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Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) is a non-profit organization located in Prince William County that helps individuals and families, providing services to help them become independent.
Potomac Local spoke with Tonya McCreary, director of agency communications for NVFS, about the organization and how they help the community.
PL: Who does your organization serve?
McCreary: NVFS serves vulnerable, low-income individuals and families facing threats to their self-sustainability and independence. We help prevent and end homelessness and hunger; provide job training and entrepreneurship, Early Head Start, child abuse prevention and health access programs. NVFS also serves foster children in Prince William County.
PL: Why is your organization important to the community?
McCreary: NVFS provides an array of services and programs to keep safe and secure, improving our communities’ stability and our quality of life. NVFS is committed to long-term case management and working with community resources to address the challenges facing families. This is important because in addition to helping face a crisis or emergency, NVFS is committed to helping families find pathways to stability.
As the largest social service provider in Northern Virginia, NVFS offers many opportunities for individuals, families, civic groups, churches and companies to get involved through donations and drives and volunteering.
PL: What is the history of the organization?
McCreary: SERVE celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this year, and merged with NVFS in 2009. The facility includes a 92-bed shelter for families and individuals, an 8,000 square foot Hunger Resource Center, Early Head Start, health access, child abuse prevention, and entrepreneurship programs. Northern Virginia is home to 4 of the top 12 wealthiest counties in the nation, but those same 4 counties account for over 141,000 individuals at-risk for hunger.
NVFS will expand its shelter and rapid re-housing services when it assumes management of the 30-bed Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center on July 1. Between Hilda Barg and SERVE, NVFS will operate 87% of the shelter beds in Prince William County.
NVFS worked with the Georgetown South Community to include Early Head Start in its community center, and in 2013 was the first (and only) child development program in Virginia to receive a rating of Five Stars from the Virginia Start Quality Initiative.
NVFS launched a second location of its Training Futures program at Northern Virginia Community College’s Innovation Park in the summer of 2013.
NVFS just signed contracts with two community child care partners to open two additional Early Head Start locations in Woodbridge. Details to come.
PL: Where is your organization located?
McCreary: SERVE: 10056 Dean Drive, Manassas, VA 20110
Georgetown South: 9444 Taney Road, Manassas, VA 20110
Training Futures: 9485 Innovation Drive, Suite 103, Manassas, VA 20110
Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center: 14945 Jefferson Davis Highway, Woodbridge, VA 22191
Coming Soon:
Early Head Start: 14900 Cloverdale Road, Woodbridge, VA 22193
13420 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192
PL: What is your annual budget?
McCreary: Approximately $9 Million
PL: How can residents help your cause?
McCreary: Come for a tour, volunteer, donate, advocate, get involved! Contact Jan Hawkins, [email protected] or (571) 748-2621 for more information.
PL: What makes your organization different/unique?
McCreary: NVFS is committed to helping families manage both immediate crises and long-term threats to their stability. The wide array of services and programs, along with community partnerships, help ensure comprehensive case management for families in need.
The Hunger Resource Center at SERVE is the largest provider of emergency food assistance in the region, and the only provider whose services also include SNAP Outreach, nutrition education, and cooking demonstrations. A component of our work is also focused on hunger-related research, as well as advocacy around expanding participating in the federal nutrition programs.
