NOW ACCEPTING
SPRING & SUMMER CLOTHING!
A registered 501(c)3 Non-Profit Foundation
OPERATING HOURS
- Monday: 9am – 12:30pm
- Tuesday: 9am – 12:30pm
- Wednesday: 9am – 12:30pm
- Thursday: 9am - 12pm; 1 – 4:30 pm (closed between 12-1pm)
- Friday: 9am – 12:30pm
- 2nd & 4th Saturday 9am – 12:30pm
We are here today because of individuals who wanted to help the needy in their community. In the early 1960’s, Mrs. Jack Miles gathered members of her Springfield Church, and together they “put feet to their prayers” by collecting food for Christmas Food Baskets. This eventually evolved into the Koinonia Foundation which we know today. They began formally meeting in a small two bedroom apartment in Springfield and pulled resources together to help individuals in the neighborhood.
Though Koinonia actually closed its doors as expenses and resources had dried up, in 1965, it regained momentum and was incorporated in 1966 as The Koinonia Foundation Inc. It then became known as a Christian organization with the capability to provide a way for local churches to combine their resources to more efficiently and effectively provide emergency services and compassionate care to people in the local community.
In the early 1970’s Koinonia moved from Springfield to the basement of the Franconia United Methodist Church. The space was large enough for a small office, desk and file cabinet, a food room with one refrigerator and a few shelves, and closet to hold boxes of clothing. Volunteers would accept donations, disperse items as needed, and approve loans to clients. An example of the type of financial assistance provided would be a small loan in the amount of $35 so the client could purchase oil to heat their home.
Today, in our current location, we are meeting with hundreds of clients each month, utilizing over 70 volunteers and receiving referrals from a variety of organizations throughout our service area, including the Fairfax County’s social services agency. We continue to serve individuals and families in the Franconia/Kingstowne communities who are referred to us from one of our 30 supporting/neighborhood churches.
The name Koinonia comes from a Greek word found multiple times in the New Testament of the Bible (some references are Acts 2:42-47, 1 Corinthians 10:16, Philippians 3:10, Hebrews 13:16, and 1 John 1:3-7) and it is dense with meaning. It refers to the spiritual fellowship that believers in Jesus Christ have with God once they receive the Holy Spirit. It also describes the spiritual and physical communion that believers in Jesus Christ have with each other and the outpouring generosity that their salvation produces.
For almost five decades, Koinonia has consistently provided emergency relief services as the primary organization of its type in the area.