The Friends of the Falls Church Homeless Shelter will be hosting a winter fundraising gala on February 24, 2024 at The State Theatre. The theme for this year’s gala is “Little City, Big Heart”, and will feature heavy appetizers, a live band, a silent auctions, as well as a raffle.

Funds raised at the gala go directly to supporting the operation of the shelter, a twelve-bed hypothermia prevention facility opened in 1996. Last year alone, the shelter provided nearly 3000 meals and a warm place to sleep for 81 different individuals, four of whom were able to secure more permanent housing as a result of the support they received. Funding also supports life skills classes on topics including crisis intervention, anger management, job skills and personal finance, as well as access to community services such as mental health and substance abuse counseling. Over 80% of the shelter’s operating budget is paid for through the generous donations of individuals and local businesses.