What is Be a Blessing?

Be a Blessing (BAB) is a women’s giving circle that creates opportunities to assist and serve women and children in their journey to reclaim self love, self worth, and empowerment. After engaging in a nine-month process to identify our individual unique desires, passions, and characteristics (positive and negative), we solidified our commitment to collective service – with the belief that we can do more together than alone. Each year, BAB will select an organization to “bless” that demonstrates our values and uplifts women and children.

The founders of BAB understand intimately the life of the busy professional woman and mother and know that finding opportunities and time to serve your local community may be challenging. BAB does some of the leg work for you and offers you the chance to join alongside other women and work together for greater impact.

BAB was selected to be part of  Off the Mat, Into the World's Project Springboard, a year‐long training series designed to support top leaders who are poised to take their emerging social change initiatives to the next level. Facilitated by experts in social innovation, the Project helps build leadership capacity, program sustainability, and community impact.

BAB is a multi-regional all volunteer organization founded by Elyse Acanda, Maya Minter, Shawn Purvis, Meka Sales (graduates of Northern Virginia high schools Chantilly and Oakton). Early collaborators also include Veronica Rosario and LaTanya Williams. 

PROJECTS:
Since January 2013, we have been serving the Katharine K. Hanley Family Shelter in Fairfax, VA, a homeless shelter serving up to twenty families since August 2007. The shelter operates the “Housing First/Rapid Rehousing” model, which emphasizes moving families in to permanent housing as quickly as possible and continuing to provide services to families once they are in permanent housing. Families generally stay at the house up to 45 days.

August 2013: Back to School Drive
The Be A Blessing Network equipped 17 children with all the supplies they needed to start the new school year, from backpacks to calculators to erasers.

August 2014: #40for$40 Gas Card Drive
The Be A Blessing Network gifted $500 in gas cards to help shelter residents make it to job interviews.

December 2014: #LoveinAction Giving Tuesday Holiday Gift Drive
The Be A Blessing Network provided 62 gifts for children living in the shelter. Parents were able to choose gifts for their children and have them gift wrapped onsite.