During the summer, most families are thinking about hanging up their backpacks and finding the sunscreen. Sadly, this isn’t the case for many of our Fairfax County neighbors who struggle to make ends meet. With the cost of living as expensive as it is, many people spend most of their income on housing and basic necessities. Each year, as students progress from one grade to the next, they receive a long list of school supplies that they must purchase in order to be prepared for the coming year. On average, it costs $40 per child to purchase all the required supplies. For people with limited incomes, the struggle to afford these supplies looms just around the corner.

Our Daily Bread’s Back to School program ensures Fairfax County children start the school year off with their best foot forward. Last year, we modified the program to give you two options to help neighboring needy families.

• “Adopt” a Child - We encourage you to “adopt” a child or a family of children to provide school supplies for the upcoming academic year. By “adopting” a child, you have the opportunity not only to provide their required supplies, but perhaps to purchase a new backpack, jacket, or pair of shoes.  Remember what is was like to show up on the first day with a new pair of shoes?  Email Molly and adopt today
• Note: Our Daily Bread is no longer matching children for adoption.  If you would like to help, please proceed to option two below.

• Donate - Any designated monetary donations that you give will be used to purchase gift cards for school supplies. In 2007, we raised over $4,500 and assisted 135 children, 53 were adopted by other families.   Those children not adopted were given a $40 gift card to Office Depot.

We are very proud of our past accomplishments and would love to build on them by expanding this program and helping more children in need. This year, we are serving twice as many children as were served last year. Over 80 of these children remain unmatched to date.  It is important that these children return to school, prepared and unashamed. Still, we cannot do this alone; we need the support of the community. On behalf of Our Daily Bread and the families that we serve, we would greatly appreciate any assistance that you can offer.

To make a donation click the "donate now" button. 

To adopt a child or several children, email Molly, our summer intern.

For further information, contact our office at 703-273-8829.