Only a few months after finding a permanent home in Tysons Corner Center, Traveling Players, a kids’ theater company in Tysons, is adapting to social distancing mandates caused by COVID-19.
Instead of temporarily shutting down its programming, the theater decided to go digital, according to a press release.
Though the upcoming shows, which included “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” have been postponed, the theater group is still hosting community activities.
“But just because performances have been postponed, it doesn’t mean that the fun has slowed down at Traveling Players Ensemble,” a press release said. “In keeping with the organization’s roots in the outdoors, they quickly began hosting weekly ‘campfire’ parties on Zoom to allow students, staffers and alumni to connect from all over the country.”
More information about the campfire parties can be found on Facebook.
Kids also have the opportunity to try out for the next set of productions put on by Traveling Players and take part in a virtual improv class.
The May Madness Improv program will take place every Wednesday in May, inviting kids along with their family members to create imaginary scenes, characters and storylines, the event page said. Registration is $60 for kids and $120 for a kid-parent pair.
“Students in grades 4-6 can play as a team with a parent or grandparent for some family fun, or kids in grades 6-12 can practice the fundamentals of short- and long-form improvisation,” the press release said.
For kids hoping to take part in future productions, auditions will take place on Saturday, May 2, through Zoom, the press release said. Parents can sign their kids up for a time slot online.
Along with the virtual get-togethers and tryouts, the organization previously hosted a digital spring break “acting intensive” from April 6-10 after hearing that kids were getting bored at home, according to the press release.
“Students in grades 6-12 met via Zoom for five hours a day over the course of a week,” the press release said.”In a lot of ways, Zoom class looked just like a studio class. The students would log on and get a chance to chat with their friends before classes started.”
As a non-profit, Traveling Players offers scholarships for families in need of assistance, its website said.
Photo via Traveling Players/Facebook
Tysons Galleria recently announced new promotions to support local restaurants and a Feeding America fund in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first promotion offers a complimentary gift card for shoppers, while the other aims to raise money for people in need.
Anyone who purchases more than $50 worth of food from either the Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano’s or P.F. Changs at Tysons Galleria will receive a $20 Visa gift card to use at the mall, the website said. All three of the restaurants offer curbside pickup and to-go orders so people can limit exposure out in public.
In addition, the mall is also raising money for the Feeding America® COVID-19 Response Fund.
When people post a photo of their food with the #DineDelightDonate between April 24-June 30, the mall will donate $10 for every post — up to $100,000, according to its website.
People who want to support the fund directly can donate online.
Photo courtesy David Endres
A McLean resident and her two kids recently decided to help a local non-profit while also providing neighbors with spring flowers to adorn their yards.
Lynley Ogilvie and her two teenagers, George and Jayne, who attend McLean High School raised more than $5,000 for SHARE of McLean by selling flowers and plants to neighbors who wanted to start gardens.
SHARE is based in McLean and helps people who are struggling with food insecurity and poverty, according to its website, adding that the organization can assist with paying bills, clothing and other needs.
As a professional landscape designer, Lynley said she was inspired to start the fundraiser after receiving questions and inquiries from friends and clients asking for recommendations places to find plants.
Her kids helped her mobilize by designing programs such as order forms through Google Forms and coming up with the idea to buy in bulk from a source out of Maryland and resell the greenery — ultimately making a profit which could benefit SHARE, she said.
“People were very excited to support SHARE, and they were struggling to get donations,” Lynley said.
As a member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Lynley said that the church frequently donates to SHARE, and the non-profit saw a lack in donations after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the economy.
According to Lynley, several other religious groups around the area are also bolstering efforts to support the local organization.
“One of my good friends is actually the Rabbi at Temple Rodef Shalom,” Lynley said. “She came to my sale and said they are also trying to support SHARE.”
People who bought plants from the family paid in advance through Venmo, according to Lynley, who added that people then signed up for a pickup time slot so they could practice safe social distancing.
Throughout Friday (April 10) and Saturday (April 11), roughly 90 people came by to pick up their greenery, Lynley said.
The funds have already been delivered to SHARE, she added.
Going forward, Lynley said she hopes people will continue to build and foster gardens because they help people maintain a “sense of control” in their lives and allows them to “reconnect with nature.”
Photo courtesy Lynley Ogilvie
After 9-year-old Vienna resident Matteo Lambert pledged to help local businesses by returning the money they previously donated to his charity, he ended up surpassing his goal.
With the help of a GoFundMe page, Matteo and his dad Brandon Lambert were able to crowdsource $3,276, which is now in the hands of 10 local businesses that are struggling because of the pandemic.
Matteo, along with help from his father, personally delivered checks to the doors or mailboxes of the local businesses he decided to support. The pair was sure to take necessary health precautions, Brandon said.
Originally, the pair’s goal was to raise $2,020 to simply payback eight businesses that originally helped him fundraise for Hopecam, which allows severely ill cancer patients to connect digitally with friends and fight social isolation.
Now, the money will not only go to support the original eight, but also to Ciao Osteria and Skorpios Maggio’s Family Restaurant — two businesses that Matteo said have gone above and beyond to assist their communities in this time of crisis.
Last Thursday (April 9), the owners of Skorpios Maggio’s donated meals to town employees who help keep the local parks in good shape, Sherry Maggio, one of the eatery’s owners, told Tysons Reporter.
Ciao Osteria, though located in Centreville, has been active in response to the COVID-19 crisis and donated meals to first responders in the last few weeks, according to its website.
Other businesses that will benefit from the fundraiser include:
- Bazin’s On Church
- Grassroots Fitness
- Karin’s Florist
- Machine Swimming School
- The Vienna Inn
- Dr. Eva Pleta Dentistry
- Dr. Jack Weil Pediatric Dentistry
- Ghaffari Orthodontics
Though Matteo and other kids will start online classes through Fairfax County today (April 14), the father-son pair said they now plan on using their extra time to sew capes for kids in hospitals through Matteo’s non-profit Off the Charts Club. The organization helps to empower kids despite any disability or challenge they might be facing.
“We are just trying to make a difference in the community and do anything we can to help others,” Matteo said.
Photos courtesy Lambert Family
The owner of two local Popeyes locations recently donated meals to help combat food insecurity.
During digital learning supply pickup at Timber Lane Elementary School earlier this week, students who came with their families to grab a laptop and other supplies were also handed a meal courtesy of Nader Saleh, who owns both the Merrifield and Fairfax Popeyes locations.
Across Fairfax County, many students and families rely on school lunches. While Fairfax County Public Schools is offering free meals to students during the closure, Saleh said that their are kids who might fall through the cracks.
“There are a lot of kids and families who are depending on the school lunches and then when the schools close, they have been left out,” Saleh said, adding that he is willing to do whatever it takes to help those in his community.
Benjamin Chiet, the principal of Timber Lane Elementary School, gave a shoutout on Twitter to Popeyes, thanking them for the donation.
Timber Lane Elementary School is just one of the many local schools to receive meal donations, according to Saleh.
“We would like to build the bridge between our restaurant and the community,” he said, adding that he is happy to combat food insecurity however he can.
Nationally, Popeyes is part of the No Kid Hungary Campaign, which helps families supply healthy meal options year-round, according to the website.
Though Popeyes (2835 Gallows Road) in Merrifield is still open for takeout and delivery, Saleh said business has been slower than usual. Anyone interested in supporting the restaurant can order online.
Thank you, Nader Saleh of @PopeyesChicken of Falls Church & Fairfax. Every family that picked up a laptop from @TimberLaneES today was treated to a few meals from Popeyes of Falls Church & Fairfax. Thank you for helping our families! Mr. Saleh is also a @mcleanhigh parent! pic.twitter.com/J7UQUhzXvm
— Ben Chiet 🇺🇸 (@PrincipalTLES) April 8, 2020
StarNut Gourmet in McLean will be offering free coffee, breakfast and lunch this weekend to local first responders, healthcare workers and essential employees.
With the help of Tential IT, the eatery at 1445 Laughlin Ave has extended this offer to be from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday and from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday, a press release said.
Though the dining room is closed, according to the press release, the coffee shop and eatery is offering curbside pickup, take out and delivery through UberEats.
People wishing to order off of the menu can call 703-749-9090. Items available include sandwiches, lattes, pastries, crepes and similar fare, according to StarNut’s website.
“StarNut Gourmet is a family-owned business established in 2002 as a Specialty Food Gift Store and an International Café,” the press release said. “Owners Hozaifa Almaleh and Samira Ardalan very much look forward to welcoming everyone back once it’s safe.”
In response to everything happening with the COVID-19 pandemic, several local groups decided to raise money to feed medical workers at local facilities.
Though Hearts of Empowerment, the P.U.S.O. Foundation and Mighty Meals all typically serve different purposes in the community, they began a joint GoFundMe campaign to feed health care workers throughout the Tysons area, according to a press release.
Since the campaign’s kick-off on March 24, the organizers have raised $4,250 and counting. So far, more than 85 people have donated to the cause.
Hearts of Empowerment is a non-profit organization that wants to ensure that no charity is forced to close its doors due to a lack of funding, its website said, adding that it will donate $750 of the company’s own funds in addition to what is raised on the GoFundMe page.
The P.U.S.O. Foundation, which stands for Purposeful Unconditional Service to Others, works to empower people in underserved areas of the world, according to its website. The foundation will donate an extra $1,000, on top of what is crowdsourced, according to the GoFundMe campaign.
Mighty Meals — the group that will cater the food — was founded on a platform that everyone should have access to healthy and fulfilling meals, its website said. Mighty Meals will match the total donation amount by 25%, according to the GoFundMe.
“To date, we have delivered over 200 meals and our efforts will continue on a weekly basis as we have made it our goal to feed the staff of a new hospital every week,” a spokesperson for Hearts of Empowerment said.
On top of the funding for meals, Trophy Body Personal Training will be sponsoring free social distancing outdoor workouts for doctors and nurses, according to the GoFundMe.
Photos courtesy Hearts of Empowerment
A 9-year-old in Vienna wants to help local businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic after they previously supported his fundraising efforts for young cancer patients.
Matteo Lambert began his philanthropic journey after working with the founder of Hopecam, which allows severely ill cancer patients to connect digitally with friends and fight social isolation.
After starting a fundraiser, Matteo and his father Brandon Lambert said eight key businesses in Vienna donated around $250 each for the cause.
Bu now that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on small businesses, Matteo wants to support them during their time of need.
Matteo set up a GoFundMe on March 17 to pay back the businesses for their original donations. So far, the campaign has raised over $1,420 out of the $2,020 goal.
The businesses that will benefit from the fundraiser include:
- Bazin’s On Church
- Grassroots Fitness
- Karin’s Florist
- Machine Swimming School
- The Vienna Inn
- Dr. Eva Pleta Dentistry
- Dr. Jack Weil Pediatric Dentistry
- Ghaffari Orthodontics
Brandon said his son had no fundraising experience before he began helping Hopecam and has learned a lot from the experience.
Now, Matteo communicates with donors almost exclusively on his own without too much extra help from adults.
Besides the GoFundMe campaign, Matteo and his father have their own non-profit called Off the Charts Club and have been featured on several other news outlets and podcasts.
Off the Charts Club empowers youth leadership and helps kids to lead their best lives despite any diagnosis or disability, according to its website.
Because of the pandemic, which has taken an economic toll on local businesses and families, Matteo’s dad said the organization has put its fundraising on pause for the time being because they didn’t feel it was right to ask for money in such a challenging time.
Even if someone cannot help their community by donating money, Matteo suggested that people help by donating extra items to local homeless shelters or plant gardens.
“There are no age or size requirements on helping your community,” Matteo said.
Photos via GoFundMe
To combat a nationwide shortage of medical supplies, Falls Chuch Distillers decided to switch focus and begin making their own hand sanitizer.
Branded “Aim High Hand Sanitizer,” owner Michael Paluzzi said the goal is to step up to help the community and keep his business afloat.
The distillery’s new production is drawing the attention of medical staff, who are willing to cross state lines for the product, according to Paluzzi.
For a first test batch, Paluzzi said he and his crew created 300 gallons, which was gone within the first five hours of the release, which started on Friday (March 20).
During the giveaway, he handed out tiny 5 oz. bottles for free to the public and sold half-gallon and one-gallon sized tubs at market value, according to a Facebook post.
At one point, there were more than 100 people standing in line for the supply, Paluzzi said, adding that he always walked first responders or anyone who identified as medical staff to the front of the line.
The first batch of sanitizer is supporting “at least a dozen” hospitals and doctors’ offices, several retirement homes and other government agencies, according to Paluzzi.
A few nurses from York, Pennsylvania even sent representatives to pick up hand sanitizer for them, he said. “I’m surprised they even knew about it,” Paluzzi said.
Curious about Paluzzi’s secret recipe?
Updated 3/10/2020 — The NoVa TEEN Book Festival was canceled Tuesday (March 10) due to the recent spread of the coronavirus in the D.C. area.
The NoVa TEEN Book Festival Committee said in a statement the festival will come to Marshall High School on March 20, 2021.
The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.
We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!
Tuesday (March 10)
- Fairfax County’s Chronic Pain Self-Management Program — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Falls Church Senior Center (223 Little Falls Street) — At this workshop, people will learn how to manage pain, get better sleep, relieve stress and improve their lifestyles. This program is free and open to the public.
Wednesday (March 11)
- Haycock Heritage Night 2020 — 6 to 8 p.m. Haycock Elementary School (6616 Haycock Road) — This event allows kids and their families to celebrate heritage with traditional clothing, dance, tell stories and eat favorite cuisine. This event will feature programming throughout the evening.
- Food Truck Fundraiser — 6:45 to 8 p.m. at McLean High School (1633 Davidson Road) — The McLean High School Crew Team is raising funds for its team. The Rocklands Food Truck will be located near rower drop off, according to the event page.
Friday (March 13)
- 5th and 6th Grader Glow Party — 7 to 9 p.m. at Old Firehouse Center (1440 Chain Bridge Road) — Kids can join for a glow stick party featuring a DJ, drinks and food. Tickets are $35 each or $25 McLean Community Center district residents.
Saturday (March 14)
- Stuff the Truck — 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Giant (1454 Chain Bridge Road) — The New Dominion Women’s Club is calling for volunteers to assist with its donation center collecting food and clothing for people in the 22101 and 22102 zip codes.
NoVA Teen Book Festival — 9 a.m. until 5 p.m at George C. Marshall High School (7731 Leesburg Pike) — For the 7th year, this festival invites teens to read, interact with authors and hear from keynote speakers. Admission is free and all are welcome.
Sunday (March 15)
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream — 7 p.m. at Tysons Corner Center (1961 Chain Bridge Road) — This production by the Traveling Players will tell the story of young lovers who escape into the forest, according to the event description. Tickets are $10.
- 2020 Nowruz Festival — 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Tysons Corner Center (8100 Tysons Corner Center) — This event celebrates the Persian New Year and will feature live performances all-day and booths selling traditional food and drink. Entry to this event is free.
Photo courtesy New Dominion Women’s Club/Lee’s Photography
