Roof for the Refugees
Our love project for December is “Roof for the Refugees”. This is a project to help rescue and restore 10 boys in Nicaragura from slavery (sexual, labor). Specifically we are partnering with the One by One Missions organization in Managua to provide 10 boys with a home to begin a new life. One by One is raising money to buy and remodel a home where they will eventually be able to house between 20-30 boys. We’re looking to have ten people/families who would love to give these boys a fresh start in life by donating $150. This gift will provide a boy with a bed, mattress, sheets, blankets, pillow, clothes, toiletries, and school supplies. If you want to help please make a donation to “Common Ground Church” with a note in the memo of your check “roof for refugees” and mail it to Common Ground Church, 506 Sherry Ann Ct, Leesburg, VA 20175. For more information on this project please visit Common Ground Church, www.ecommonground.org and One by One, www.onebyonemissions.com & www.therefugeproject.com
250 BROWN BAGS
Common Ground Church is leading a love project for the Thanksgiving season called 250 Brown Bags. We encourage you, your family, and anyone you know to join in on this love project. Our goal is to fill at least 250 grocery bags with non-perishable food to be donated to a low-income community of around 50 homes in Lucketts to help them through the holiday season. To make this project a success we’re doing the following…
Collecting Food
We’re asking everyone to personally provide food and to get others they know involved as well. Team work is key to getting this project done. Go door to door (maybe pass out flyers) and ask neighbors to help. Ask you company if you can put out a box to have co-workers drop off food. Partner with your child’s sport teams or local club they are a part of. Get creative. Food drop-off dates and locations are:
- Sundays, Nov 7th, 14th @11am, and 21st from 9am-noon. Common Ground Church Sunday Gathering, John W. Tolbert Elementary School, 691 Potomac Station Drive, Leesburg, VA 20176
- Friday, Nov 19th, 10am-9pm D’Agostino House, 506 Sherry Ann Court, SE, Leesburg, VA 20176
Giant Food Collection: Saturdays, November 13th and 20th.
We’re working with the downtown Giant in Leesburg (near PetSmart) to set-up food collection areas in front of store. This was a huge success last year. If you would like to help please contact Matt Garcia, mgar1638@aol.com or 703-869-0612.
Youth Food Collection: Saturday, November 20th, 9am-Noon
We’re taking young people (6th-12th grade) door to door in some local neighborhoods to ask them to donate food for this project. All young people are invited out. We’ll meet at the D’Agostino house, 506 Sherry Ann Court, Leesburg, VA 20175 at 9am and then head out. We’ll eat some pizza and hang out when we’re done. If you want to be a part of this contact Sal D’Agostino, cg@ecommonground.org or 571-223-6135.
Give Thanks & Break-A-Leg Packing Party: Sunday, November 21st, 9am (Tolbert Elementary School)
We invite everyone to come out and enjoy a family day of fun including sharing a thanksgiving meal, flag football (if you want), moon bounces, and packing of the groceries that have been donated. This event will be held at John W. Tolbert Elementary School, 691 Potomac Station Drive, Leesburg, VA 20176. After our time together a group of us will drive the groceries to the community we’re supporting and deliver the food. If you will be a part of this special day please do the following:
•Register at: in person at Sunday Gathering or by clicking here
•Bring a side dish: bring a side dish of food to share with everyone
For more information regarding this love project or any love project you can email us, loveproject@ecommonground.org
6th Annual GSA Walk for Shelter
We’re once again going to help the Good Shepherd Alliance put on their Walk for Shelter on September 18th. The GSA is the leading non-profit organization committed to serving the needs of the homeless and near homeless in Loudoun County. The purpose of the walk is two-fold: to raise money and awareness. Last year we saw huge success - 248 walkers (100+ more than any other year) came out to walk. Like last year we’re going to be providing the volunteers to make this the best walk ever! We’re in charge of providing and serving a lunch, moon bounces, sound, directing traffic, and more. Here’s how everyone can help specifically:
- Register to walk: whether you volunteer or not everyone should register to walk by visiting www.loudounhomeless.org.
- Volunteer: if you would like to volunteer please email us at, loveproject@ecommonground.org.
Let’s spread the word and roll up our sleeves to serve on behalf of those in need.
FEED 30
Common Ground Church is helping R.O.C.K. (Recreation Outreach Community Kids), a Town of Leesburg outreach program, to provide meals for 30 underprivileged families. Children who would normally have meals provided for free or at a reduced rate by their schools will be left scrounging for food during the summer or going hungry. Our love project FEED 30 is our effort to show these families love by providing them groceries. Are you ready to spread the love and FEED 30? Register here. Download detailed information such as the food list and drop off times and locations here.
If you have any questions please email us, loveproject@ecommonground.org
Random Acts of Love
Our love project for the month of March is Random Acts of Love. This project is a challenge to give away unbound love. Unbound love is a love that stretches us, a love that is unsual and possibly uncomfortable. It could be that you offer love to someone you don’t know, don’t usually love, or simply an act of spontaneous love. It’s a once a week challenge for the month of March that we hope will become a normal part of your life. Inspire others to love by sharing your story under the LOVE STORY section of our website.
Give Away Sole Love
Common Ground Church and Main Street Wings are partnering with Soles 4 Souls, a worldwide 501(c)3 organization, to bring shoes to the hurting including orphans, homeless, those in poverty, abused woman, & natural weather victims. The concept is simple: love others by giving them shoes. Giving Sole Love away is as easy as one, two, three:
1. COLLECT SHOES…
Gather up any new or gently used (you would still wear them) shoes around the house
2. DROP THEM OFF…
Drop off shoes between Monday, Jan 11th- Feb 1st at one of our drop off locations
3. GET OTHERS TO GIVE SOLE LOVE…
Ask family and friends to join you in giving sole love away by giving them this information.
Download detailed information on the SOLE LOVE love project including drop off times and locations here. If you have questions please email us, cg@ecommonground.org.
12 days of christmas
Our love project for December is 12 Days of Christmas. Though we enjoy reflecting on and celebrating the incredible love story of Christmas we want to embody the love story by meeting the practical needs of those in our community by serving them. 12 Days of Christmas is 12 days of serving others in love:
1. OPERATION PINECONE: Saturday, December 5th, 9-11am @ Moe’s in Leesburg
Wrapping gifts, stuffing stockings for soldiers deployed overseas.
2. PURCELLVILLE FIRE/RESCUE DINNER: Monday, Dec 7th, 7pm
Providing desserts & drinks for a dinner to thank the staff and volunteers of the Purcellville Fire/Rescue Departments.
3. BLANKETS OF LOVE: Tuesday, Dec 8th, 6pm
Making homemade, kid friendly blankets for kids at INOVA hospitals.
4. GSA LADIES PAMPERING: Thursday, Dec., 10th , 7pm
Pampering ladies of the Good Shepherd Alliance homeless shelters
5. HERITAGE HALL NURSING HOME CAROLING: Friday, Dec. 11th, 6pm
Children & Junior Highers lifting the spirits of the elderly with singing and a craft project
6. ADOPT-A-FAMILY: Saturday, Dec 12th, 9am
Helping a single mom of five children who recently bought a home and then lost her job with various work, organizing, and cleaning projects around the house.
7. INOVA VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION: Dec 13th, 3pm
Providing bake goods to thank all of the volunteers at INOVA hospital for giving love and care to those in need
8. OPERATION CHRISTMAS KIDS: Thursday, Dec. 17th, 7pm
Providing gifts for five children of a single mother. To get more information including the children’s wish-list click here.
9. LEESBURG FIRE/RESCUE DINNER: Friday, Dec., 18th, 6pm
Providing dinner to thank the staff and volunteers of the Leesburg Fire/Rescue Departments
10. PARENT’S DAY OUT: Saturday, Dec. 19th, 9am-1pm
Providing free child-care so parents can have free time to shop for Christmas or to reconnect with people during Christmas season. To register click here
11. GSA WORK DAY: Saturday, Dec. 19th, 9am
Providing manual labor for the Good Shepherd Alliance homeless shelters
12. CHRISTMAS GATHERING: Sunday, December 20th, 11am
Sharing and celebrating the incredible love story of Christmas with our community
If you want more information about 12 Days of Christmas including more detailed info and how to connect with one of these serving opportunities click here.
100 BROWN BAGS
Our love project for October and November is 100 Brown Bags. Our goal is to fill at least 100 brown bags with groceries for donation to Interfaith Relief to help needy families during the holiday season. How can you be a part?
- Each person commit to fill at least one bag
- Each person inviting others to fill at least one brown bag (team building)
Will you show love to our community by filling at least one brown bag? If you would like to speak with someone about 100 Brown Bags email loveproject@ecommonground.org. To get more details about 100 Brown Bags including the “food wish list” click here. To let us know you’re commiting to fill at least one brown bag please register by clicking here.
Love Projects
GOOD SHEPHERD ALLIANCE WALK FOR SHELTER - Saturday, September 19th
Common Ground is partnering with GSA to help them put on a walk to raise awareness and money for Loudoun’s homeless. We’re going to be playing a big role in making this walk a reality so we need all the help we can get. Part of our responsibilities include marketing and asking local business to sponsor this event prior to the walk. We’re also going to help them set-up, run the days events, and provide family fun activities including moon bounces. We’re encouraging everyone to register to walk and to invite family and friends to join them. Registration is $20 per person. If you would like to learn more about this event or you want to register to walk visit GSA’s website, www.loudounhomeless.org. If you would like to volunteer with Common Ground in this love project register on the event page in the Welcome Back section by clicking the event on Saturday, September 19th.
PANERA BREAD - Ongoing
Each week Panera donates hundreds of dollars worth of bread, bagels, and pastries to us. We in turn give this bread to anyone in need. If you or someone you know could use some bread please email us, cg@ecommonground.org. The bread is ready to be delivered or picked-up on Saturday mornings.