Committee for Helping Others

Simple, loving charity for the needy of Vienna, Oakton, Dunn Loring, and Merrifield

CHO is an all-volunteer organization that helps by providing

The links on the menu bar take you to descriptions of each of these services, as well as to information on our organization and, most important, on how you can help.

CHO Clothes and Food Closet Needs a New Home

For the last 10 years, we have housed our food and clothes closets in space graciously provided for free by Vienna Presbyterian Church. Through circumstances out of VPC’s control, the complex where the space is located is going to be redeveloped, and we will need to move before the end of October 2022. We are hoping to find another organization that would be willing to host our food and clothes pantry. If your church or business has approximately 950 square feet of space we could use for free or substantially below market rates, please read the attached document. If the space you can offer meets the threshold requirements or if you have any suggestions that might help us in our search, please email us at facility@cho-va.com.

Clothes and Food Facility Requirements v0.1

Donate Online Now!
Or, send a check (payable to CHO) to CHO, P.O. Box 233, Vienna VA 22183.
Want to support CHO when you shop at Amazon? Go to Amazon Smile and search for “CHO Inc.” when selecting your charity!

UPDATE ON CHO ACTIVITIES – SUMMER 2021

We hope you and your loved one are all safe and well. CHO is open and serving our neighbors, with additional health and safety precautions. Here’s what we are doing:

Our Food Closet is back to normal operation; we now provide basic food supplies and items such as diapers to our clients. Masks are required for our clients and volunteers.

Christmas Program. Our annual distribution of food and gifts during the holidays will again be virtual this year (with distribution of gift cards), as we cannot predict the effect of the delta variant. Donations of grocery store gift cards (e.g., for Giant, Target, Lidl, Wal-Mart, Safeway) are welcome. They (or a cash donation for this purpose) can be mailed to CHO, P.O. Box 233, Vienna VA 22183, or use the donate button to help.

We will be collecting bikes for the Christmas Store through November 15. Click the link HOLIDAY BIKE COLLECTION for more details about the types of bikes we need and where to bring them.

Our Clothes Closet has now opened, and our volunteers are working by appointment to fulfill client needs. Masks are required for our clients and volunteers.

Emergency Services. This summer (June through August) we spent almost $40,000 for rent, utilities, and medical bills, helping 69 households. Since June 2021 we have worked with Fairfax County to distribute over $165,600 to 19 families using CARES and Emergency Relief Act funds. Although some of our clients have returned to work, many still have reduced hours, a family member who has lost a job, or family members who are ill. And not all of them are eligible for the special funds offered by the government, although we try to make them aware of the possibility.

We hope you and your loved one are all safe and well. CHO is open and serving our neighbors now, although with additional health and safety precautions.

Furniture. Our furniture program has shifted its focus to collecting and prepping bikes for our Christmas program. For the remainder of the year, we will continue to distribute furniture to clients, but we are not able to accept any new furniture donations.