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2017 SESSION

17105262D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 997
Offered February 16, 2017
Commending The Koinonia Foundation, Inc.
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Patrons-- Sickles, Krizek and Watts; Senators: Barker, Ebbin and Surovell
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WHEREAS, for 50 years, The Koinonia Foundation, Inc., has consistently provided emergency relief services to families in need in the Franconia/Kingstowne area of Fairfax County; and

WHEREAS, The Koinonia Foundation is an ecumenical organization that allows local churches to combine their resources to more effectively provide emergency services and compassionate care to people in the local community; and

WHEREAS, The Koinonia Foundation traces its beginnings to the efforts of Mrs. Jack Miles, who gathered members of her Springfield church to collect food for Christmas food baskets in the early 1960s; and

WHEREAS, founded by Christian churches in the generous spirit of sharing, The Koinonia Foundation was incorporated in 1966, and, since the early 1970s, the organization has been housed at Franconia United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, The Koinonia Foundation helps families meet the challenges of daily living by providing food, clothing, educational tools, and emergency financial assistance to qualified clients, regardless of their religious beliefs; and

WHEREAS, The Koinonia Foundation meets with hundreds of clients each month who are referred from one of 30 neighborhood churches or supporting organizations, such as the Fairfax County Department of Family Services; and

WHEREAS, in 2014, The Koinonia Foundation distributed $41,000 in clothes, 77,547 pounds of food, over 500 school supply kits, and more than $48,000 in emergency assistance, among other efforts; and

WHEREAS, The Koinonia Foundation is the sole nonprofit organization recognized by Fairfax County to provide both short-term emergency assistance and self-sufficiency services to citizens who live in areas of the Lee District; and

WHEREAS, The Koinonia Foundation’s success would not be possible without the dedicated volunteers who put in countless time, energy, and resources to keep the organization thriving, and without the donors who channel their generosity to give hope and spread joy to people who need it most; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend The Koinonia Foundation, Inc., on celebrating 50 years of serving families in need of emergency assistance in the Lee District of Fairfax County; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Robert Petitti, executive director of The Koinonia Foundation, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the organization’s commendable humanitarian efforts.