Rachel Harris is seven years old and busy running her new company. It started a year ago when on the commute home from day care Rachel announced to her mother, Jen Sterling, "I want to be a big boss like you and daddy when I grow up." Sterling told her that to be in charge, Rachel needed to start a business.  "What would your company do?" she asked her daughter. "I want to help people," Rachel replied. That is somewhat of a family tradition. Sterling has been giving back to her community serving as chair of both the Greater Reston and Loudoun County chambers of commerce and donating services …

Supporting Reston artists during the holiday season benefits more than just the artist.  It's also a way to contribute to those in the community who are most in need. For the twelfth year, Reston artists have again teamed with the Reston Community Center to offer "Gifts from the HeART."  The multimedia gallery of local works is on display at RCC's Jo Ann Rose Gallery at Lake Anne through Jan. 3.  Reston Community Center donates all hanging fees to Reston Interfaith. The artists donate 10 percent of their sales from the exhibit. Cheri Danaher, RCC's Arts Education Director, said RCC began the …

Perkowitz +Ruth Architects braved the inclement weather to collect canned goods and financial donations for at Reston Town Center for Reston Interfaith on Thursday. Staffers collected more than 2,000 pounds to deliver to the food pantry.  Top donors received prizes from local business sponsors.

Dogs in their holiday shiniest turned out Saturday for the 10th Annual Santa Pawz Portraits at Reston Town Center.   Carnival, a black and tan CoonHound-Shepherd mix and Delila, Shepherd-Lab mix, barked their Christmas wish lists to the very attentive Santa.  Proceeds from the photo shoot will support GoodDogz.org, a local non-profit that promotes animal welfare education.   

  1.  Prepare meals Reston Interfaith needs community members to provide warm meals for 30 people each night through March 31.   Click here for details. 2.  Give back to the Reston Community Center There are many opportunities to give time and talent at events, with the seniors or youngsters.  Click here for more information. 3.  Wrap presents Hyatt Regency Reston is hosting the Kids R First gift wrap fundraiser.  Bring your gifts for wrapping or volunteer for a shift.  4.  Support youth musicians  South Lakes Chamber Orchestra and Choruses present their Masterworks on Dec. 21, featuring the …

Hunter Mill Supervisor Cathy Hudgins hosted Reston residents and supporters for holiday open house at the North County Government Center on Wednesday. Among some of the Reston faces in the crowd: Reston Citizens Association president Marion Stillson; Reston Association president Kathleen Driscoll McKee and Reston Community Center executive director Leila Gordon, among others. So what are some of the leaders' Christmas wishes for the community? Leila Gordon: "Housing for everyone." Kathleen Driscoll McKee: "There are so many wonderful things I would like to give to Reston. But I just hope …

Weichert, Realtors is collecting toys though Dec. 10 as part of its 32nd Annual Toy Drive.  Members of the community are invited to drop off new, unwrapped toys at each of the company's sales offices, including the Reston location.  The toys will be delivered throughout the holidays in conjunction with local charities that assist disadvantaged children.           "Each year marks a new opportunity to make a difference and brighten the spirits of those less fortunate in this country," said Jim Weichert, president and founder of Weichert, Realtors. Long & Foster Realtors and National Realty are…

Members of the Good Neighbors Woodworking Group stopped by Lutie Lewis Coates Elementary School in Herndon Tuesday to deliver 40 handmade toys to kindergarten students. The woodworking group is comprised of area senior citizens. The group meets each Tuesday morning in the woodshop at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. The toy making and donation has become an annual tradition of more than 20 years.

  Shop on Saturday without going to the mall by charting a route to four alternative gift markets to find unique gifts for everyone on your list.  Best of all, proceeds support area nonprofits. Alternative Gift Market at Unitarian Universalist Church                Where: 1625 Wiehle Ave, Reston, VA 20190 Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Website: http://www.uureston.org   Friends of Reston Shopping Extravaganza  Where: 12001 Sunrise Valley Dr, Reston, VA 20190 (Reston Association's headquarters)  Time: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Website: http://friendsofreston.wordpress.com/    Reston Giving Circle of Hope …

Reston Interfaith coordinates a community center in the Stonegate Village, a local subsidized apartment community. On Saturday, Stonegate Village is hosting its third annual Elf Store, where 80 kids will participate in the giving spirit by "shopping" for gifts for their parents.  With the help of donors and adult volunteers, the kids wrap donated gifts and make arts and crafts projects to show their parents a little love and appreciation Staffers expect 80 customers, so Reston Interfaith is seeking donations of new or very gently used household items or clothes (particularly for men) to fully…

The Bargain Loft, a thrift store operated by the non-profit organization Herndon-Reston FISH, Inc. transforms itself this month into a Holiday Shop.  When it reopens  Tuesday at 10 a.m., shoppers will find both new and slightly used holiday decorations and gifts.  Lines form early. Herndon-Reston FISH, Inc. is a volunteer, non-sectarian, non-profit organization dedicated to helping neighbors meet emergencies and short-term needs with rent, transportation, furniture, utilities and medication. Holiday hours:  Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. to 6pm.  Dec. 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m…

For nearly 300 volunteers, Thanksgivng Day was a day to give back.  Reston Interfaith, Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Reston Community Center co-sponsored a November food drive, which culminated in Thursday's annual Thanksgiving day sort-a-thon. Sixty-three public and private organizations placed dropoff boxes in their offices during November to gather canned goods from their customers and employees. "We didn't collect as much food as last year, but we had double the volunteers come out," said Kevin Danaher, special events director for Reston Community Center.  For some, volunteering…

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, WPGC radio, and CW television distributed complete Thanksgiving meals to families from Cedar Ridge Apartments and Forest Edge Elementary School in Reston on Tuesday. Meals consisted of a whole turkey; stuffing; macaroni and cheese; fruit;  and cans of turkey gravy and cranberry sauce. This marks the second consecutive year that  Hudgins has worked with WPGC radio to help families at Thanksgiving.  In 2009, families in the Southgate community received turkey dinners.In recent years the radio station has made contributions to the Hunter Mill …

South Lakes culinary students stood ready with sharpened knives. It was time to talk turkey. Or at least listen to chef and instructor Cynthia Stowers as she  demonstrated the correct cutting technique.  "The first bone you will feel in a bird's breast is the wishbone," she told the students. "You will remove and divide the wings, legs, thighs and breasts." The students prepared the turkey for Thanksgiving day festivities  at Catholic Charities' Christ House in Alexandria.  More than 300 homeless will enjoy the food.   "The students fabricate the turkeys, butterfly the breast meat, roll it …

The Giving Circle of Hope, a Reston-based philanthropy group, has awarded $60,000 in grants to 12 organizations. This year's recipients of $5,000 grants:  Alternative House; Computer CORE; Empowered Women International; Friends of Guest House; Greenbrier Learning Center; Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic; Just Neighbors; KEEN of Northern Virginia;  Kids R First;  Manassas Midwifery; NOVACO, Inc.; and Stop Child Abuse NOW (SCAN). "Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine seven years ago that we would grow our giving this way," said one of the founding members, Diana Katz. "We are a team that works …

The mad dash to prepare Thanksgiving dinner begins this week.  But what about for those Reston families that don't have the resources to put dinner on the table?  As you bake, chop, shop and rush to prepare  the perfect Thanksgiving feast, you can also help local families in need. Reston Interfaith, Reston's largest social service agency, offers easy ways to give this Thanksgiving as they prepare 800 Thanksgiving baskets and continually replenish their food pantry to help hundreds more.    Thanksgiving baskets: The next time you shop, you can purchase canned fruit and veggies, a box of mashed…

Planning on ordering out for Thanksgiving dinner?  Look no further.  Your cranberry sauce can help others if you order from Whole Foods Reston . For every prepared Thanksgiving dinner for eight purchased from the Reston Whole Foods (and five other Northern Virginia Whole Foods stores), mention the organization Our Daily Bread (ODB) when ordering online, on the phone or in the store.  ODB's Holiday Program will receive $10 ($5 for a prepared "2-plus-a-few" meal). Click here for details.   You can take the holiday cheer a step further. You can sign up to support a family through Our Daily Bread…

Disadvantaged students in Reston will be getting early holiday gifts, thanks to a program organized by The UPS Store in the South Lakes Village  Center. The store raised $12,800 to buy the books. UPS store customers donated $3,800.   UPS Store corporate headquarters matched dollar for dollar, and the William G. McGowan Charitable Fund kicked in $5,000.  The program is administered by the Marine Toys for Tots Literacy Foundation. The mission of the Toys for Tots Literacy Foundation is  to offer economically disadvantaged children the ability to compete academically and to succeed in life by …