Christmas In Fairfax

Pender's Mini Free Pantry
2026-07-28, 2026-07-29, 2026-07-30, 2026-07-31, 2026-08-01, 2026-08-02, 2026-08-03, 2026-08-04 and 4 more dates | Pender UMC, 12401 Alder Woods Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22033, United States
Pender’s Mini Food Pantry: A Small Space with a Big Mission
The Pender Mini Food Pantry is officially open and ready to serve our community! This little structure—built as an Eagle Scout Project by one of Pender’s Boy Scouts—is a beautiful example of service, compassion, and creativity.
At first glance, it looks a lot like a Little Free Library, but instead of books, it’s stocked with nonperishable food for anyone in need. It’s a simple yet powerful way to share kindness and nourishment in our neighborhood.
📍 Location:
You’ll find the pantry at 12301 Alder Woods Drive, Fairfax, VA 22033—coming from Route 50, it’s the second driveway on the left into Pender, right beside the sidewalk.
🥫 What’s Inside:
As of this writing, the pantry is filled with a wide variety of items, including:

Canned tuna, chicken, chili, and soup
Broth, vegetables, pumpkin, and apple sauce
Shelf-stable milk, peach slices, mandarin oranges, and individual fruit packs
Jello, pudding cups, mac and cheese servings, and mashed potatoes
Coffee, oatmeal, ketchup, gravy packets, and cooking oil

It’s truly a community effort—and every contribution helps keep it going.
💜 How to Help:
Anyone is welcome to take what they need or to donate food items to keep the pantry stocked. When you give, please remember our guiding principle:
Give with dignity. Donate items you’d feel comfortable using yourself.

Overstock Book Sale
2026-07-29, 2026-07-30, 2026-07-31, 2026-08-01, 2026-08-02, 2026-08-03, 2026-08-04, 2026-08-05 and 3 more dates | Kings Park Library, 9000 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, 22015, United States
Stop by Kings Park Library during open hours September 2 through September 13 for a special sale of overstocked books by popular authors provided by the Friends of Kings Park Library.
Wide range of titles is available. Stock will be replenished; so, come more than once. All proceeds from this sale will directly benefit the Kings Park Library.
Please note: All FCPL Libraries will be closed on September 12 for Staff Development Day.

AA Open Meetings
2026-07-29 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-08-05 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Pender UMC, 12401 Alder Woods Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22033, United States
Discover a supportive space for new beginnings! Join us every Wednesday at 6:00 PM, starting January 3rd, in the serene ambiance of Pender UMC’s Library.
At 5:00 PM there will be a time of casual chat, known as the “meeting before the meeting”.
Engage in meaningful conversations and find camaraderie at our AA meetings, guided by the experienced Tom O, a dedicated long-term member.
These are open meetings.
OPEN (Open to anyone interested in Alcoholics Anonymous’ program of recovery from alcoholism)
DISCUSSION (Group participation in discussion of topic relevant to the AA program)
STEP (Group discussion of the 12 steps of AA)

Help Start a Seed Library By Donating Your Seeds!
2026-08-01 | Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germain Dr, Centreville, 20121-2299, United States
Centreville Regional Library is starting a seed library!
Donate your vegetable, ornamental, or native plant seeds to Centreville Regional Library’s information desk.
Please include the:

plant name and variety
year it was harvested/packed

Seeds that are locally invasive species and varieties known to be illegal to save under intellectual property or patent law will be removed.

Fires and Fables: Speculative Fiction Book Club at Herndon Library
2026-08-01 16:00 - 17:30 | Herndon Fortnightly Library, 768 Center St,, Herndon, 20170, United States
Fire and Fables is intended to be a relaxed space for adults to discuss fantasy and science fiction. All subgenres are welcome! You never know when you’re going to find a new subgenre or author to love. The goal is to chat about what we do and don’t find effective about the book of the moment.
This group meets every 6 weeks, and copies of the selection will be available at the Circulation Desk.
—
Upcoming Selections
2026
Jan 3: Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Feb 14: Dawn by Octavia E. Butler
March 28: Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
May 9: Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
June 20: The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Aug 1: Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell
Sept 12: Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang
Oct 24: The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
Dec 5: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Fires and Fables: Speculative Fiction Book Club at Herndon Library
2026-08-01 16:00 - 17:30 | Herndon Fortnightly Library, 768 Center St,, Herndon, 20170, United States
Fire and Fables is intended to be a relaxed space for adults to discuss fantasy and science fiction. All subgenres are welcome! You never know when you’re going to find a new subgenre or author to love. The goal is to chat about what we do and don’t find effective about the book of the moment.
This group meets every 6 weeks, and copies of the selection will be available at the Circulation Desk.
—
Upcoming Selections
2026
Feb 14: Dawn by Octavia E. Butler
March 28: Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh
May 9: Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
June 20: The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Aug 1: Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell
Sept 12: Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang
Oct 24: The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett
Dec 5: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Joyful Thursdays
2026-08-06 12:00 - 14:00 | Olive Garden, 12980 Fair Lakes Shopping Center, Fairfax, VA, 22033, United States
This group was created as a fun and relaxed way for friends—both new and longtime—to enjoy lunch and good conversation together.
We meet in the back room at Olive Garden at noon on the first Thursday of each month. There’s no pressure and no long-term commitment—just drop by when you can and enjoy a great meal, plenty of laughter, and friendly company.
Come hungry, come curious, and come as you are—it’s all about connection and a good time together!

Caring Hands
2026-08-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Pender UMC, 12401 Alder Woods Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22033, United States
“Crafted in fellowship, prayed over in faith, given in love.”
We’re delighted to revive our Caring Hands Ministry as an in-person gathering once again! We meet at 10:00 AM on the second Saturday of each month in the Pender UMC Library.
This is a relaxed, welcoming time to knit, crochet, talk, and share as we work together. Our handmade items—prayer shawls, baby blankets, lap blankets, scarves, hats, slippers and care bags—are lovingly prayed over and then distributed to those in need, offering comfort, warmth, and a tangible reminder of God’s care.
Whether you’re an experienced crafter, just learning, or simply want to stop by for conversation and fellowship, you are welcome. You don’t need to be actively working on a project to join us—come sit, chat, and enjoy the community.
Together, we create more than stitches—we create connections, prayers, and gifts of love.
🧵 All are welcome. Come as you are.
