August Newsletter 2025
Danielle’s Story of Resilience and Hope
We hope you’ll take a moment to read about Danielle’s story. She lives in our Transitional Housing with her two sons where she has been able to find hope following years of uncertainty in the foster care system and even a time of homelessness.
Danielle was just 14 when she was taken into custody by Child Protective Services. With no foster home available, she spent most of her teen years moving between group homes, longing for stability.
At 16, she finally found a foster family and remained with them until she turned 18. But when they moved out of state, Danielle who was legally an adult but still figuring life out, was left behind in Virginia to navigate the world on her own…
Dental Event
Earlier this month at Campo Blanco Church, we hosted a FREE dental clinic thanks to the generosity of Dental Innovations of Virginia and Drs. Joon and Julie Coe.
Part of our Healthcare Branch, our dental clinics reach out to local families, including those we have served in that past or who have been referred by local schools. This year, 30 children were able to receive much needed dental examinations and cleanings. The volunteers from Iglesia Campo Blanco did an amazing job welcoming the families and children, praying with them, and helping them to feel the love of Jesus.
Thank you so much to everyone that was involved! It truly was a day of community, fellowship, and compassion.
Help Feed Your Neighbors
Our Community Dinners are an important part of how we build relationships with those in need.
Every week, in multiple locations, we provide a free community dinner that offers hot food and fellowship. It’s a place where our volunteers and host groups can not only serve a meal but get to know the people we are serving, understand their situation, and hopefully help connect them with other resources at Tree of Life. We find that some attendees are just in need of community and we love seeing them come back week after week, making connections and friendships that go beyond dinner.
BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP! Host groups are the key to this ministry and in some locations, particularly Leesburg, we struggle to find a group to cook each week.
Please consider helping us with this important ministry by signing up your group to prepare and serve dinner!
Day Break Game Day!
There was so much fun and fellowship at our Day Break Ministry Game Day event!
With a variety of games, there was a little something for everyone – we had trivia, “duck races,” memory games, and more! We also had some amazing quilts as raffle prizes from Station Stitchers!
Thank you to everyone that joined us and to our Day Break team that does such a wonderful job planning these events for senior adults. We are so grateful for their commitment to this ministry!
The next event is our Day Break Picnic… we hope you can join us!
Volunteer Highlight
We want to introduce you to an amazing volunteer – Mike Vass!
Mike has been helping Tree of Life since 2022 and in those few short years, he has volunteered for more than 500 hours! He spends his time helping in our food pantry with grocery deliveries and is a regular volunteer at our Annual Summer Giveaway.
Most recently, Mike stepped up to help lead our grocery deliveries, helping to coordinate volunteers so that we have plenty of teams ready to deliver food to those in need twice a week.
Mike has formed important relationships with both volunteers and partners, providing support and encouragement to so many and inspiring all of us to do the same.
We are so grateful for his commitment to this ministry – thank you, Mike!
Donor Spotlight
Serve Camp is knocking it out of the park this summer!
This camp of local kids, ranging in age from elementary through high school, has been working hard all summer to help those in need. Their awesome camp counselors have been connecting them with numerous nonprofits in need of assistance across Loudoun and we can attest to their amazing work!
They have helped raise money backpacks and schools supplies – which they stuffed and delivered to our center (nearly 150!) – they’ve worked in our food pantry, learned about all that we do, and even provided landscaping for our transitional housing!
Thank you so much, Serve Camp, for making a difference for your neighbors in need!
Annual Golf Tournament
You can never have enough golf!
It’s time to sign up for our Annual Golf Tournament – sponsorship opportunities are available!
You can sign up as an individual golfer or with a team… come out and support a great cause while enjoying a beautiful day of golf at Raspberry Falls in Leesburg.
Let’s #golfforacause!
Save the Dates!
Weekly Day Break Bible Study
Thursdays, 11am, Blue Ridge Bible Church
Storytime at SimplyBe
First Wednesday of Every Month, 10am
Annual Summer Giveaway
Saturday, August 16, Purcellville Baptist Church
SimplyBe SINGLES Fall Social
Friday, September 5th, SimplyBe Coffee – REGISTER
Day Break End of Summer Picnic
Wednesday, September 10, Franklin Park
Volunteer Recognition Picnic
Saturday, September 20, Franklin Park
Volunteer Introduction Program:
Monthly – Click HERE for dates and registration.
BE PATIENT
The Lord has been teaching me a great deal about patience lately, much like the encouragement found in James 5:7–8:
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
Learning to wait with patience requires effort and trust. James compares us to a farmer—he plants with the expectation that rain will come to nourish the crop, but until it does, he must wait. He doesn’t doubt the rain will arrive, but in the meantime, he remains faithful and expectant.
Sometimes I wonder what I should do while I wait. Philippians 4:4–8 gives insight. Paul encourages us not to be anxious, but before that, he urges us to rejoice in the Lord always. That’s the key: worship while you wait.
Each morning, turn your heart toward the Lord. Speak with Him. Rejoice in who He is. Come to Him expecting nothing—and yet, through His grace, you will receive the greatest gift: Himself.
Romans 15:13 reminds us of the hope that comes from trusting in God: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
While you wait, hope becomes a gift. It reassures you of what’s to come and gives strength, knowing the Lord will sustain you.
Today, consider being a source of encouragement for someone else who’s in a season of waiting. Share this truth with them—it might be just what they need.
May you be blessed,
Chaplain Wayne Ruckman
