February Newsletter
As we move into 2026, we want to highlight the important role of our Spiritual Care Team in serving this community. So many of the people we provide support to need more than just practical assistance, they need to feel seen, cared for, and loved.
Spiritual Care at Tree of Life is rooted in simple, faithful acts of presence. It involves reaching out to partners in need, praying with them, following up with them, and encouraging them—often over long and difficult seasons.
You can help us in the effort by supporting our team with your prayers, time, or donation.
We’d also love for you to check our new weekly BE REFRESHED DEVOTIONAL that will bring inspiration and refreshing directly to your inbox starting February 16th.
If you are in need of spiritual care or would like to learn more about what we do, please reach out directly to our Chaplain Wayne Ruckman: chaplain@tolministries.org.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to our amazing CEO, Susannah DeBose Lee, on her win for Nonprofit Executive of the Year from the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce!
We are so proud to see her leadership recognized by Loudoun’s business community. Over the past two years, Susannah’s vision and dedication have helped Tree of Life continue to thrive and grow – expanding into new ministry areas and communities, building strong partnerships with churches and local organizations, and making a meaningful impact for those we serve.
Congratulations as well to the outstanding nominees and winners honored at the Community Leadership Awards Ceremony. And thank you to the Loudoun Chamber for the important role you play in recognizing and supporting both businesses and nonprofits across our county.
We are so grateful to be part of this community!
Growing in Piedmont
We are so grateful to all the volunteers that came out to help with our first Community Dinner in the Piedmont Region!
This amazing group provided a delicious dinner and filled the fellowship hall with energy and love as we opened the doors to welcome those in need.
We are working to continue to spread the word about this new ministry location and the services that are available:
• Food Deliveries the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month.
• Community Dinner every 3rd Wednesday
• Financial assistance for rent, utilities, etc.
For more information and to help share how Tree of Life can help, please download the flyer at the button below.
The Clothing Closet
We wanted to take a moment to say thank you for your amazing support of the Clothing Closet in 2025.
Last year we saw substantial growth in this ministry:
• We provided more clothing to those in need than any year so far, helping 413 individuals with free clothing.
• This help wouldn’t be possible without the clothing donations of so many – totalling more than 38,000 pounds of clothing!
• Thanks to our amazing customers, we surpassed our 2024 sales by almost $40k for 2025!
• We were also able to welcome 2,660 NEW customers to the store, for a total of 4,134 customers in 2025!
• And, thanks to Creative2 we have a brand new website to share everything you need to know to support the Clothing Closet
We are so grateful and can’t wait to see what God has in store for 2026.
English Classes in Western Loudoun
Our free English classes are starting back up in Purcellville on February 12! No preregistration is required—just come as you are and bring a friend.
Classes meet Thursday evenings, and participants are also welcome to join us for our community dinner at 5:30 PM, followed by class at 6:30 PM.
This is a great opportunity to build language skills, community, and confidence in a welcoming environment.
Annual Chili Bowl
Our much-loved Senior Adult Chili Bowl is back! This fun annual event includes a chili cook-off, sports trivia, and fellowship—and this year we’re excited to welcome back the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to share more about their ministry and join us in all the fun.
It’s always a great afternoon of food, laughter, and connection!
If you’d like to submit a chili, please email William Nunaley at wnunaley@tolministries.org.
Save the Date for Pickleball!
Our Pickleball Tournament Fundraiser is returning this April! Open to all skill levels, this event is a fun way to compete, connect, and support the work of our ministry.
All proceeds benefit Tree of Life Ministries, and sponsorship opportunities are available—a great way for local businesses to get involved and give back.
Check out the button below for all the information… we hope to see you there!
Volunteer Highlight
Joe Potts (left) and Mary Gaughan (center) are integral to our pantry operations in Eastern Loudoun.
Joe – a longtime volunteer – has jumped in to help lead activities on Saturdays, as well as work with local food providers and make calls to those we serve to make sure they get the food they need for their families.
Mary – a newer volunteer – quickly became a dedicated member of our team, showing up every Tuesday to help volunteers sort and stock donations, pack food deliveries, and handle whatever comes up throughout the course of the day.
Together, they are helping our Pantry Manager ensure that everything goes smoothly and we are serving those in need with care and efficiency.
Thank you, Joe and Mary, for your commitment to helping fight hunger in our community!
Donor Spotlight
Our Donor Spotlight for February is the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS)!
Tree of Life and IBTS became acquainted earlier last year when we began leasing our new pantry space from them in Ashburn. Since then, they have become committed to helping us serve the community, even holding a food drive for our pantry at their holiday party last year!
We are so grateful for their in-kind and financial contributions and look forward to growing our partnership with them in 2026!
STILL WATERS WINTER/SPRING EVENTS
Our calendar for winter and spring 2026 is now available! We have so many great opportunities coming up, we hope you’ll join us.
Here are a few highlights for February:
• Bible Study at Hamilton Baptist Church (2/6)
• Valentines Bingo & Pizza (2/13)
Make sure you are signed up for our text alerts so you get all the updates – use the link below for more info.
Save the Dates!
Weekly Day Break Bible Study
Thursdays, 11am, Blue Ridge Bible Church
Storytime at SimplyBe
First Wednesday of Every Month, 10am
Volunteer Introduction Program:
Monthly – Click HERE for dates and registration.
WHAT IS LOVE?
I used to think I knew the answer to this question. But life has taught me that love isn’t love until it’s tested. We find out about true love when our patience is stretched or our kindness costs us something. Love is also tested when we’re presented with a choice between stretching our love or walking away.
Love is not just a feeling or an emotion; it is a way of living. The apostle Paul reminds us that even the most impressive expressions of faith fall flat without love. “If I speak in tongues…but have not love, I am a noisy gong…if I have prophetic powers…and if I have all faith…but have not love, I am nothing…if I give away all I have…but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
“Love is patient and kind” (1 Cor. 13:4). Patience slows us down and gives us more room to breathe. It chooses gentleness when the world pushes us toward hurrying. Love also listens and gives of itself, especially when it would be easier not to.
Paul continues, “love does not envy or boast…it is not arrogant or rude” (1 Cor. 13:4-5). Love isn’t loud or self-focused. It doesn’t need to prove anything. True love is secure and rests in the confidence that God is continually at work, even in places I cannot see.
“Love does not insist on its own way” (1 Cor. 13:5). Love releases the need to win. It doesn’t control, but makes room for grace. Love allows others to grow, but also allows them to struggle.
When life becomes heavy, love continues on. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:7). Love stays steady. It keeps hope alive when despair sets in. It keeps trusting when circumstances remain uncertain. Love endures because it is anchored in God’s faithfulness.
Love reflects the very heart of God. It is how He meets us and holds us, and now He invites us to live with one another using His love.
I use the term “recycled love” when describing God’s love. God gives His love freely and abundantly, and asks us to give His love away to others. When we give away His love, He gives us more of His love. We are continually recycling God’s love into the lives of others, and He is continually refilling us with His love.
This month, I pray that each of us would receive God’s love more deeply and let it flow more freely through us, so that our lives would continue to point others to God’s love that never fails.
May you be blessed,
Chaplain Wayne Ruckman
