AM to noon in the gym at St. Bernadette’s School, 7600 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, for a massive sale of home accessories, fashion items, collectibles, toys, electronics, and more. You will have all afternoon to prepare your home and family for Trick or Treating! ECHO’s semi-annual yard sales support our mission of helping people in our community.

ECHO’s Current Needs

We are adding to our team of Teen Program volunteers to be ready for fall. We need volunteers who enjoy young people and are available to work in pairs to supervise a group of six teens on one or more Wednesday evenings a month from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Also, ECHO has a few openings for volunteers interested in Clothing, or Housewares, or Food, or the IT support team. In addition, ECHO is looking for some volunteers who are ready to put their leadership skills to work to serve the community. We hope to find some enthusiastic leaders for Directorships of Client Engagement, the Volunteer Program, and for Donation Management. To find out details, contact our Volunteer Coordinator through our website at www.echo-inc.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/. 

ECHO’s Housewares Department would very much appreciate donations of 3-quart pots, bathmats, silverware, and towels—bath, hand, and facecloths. Also, the Clothing Room is distributing fall and winter clothing now, so we welcome donations that will keep our clients warm. As school starts back, please remember that ECHO always needs new or gently used sneakers for children. 

ECHO receives donations at the Donation Door on the west side of the building from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Monday through Friday, and from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, as well as one Saturday morning a month. Please see our website, www.echo-inc.org to find out which Saturday we are open and to check the list of things we cannot take. Donors should be aware that it costs ECHO money to discard donated items that we cannot use, thus reducing our budget for helping local people experiencing hardship. 

Upcoming Dates to Note

September 5 - Saturday Opening
September 7 - Closed for Labor Day
September 9 - Executive Committee Meeting
September 13 - Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
September 19 - Stuff the Bus, Springfield Gov't Center, Interfaith Food Drive, Huntsman Giant
September 21 - Board of Directors Meeting
October 3 - Saturday Opening
October 12 - Closed for Columbus Day/ Indigenous Peoples Day
October 31 - Yard Sale, St. Bernadette’s Gym

Congregational and Other Food Drives

September -Burke Presbyterian, St. Andrew’s Episcopal, Rolling Valley LDS 
October - St. Mark’s Lutheran, Burke United Methodist

For more information about ECHO on the following topics, please click any of the links below:
How to Get Help from ECHO
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ECHO Food and Clothing Amazon Wish List