Steve Liga has joined Habitat for Humanity Prince William as the part-time Interim CEO, tasked with modernizing infrastructure, enhancing operations, and leading various initiatives, including the 30th Anniversary Campaign and recruiting a new full-time CEO.

In 2022, Liga left ACTS in Dumfries after serving as its CEO for seven years.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

The Fredericksburg Food Co-op is now accepting Virginia SUN Bucks and, in partnership with Virginia Fresh Match, is doubling the value of SUN Bucks and SNAP/EBT benefits on fruits and vegetables to support low-income families. Additionally, purchases made with SNAP/EBT cards will receive 20% cashback in “Carrot Cash,” promoting access to nutritious foods and supporting local farmers.

Fredericksburg Food Co-op is excited to accept Virginia SUN Bucks. In partnership with Virginia Fresh Match, we are pleased to double the value of SUN Bucks and SNAP/EBT on fruits and vegetables to make nutritious foods more affordable for low income families.

SUN Bucks is a federal program created to fight food insecurity by providing eligible children with a one-time $120 food benefit on a Virginia SUN Bucks card to purchase SNAP-eligible food items. Benefits will begin to be distributed in August 2024. For more information about the program and eligibility, visit virginiasunbucks.com.

Fredericksburg Food Co-op is a proud partner of Virginia Fresh Match, a program where customers who pay with SNAP/EBT or SUN Bucks can double their benefits on fruits and vegetables. Simply choose your favorite fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables and present your SNAP/EBT card or SUN Bucks to the cashier to receive a 50% discount on produce. Qualifying purchases made with a SNAP/EBT card will also be eligible for 20% cashback of their total purchase price in the form of “Carrot Cash” which can be redeemed at Fredericksburg Food Co-op on your next shopping trip. Fredericksburg Food Co-op prioritizes locally-grown and sourced produce, partnering with nearby farmers to provide organic and natural ingredients.

Fredericksburg Food Co-op believes that all community members deserve affordable access to high quality fruits and vegetables. By doubling SUN Bucks and SNAP/EBT benefits, plus providing 20% cashback in the form of “Carrot Cash” Fredericksburg Food Co-op is not only helping to stretch food budgets but also supporting local farmers and the local economy. Patrons can also find non-toxic wellness and household products at the Fredericksburg Food Co-op.

About Fredericksburg Food Cooperative:
The Fredericksburg Food Co-op is a full-service community-owned grocery store located at 320 Emancipation Hwy, Fredericksburg VA 22401.The focus of our co-op is on locally grown and locally sourced products. We offer a great selection of organic and natural foods and non-toxic wellness and household products. As a community-owned cooperative, we make decisions to maximize service to our owners and our community. We strive to be a gathering place for people and ideas as well as a place to shop. Through initiatives like Virginia Fresh Match, we strive to make nutritious food accessible to everyone, support local farmers, and strengthen the local economy.

The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation (SJGF) marked its 10th anniversary with a spectacular 5th Annual Field Day Fundraiser on May 18, 2024. The event brought the community together in an inspiring display of resilience and support for the foundation’s “Raindancers.”

Despite a rainy day, the event at The Farm Brewery at Broad Run was a resounding success. It emphasized the foundation’s motto of rising to challenges, just as the Raindancers do daily.

Over 150 volunteers and nearly 50 sponsors contributed to the event’s success, including event, vendor, and prize sponsors. The Farm Brewery at Broad Run, a long-time partner of SJGF, generously provided the space at no charge and even renamed their best-selling blonde ale to “Dance in the Rain Ale” in honor of the occasion.

This year, 70 teams comprising 6-10 players aged 18 and older participated in the event. Pre-event registration for sponsors sold out in under an hour, highlighting the excitement and support from the community. The Field Day featured 10 games, a mix of classic schoolyard activities with unique twists. Participants engaged in activities ranging from the potato sack race, leapfrog, and egg relay to more whimsical challenges like a donut-themed game, a t-shirt relay, a dizzy bat, and a blindfolded pool noodle game.

The event was a joyous spectacle, with spectators enjoying the sight of adults embracing their inner children, competing, and laughing together. The atmosphere was filled with cheers and encouragement as the teams vied for the coveted “King of the Field” title. This year, the honor went to “Alex’s Dawg Pound,” a team composed of friends of Alex Green, one of SJGF’s beloved Raindancers who passed away in 2016.

The event raised over $60,000, demonstrating the community’s unwavering support for SJGF. The top three teams, as well as winners in categories such as Best Costume, Best Team Spirit, and Best Effort, received prizes donated by local businesses, including Vertical Rock, RXR3 Recovery Lounge, Heroic Axe, Studio B Salon, Bobby McKeys, and Rock Box, among others.

SJGF, founded in 2014, and based in Bristow, by Sara Knight in honor of Sara and husband Jason Knight’s daughter Julia, who passed away in 2013 due to complications of a rare disease called I-cell. Julia lived 12 beautiful years, inspiring everyone who knew her, read about her, and loved her.

Following a record-breaking fundraising gala in October 2023, STEP VA has moved into its new home on Bourbon Street.

Last fall, a 10-year anniversary gala brought in a record $50,000 for the organization. One month later, the group obtained its own space for the first time. STEP VA had been holding meetings in rooms rented or borrowed from local businesses and houses of worship to hold meetings. “Our dream is to create a space where people with disabilities feel welcome and can freely express their creativity in a space that prioritizes their sensory needs,” said Carol Yeh, STEP VA secretary.

Brigid O’Leary, STEP VA media spokesman, said that after securing the space, the organization’s programming schedule—three and a half months of preparation for the spring musical, which rolled straight into planning for the group’s cornerstone program—three weeks of summer camp sessions—left no time to get the space in order. 

Local realtor Shawn Derrick and his 12:45 Team, part of Keller Williams Capital Properties, donated a day of service to get the space ready. On May 10, the team of a dozen individuals completed a range of tasks from building shelves to hanging lights and soundproofing panels.  Sandy Habina, co-coordinator of STEP VA’s Parent Connect group, was onsite for the work. 

“They’re doing the things we know needed to be done but didn’t know when we could get to it,” she said.

Derrick, a long-time supporter of STEP VA, said “STEP VA’s mission, serving families by caring for those who have disabilities, matches our mission. We’re excited to support them financially and by giving our time to support a wonderful mission here in our local community…we know the families, we know the heart of the board and that excites us to be able to support them even more.”

STEP VA, Inc., a non-profit organization founded in 2013, provides sensory-based theater and arts programs that empower people with disabilities and their families.

Kelly Sienkowski is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News. If you’re not getting our FREE email newsletter, you are missing out. Subscribe Now!

Stafford County Public Schools: Stafford County Public Schools proudly recognized seven outstanding community partners during its annual Partner Appreciation Breakfast, held on Wednesday, May 15 at Ebenezer United Methodist Church. These esteemed partners have demonstrated exceptional dedication and support to students, staff, and school community throughout the academic year.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or create a FREE account today. Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!

The Willing Warriors Retreat houses offer cost-free stays and other non-medical programs that positively affect the recovery of wounded, ill, and injured service members and Veterans. The third house, the Grand Lodge, has six bedrooms, two of them ADA compliant. The increase in capacity will allow the retreat to help more warriors with additional programs.

This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!

Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.

The Virginia Women and Family Support Centers’ Mom’s Boutique provides support to mothers and their families, offering an array of items and services to meet their needs.

In an effort to create a welcoming environment for mothers, the Virginia Women’s and Family Support Center Mom’s Boutique, located at 14019 Glenkirk Road in Gainesville, underwent a transformation with the support of Keller Williams’ RED Day of Service on May 9. According to an email sent to Potomac Local from an organization spokeswoman, the Mom’s Boutique will allow women to relax and feel at ease while shopping for essentials for themselves and their children.

The organization provides diapers, wipes, gently used or new clothing items, including onesies and pajamas, and a variety of hygiene products like baby soap, shampoo, lotion, and diaper rash cream. It also provides feeding supplies like bottles and sippy cups and, depending on donations, baby gear such as strollers, car seats, and high chairs.

Mom’s Boutique is also focused on offering support programs tailored to the needs of women in the community.

Virginia Women and Family Support Center, formerly known as Carried To Full Term, is expanding its services and spaces to address homelessness among women, children, and families with a holistic approach.

With the support of the community, the Virginia Women and Family Support Centers’ Mom’s Boutique aims to continue its mission of ending homelessness for women and families, providing vital resources and support to those in need. The center is open every second and fourth Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon.

As of March 1, 2024, VAWFSC acquired three additional spaces, for a total of three properties – Haymarket, Gainesville, and Manassas. With this expansion, the non-profit looks forward to housing 18+ pregnant mothers and their families.

Potomac Local features a non-profit organization each week. Do you know of a non-profit doing great work to serve our communities? Let us know!

If you’re not getting our FREE email newsletter, you are missing out. Subscribe Now!

School may not even be out for the summer, but some in the community are already planning what children will need when they return to class in August.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.