September Newsletter
Annual Summer Giveaway!
We were overwhelmed with gratitude following our Annual Summer Giveaway on August 16th, at Purcellville Baptist Church.
The community support that went into making this event a success was inspiring – so many churches, businesses, and individuals donated and volunteered to help local families. In fact, more than 100 volunteers worked for approximately 300 hours in the week leading up to the event and on the day of to make it all possible!
Here are the highlights:
- 711 people received free clothing and heard the Gospel.
- 400 received backpacks with school supplies (and we continue to make these available to those that were not able to attend).
- 50 people received care from doctors offering specialty services.
- 20 families received furniture.
- 345 Bibles were given through our friends, the Gideons.
- All attendees in line were offered prayer from our prayer team, with many meaningful moments shared in multiple languages.
- Snacks and kids activities were provided by the PBC 50 Connect group and Dwell youth group, respectively.
Thank you to everyone that helped make this a special day and help local families feel the love of Christ as they prepare for the new school year.
Special thank you to Julia Allison Photography!
Hunger Action Month
September is Hunger Action Month and Tree of Life is working to not just bring awareness to the need that exists in Loudoun, but to help people understand how fighting hunger has a much bigger impact for this community.
Through our Food Branch – which includes our Food Pantry and Community Dinners – we are working each day with our amazing volunteers to fight food insecurity.
During the first 6 months of 2025 we provided:
- 56,000 lbs of food delivered to families in Loudoun
- 1698 individuals received 2-3 weeks worth of food
- 4782 meals served at our community dinners
These efforts not only put food on the table, but they also help to substantially off-set budget impacts, allowing those we serve to divert income to rent, utilitites, and more – keeping families in their homes.
You can help make an impact!
To support Tree of Life during #HungerActionMonth, make sure you are following us on social media and check out our website for the latest news and ways to get involved, or consider a donation.
New Ministry: Boxes of Blessings
Just in time for #HungerActionMonth, Tree of Life is delighted to announce the start of a new ministry under the Food Branch in our Eastern Loudoun Region – Boxes of Blessings.
This ministry came to us from a dedicated group of volunteers that have been feeding those in need in the Sterling area since 2018, providing weekly boxes of primarily fresh food.
When the time for that organization came to an end, these amazing volunteers sought a way to continue to provide for the families that they have developed relationships with over the past 7 years.
The volunteer team reached out to Tree of Life, and we saw it as an invaluable opportunity to help more people struggling in Loudoun, expand our food services, and be able to provide additional fresh food on a weekly basis, complementing our monthly food deliveries.
We are so excited to welcome them to our volunteer team, including the new volunteer Ministry Leader, Alex Shernoff, and be able to continue this amazing program!
You’re Invited:
Eastern Loudoun Open House
Come meet the newest additions to the Tree of Life team: Tanvi Skiba, our Regional Director in Eastern Loudoun, and Priscilla Behm, our new Food Pantry Manager.
Join us for a casual Meet & Greet with light refreshments, where you’ll have the chance to welcome Tanvi and Priscilla, hear a bit about their vision for serving our community, and connect with fellow volunteers who share the same heart for ministry.
- Wednesday, September 17th
- Drop in anytime between 10:00am – 12:00pm
- 45189 Research Place, Bldg A, Suite 200, Ashburn, VA
We hope you’ll take this opportunity to stop by, share a warm welcome, and help us celebrate the work God is doing in Eastern Loudoun!
Volunteer Highlight:
Give, Grow, Give Back
Carolina Dotel has been a special volunteer for Tree of Life.
She first came to Tree of Life as a partner; her husband Ricardo was suffering from diabetes and could no longer walk. Their family lived in a multi-story townhouse and he needed a stair-lift. Tree of Life, with the help of a generous donor, was able to pay to have one installed and it changed the quality of not just Ricardo’s life, but their whole family as he was able regain independence.
Ever since, Carolina has been a committed volunteer – helping at our community dinners in Sterling (with Ricardo when he was able) and at our large events, translating and connecting with other people in need. (She is pictured here with one of our Community Dinner Ministry Leaders, Jim Larscheid.)
She truly embodies Tree of Life’s vision of “give, grow, giveback” where those we serve are able to receive help, grow into a place of independence and sustainability, and then give back to their community.
We are so grateful for Carolina and we wanted to share her and Ricardos’s full story with you… read it here.
Donor Spotlight
This month we want to shine a spotlight on Roofing and More!
The team at Roofing and More has been a faithful supporter of Tree of Life and SimplyBe Coffee, sponsoring events like TOPGOLF, making financial gifts, and offering a FREE roof to a family in need!
In fact, this year will be the second free roof that the company is providing, having blessed an elderly couple that Tree of Life was serving previously and making a huge impact on their lives.
We are so grateful for their continued support and commitment to helping those in need – thank you!
JOIN US FOR GOLF!
When you sign up to golf or sponsor the Tree of Life golf tournament you are making an impact for those in need right here in our community.
Every day, through our five branches – food, lifeskills, shelter, healthcare, and relief – we are helping families make ends meet. Whether it’s delivering groceries to put food on the table, providing utility assistance to keep the lights on, or a community meal for those who are seeking connection, your support is making it possible.
We hope you’ll join us and make a difference for your neighbors in need!
STILL WATERS FALL & WINTER EVENTS
The fall/winter calendar for our Still Waters Ministry is ready!
Most of our regular events are back, including Trampoline Night, Next Chapter Book, Club, Zumba, and more! We also have some great special events:
- Ice Cream Social on September 15th
- Pizza and Bingo on September 29th
Click HERE for all the information – we hope you’ll join us!
Save the Dates!
Weekly Day Break Bible Study
Thursdays, 11am, Blue Ridge Bible Church
Storytime at SimplyBe
First Wednesday of Every Month, 10am
Day Break End of Summer Picnic
Wednesday, September 10, 12pm, Franklin Park
Breakfast at the Barn with Sprout
Thursday, October 9, 9am, REGISTER HERE
5k #racewithacause
Saturday, October 11, 8am, REGISTER HERE
Volunteer Introduction Program:
Monthly – Click HERE for dates and registration.
FINDING RHYTHM IN OUR ROUTINE
Whether September brings excitement or a sense of dread, for many it marks a return to routine—especially for those with children in school or whose work follows the academic calendar or seasonal flow.
Getting back into a rhythm can be challenging. Some routines become dull and are quickly abandoned, while others energize us and help keep our focus throughout the day.
Paul speaks to this in Romans 8:3–5:
“By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.”
This Scripture highlights two very different ways of life: walking in the flesh or walking in the Spirit. One leads us into frustration, pride, fear, and burnout. The other leads to peace, joy, and purpose.
If you’re struggling to establish a Spirit-led routine, consider starting your day with prayer—welcoming God into every moment. Spend a few minutes in Scripture or a devotion to center your heart. On your way to work or school, listen to worship music that lifts your spirit and draws you closer to Him.
Throughout the week, look for ways to serve others with the gifts God has given you. Even small acts of service can make a big difference and draw you closer to Him. And as the day winds down, take time for prayer and reflection in His Word—ending the day the way it began: with Him.
Each new morning is a fresh opportunity to give thanks. Begin your day rejoicing in His goodness and let your routine become a rhythm of worship.
May you be blessed,
Chaplain Wayne Ruckman
