Here is a sampling of our current, past, and future projects:

ANNUAL: Project JUmp Start

AIDNOW is so thankful to have worked with so many great people to make Jump Start a success. Partnering with the Virginia Beach City Public Schools' Social Work Services, we've helped over 3,000 homeless students K-12 in Virginia Beach. As we approach our 16th Annual Event in 2026, we wish we didn’t have to do Jump Start but the need continues and we anticipate serving over 500 students. We believe 1 homeless student is too many! Continuing to provide free clothing (including socks and underwear), new shoes, healthy snacks, new reading books, medical screenings, hygiene products, food, haircuts, new backpacks and school supplies for over 500 homeless/high needs students.

Collecting New Clothing Currently

• Children S-XL

• Teen S-2XL

• Jeans- all sizes

• New packaged underwear for Children

• New packaged Men’s boxer briefs

• New packaged Women’s hipsters

• Packages of socks for Youth -Adults

  NOT accepting the following clothing:

• Suggestive Clothing

• Tops with City/State names (like from souvenir shops)

• Pajamas

• Formal attire

• Bathing Suits

• Tank Tops

OTHER PROJECTS & Fundraising Opportunities

Donate gift certificates for our fundraisers at Wasserhund Brewery “Evening of Caring” : $75+

Financially Support a family in need with a Hot Thanksgiving or Christmas Meal in Portsmouth: $100

Purchase new clothing for 5 homeless students our annual Project Jump Start in August: $250

Sponsor a week’s worth of groceries for a family of 4 through Families 4 Families: $130

Sign up to volunteer at our VB Warehouse and sort, inventory, organize and pack clothing

Become an OCV~ On Call Volunteers lend a hand, shop, deliver and show up at our events to help setup/breakdown. If this is YOU, reach out to our Special Projects Coordinator, Ramona via Ramona@aidnow.org

North Carolina Hurricane Relief

Hurricane Florence and Helene struck the Carolinas leaving in its wake extensive damage. AIDNOW, in partnership with Forefront Church, Two Rivers Church, Mutual Aid, The Collective and International Disaster Emergency Services, jumped in to provide financial aid and sent team members down to help with clean up and rebuilding plus three U-Haul’s of supples.

Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief

After the September Hurricane that struck Puerto Rico and the southern U.S., AIDNOW rallied individual donors and Sandbridge Tattoo. We partnered with De Rican Restaurant of Virginia Beach and the Chabad of Puerto Rico to send two relief packages, at a cost of over $4,000.  We were able to provide:

• 7 propane stoves

• 22 tarps

• 108 cans of bug spray

• 2,240 batteries

• 15 packages of feminine hygiene products

• Over 1500 diapers

• 24 cans of formula

• 100 bottles of pedialyte

• 4 soccer balls

• 4 soccer goals

Mexico Building Project

AIDNOW funded the building materials for two families in Mexico through Yugo Ministries. To see an example of how this amazing opportunity can transform a life, watch the incredible story of the Escamilla family.

Gulf Coast Support

Hurricane Hermine struck the Golf Coast with a fury. In support of our neighbors to the south, we very quickly partnered with a church in Jasper, Texas to provide the following to local residents, through Walmart purchases:

Cleaning supplies-
Formula 409, Pine-Sol, bleach, Clorox wipes, scrub brushes, brooms and heavy duty shop towels

Household goods-
Paper plates, plastic cups, plastic cutlery, toilet paper, and electric skillets

Toiletries-
Soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, baby wipes, antiperspirant, baby wipes, and feminine hygiene products

Then mid-October, we personally delivered boxes of clothing and additional supplies.

UNION MISSION

The holidays are a very busy and important time at Union Mission so they need a lot of community support and involvement. We've worked hand-in-hand with some wonderful humble servants. This is truly what God calls us to do… serve others in our community. We hope that through AIDNOW, we are able to show God’s love and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

JAPAN EARTHQUAKE

A devastating earthquake in Japan gave us the opportunity to team up with our partners at Virginia Beach Public Schools to promote a city-wide concert at Princess Anne High School on April 11th. Over 400 attendees supported the event with monetary donations for relief efforts in Japan plus they also brought food donations for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. It was a night to reflect on the suffering in Japan and the needs of our own community. Thank you to all of the incredible high school musicians for donating their time to put on this benefit performance.

TORNADO & HURRICANE RELIEF

Weather continued to amaze us this Spring as tornados ripped through Alabama leveling complete neighborhoods and communities. We learned from our friends at Forefront Church in Virginia Beach that they planned to “Stuff the Truck” for victims and literally drive a mach truck filled with clothing, personal hygiene products and baby products right into the areas most affected. Thanks Forefront for taking the initiative and making a difference.

In the wake of Hurricane Dorian and Ian, it left much of the homes completely devastated and in need of repair. Helping with infrastructure in remote areas is challenging. AIDNOW was able to provide support and relief to the area during their time of need.

2023

A Team of 8 from our partner church, Forefront Church Virginia Beach, traveled with AIDNOW Board Member, Erik Peura, to MX to assist a family who has severe roof damage and no bathroom. While there, they also developed then lead VBS for Christian based non-profit, YUGO Ministries.

2024

January

Continued our partnership with UNITE VA and Virginia Department of Health. Now able to receive referrals for local families facing food insecurities. We also have the authority as a referring agency to connect our clients with agencies across the Commonwealth with such services as, housing, employment, legal services, transportation, medical and health services.

Largest Families4Families (F4F) event occurred with a very generous grant from Elevance, formerly Anthem. Thanks to our Portsmouth School Partner, Victory Elementary and Christ’s Fellowship for their assistance in providing over 384 meals.

February

Partnered with Operation Smile to bring our F4F Program to a low-income housing area, resulting in 20 deserving families receiving a week’s worth of groceries.

Partnered with The Noblemen to bless 21 young military families with Food Lion groceries for a week.

Served four families in emergency situations with groceries for a week through our contacts with VB Schools.

Debuted our inaugural one-day event, “Re-fresh” to restock school supplies and backpacks for every student attending Franklin’s only Elementary School. Made possible by our sponsors: Molina Healthcare of Virginia, ODU Community Care, Food Lion and Early Childhood of Western Tidewater plus lots of community resource partners!

The 14th Annual Jump Start kickoff meeting occurred with the decision to increase our attendance numbers to near 600 students.

Concluded our one year campaign with Virginia Department of Health which yielded 26,000 meals purchased from 12 area Food Lions under the assistance of 225 volunteers, 13 school partners, 7 board members, 8 church partners and 1 very busy Special Projects Manager!

March

Welcomed Ascent Church to our Warehouse for their “Day of Service”

Presented our mission at the annual Sentara Virginia Beach Auxiliary’s fundraiser and fashion show at Princess Anne Country Club.

Partnered with First Colonial’s Legal Studies Academy and Ascent Church to provide 21 bundles of groceries for hungry families in our area.

Beneficiary of the St. Patty’s Birthday Fundraiser at Simple Eats hosted by our very own, Ramona Chandler.

April

Priority Automotive Charities hosted their annual Charity Bowl at O.D.U and funded the purchase new hooded sweatshirts for 600 at-risk and homeless students in our community at this year’s Project Jump Start.

CanZell Realty kicked off our shoe initiative with a significant donation and a challenge to other businesses and individuals to purchase $50 shoe gift cards, so every Jump Start attendee gets new shoes.

Welcomed the crew from USS George HW Bush to assist us with sorting and organizing our Warehouse during their annual “Thousand Points of Light”.

May

Virginia Beach Youth Services Club again selected us as a beneficiary for their semi-annual Children’s Charity Fundraiser for 3500 guests at Camp Pendleton.

Sentara Virginia Beach Auxiliary awarded a grant to purchase 340 pieces of elementary clothing for this year’s Jump Start.

June

We held a fundraiser and auction at Wasserhund Brewery.

Received the Perry Mark Williams Memorial Fund grant to provide military families with a week’s worth of groceries throughout the year.

Confirmation by Regional Partner, Food Lion, and Molina Healthcare of Virginia, National Sponsor, Colgate, and International Sponsor, UNILEVER to provide all the dental and hygiene products for every Jump Start attendee.

Our Founding Church, Forefront challenged their membership to provide new bundles of packaged socks and underwear for every attendee.

The Haycox Trust sponsored 500 items of new clothing for Jump Start.

TowneBank and Walmart continued with their annual grants for this year’s Jump Start.

July

Solidified Jump Start food and beverage sponsors: UTZ, Pepsi, Kellogg’s, Twisted Sister Cupcakes, Jimmy John’s, Olive Garden, Papa John’s Pizza of Hampton Roads and Chick-fil-A.

Recruitment for 300 Jump Start Volunteers went live.

Media sponsor, WTKR did a feature story on AIDNOW.

A confirmation that a team of volunteers from Beach Beacon Baptist Church would join us at Jump Start and a very significant donation was also given to us.

International sponsor SKANSKA continued their support with a grant to support Jump Start.

This month’s F4F featured free hot Papa John’s pizza, a week’s worth of groceries for 20 families, and $25 gift cards from Food Lion. Special thanks to The Perry Mark Williams Memorial Fund.

August

Annual Jump Start, our back to school event for 636 homeless/high needs students: provided every attendee two back to school outfits, $50 shoe gift card, warm hooded sweatshirt, handmade hat and scarf, reading books, resource information, hygiene and dental products, eye screening, tote bags, book bag, school supplies, Food Lion gift card, nutritional snacks and of course the very popular free haircut from Great Clips and free hot sandwich from Chick -fil-A!

A team of active-duty personnel from the USS Gettysburg joined us as our Military Liaisons and Key Volunteers at this year’s Jump Start!

We began plans to continue our efforts serving 500 Elementary Students in Franklin after learning 80% of the families fall below the National Poverty Level. “Spring Fling” is currently being scheduled for March 2025.

September

We were selected as a beneficiary of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church’s annual Golf Tournament and the Priority Lexus Golf Tournament at Virginia Beach National Golf Course.

F4F Suffolk was held with the help of our newest church partner, Bethlehem Christian Church and our financial sponsor, TC Energy.

October

Selected as a beneficiary of Virginia Beach Youth Services Club Fall Charity Fundraiser at Camp Pendleton.

Became the inaugural beneficiary of “Haunts and Hallows” Race through First Landing State Park.

Teamed up with our friends at Mutual Aid and The Collective to provide “AIDNOW” for our neighbors affected by Hurricane Helene. Three separate trucks filled with water, Gatorade, clothing, baby formula, diapers, hygiene products, solar power chargers, paper goods and cleaning supplies were donated thanks to Ocean Apparel, The Perry Mark Williams Memorial Fund, and The Patricia Smith Memorial Grant. Special thanks to Melissa & Dave Lukeson for their coordination here and on the ground in Asheville, NC.

November

Veteran’s Day F4F provided 15 bundles of groceries to very deserving military families. Operation Smile and The Noblemen provided the volunteer support.

WTKR featured us in a segment about nonprofits being at risk without more volunteers which resulted in an outpouring of volunteers.

Received a grant from 2024 Building Communities Fund from Papa John’s Hampton Roads to further our F4F efforts.

We raised thousands at the annual Stevens’ Family CommUNITY BBQ to support our local outreach projects.

Presented our mission at the Franklin Collaboration Meeting to local nonprofits, resource partners, Franklin Public Schools and community leaders.

December

Adopted 15 local families this holiday season who were served by Edmarc Hospice for Children.

Our Special Projects Manager, Ramona Chandler was selected as a WTKR 2024 Everyday Hero.

Sentara Corporate Revenue selected AIDNOW as their 2024 Holiday Giving Tree Beneficiary.

“On behalf of everyone at AIDNOW, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your involvement in 2024. Your kindness directly impacts the lives of those we serve, making a real difference in our community and beyond. Thank you for believing in our mission and standing with us in our efforts to help those in need.” ❤️