The holidays should be a time of warmth and celebration, but for many Northern Virginia families, they bring tough choices between groceries, heating bills, and gifts. Britepaths' Holiday Program helps ease that burden by providing grocery store gift cards so parents can prepare holiday meals and create joyful memories with their children. 

We're already preparing for this year's Winter Wonderland, a two-day celebration featuring crafts, community resources, and activities. Parents will have the opportunity to choose gifts for their children and pick up their grocery gift cards in person. This event reflects our holistic, community-centered approach, showing families that their neighbors truly care. 

Our Holiday Program donation portal is now open. Early gifts will help us prepare for 

Winter Wonderland and ensure every family we serve experiences comfort and cheer 

this upcoming holiday season.

October was a month full of collaboration and community impact. The Financial Empowerment Center at South County teamed up with the Financial Planning Association GMU Student Chapter for an in-person workshop on savings and investing. Volunteer Hever Castro of SEIA led 16 student members through real-world lessons on building an emergency fund, understanding the S&P 500, and making smart financial choices for the future. Meanwhile, Colonial Energy spent their volunteer day packing weekend food bags for Frost Middle School through our Food4Thought Program. Their teamwork and generosity will make sure students head into the weekend with the nourishment they need to learn and thrive. When local partners share their time and expertise, the ripple effects reach far beyond a single day and strengthen our entire community.

See what community looks like in action! Watch our new behind-the-scenes video 

from Stuff the Bus to hear directly from volunteers, donors, and neighbors about 

why food security, especially for families with pets, matters so deeply. 

From loading donations to sharing personal stories, these moments capture the 

heart of what makes this event so special.

Looking for a meaningful way to get involved? Join us for one of our upcoming volunteer events and help support local families in our community.