Get Help

Britepaths is only able to provide food and financial assistance to Fairfax County residents who are referred to us by a County or other social worker.

Britepaths’ Financial Empowerment and Workforce Development services, offered through the Financial Empowerment Center at South County, are free and available to Northern Virginia residents without a referral. More information listed below. Services are mostly provided virtually.

To Speak to a Social Worker, Contact:

Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP): 703.222.0880
Outside Fairfax County, contact 2-1-1 Virginia for assistance (dial 211 on your phone to speak with a representative). Virginia’s CommonHelp is also a helpful resource.

Britepaths does not conduct in-person intake and contacting CSP or a social worker does not guarantee a referral to Britepaths' services.

If you have questions, please call us at 703.273.8829 or email us at info@britepaths.org.

Community Resources

These are links to some on-line resource guides that we've compiled, or from government and community partners, that Britepaths' staff finds to be helpful.

Financial Assistance

Our Financial Assistance Program provides small grants to eligible Fairfax County residents to help with rent, utilities, vital car repairs, and some other basic emergency needs. Funds are paid directly to the landlord, utility or vendor, often as part of a "package" of funds that is pledged by several organizations.

Fairfax County area residents wishing to receive assistance must be referred to Britepaths by Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703.222.0880. Contacting CSP does not guarantee that financial assistance will be provided or that Britepaths will be one of the agencies providing assistance.

Funds are available from the 15th through the end of each month, and recipients of Financial Assistance are asked to attend a free Financial Coaching session.

Britepaths is only able to provide food and financial assistance to Fairfax County residents who are referred to us by a County or other social worker.

Food Assistance

Update 11/6/2025: The Emergency Food Support program will be closed until Monday, December 1. We will not be accepting referrals during this time.

Fairfax County residents seeking food assistance must be referred to Britepaths by a social worker. Call Fairfax County's Coordinated Service Planning at 703.222.0880, or request a referral for food assistance through your child's school. The social worker will make a referral to the most appropriate local food program; it may not be Britepaths’ program.

Lasagna Love is a nonprofit whose mission is to feed families, spread kindness, and strengthen communities through providing home-cooked lasagnas for anyone facing financial challenges, emotional overwhelm, medical issues, or any other hardship.
Request a meal through their website.

SNAP Gap Pantry

Britepaths offers walk-ins and appointment-based distributions of infant care supplies, pet food, menstrual health and hygiene products, personal hygiene items, and household cleaning products. Setting an appointment is recommended to ensure we can provide the supplies requested. Individuals interested in receiving these items may contact us at info@britepaths.org, 703.273.8829, or visit 3959 Pender Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030.

Financial Empowerment Coaching, Workshops, Mentoring and More

Britepaths is the lead non-profit partner at the Financial Empowerment Center at South County (FECSoCo) at Fairfax County's Gerry Hyland Government Center on Richmond Highway in Alexandria.

For a free Financial Coaching session, sign up online, call 703.704.6101 or email info@FECSoCo.org.
To join a a workshop, visit the FEC calendar and choose the classes you are interested in. Sign up online or call 703.704.6101.
To enroll in the Financial Mentoring Program, the first step is to have at least one Financial Coaching session. Afterward, a staff member will interview you for the program. The requirements include working 30+ hours a week, and a strong desire to improve your financial situation.

Additionally, Britepaths and FECSoCo offer many other free services, including job readiness coaching and workshops, tax preparation, small business consulting, consumer legal advice, and much more. Visit the Google calendar on the FEC services page.

Workforce Coaching, Training and Mentoring

Britepaths’ Workforce Development Program provides coaching and training opportunities to Northern Virginia residents who need some extra supports to optimize their job search, build networks, train or prepare for a better paying job, or launch a new career. Most services are provided virtually. No referral is needed.

Click on the Links to Learn More:

School Supply Assistance

Britepaths' Back to School Program does not provide direct school supply assistance to community members. We offer school supply assistance to client families of Britepaths' programs each summer who have a demonstrated need. Families in need of school supply assistance may contact Britepaths at info@britepaths.org or 703.273.8829 or our partner, Financial Empowerment Center at South County at info@fecsoco.org or 703.704.6101.

Holiday Assistance

Britepaths does not distribute holiday assistance directly to community members. We offer holiday assistance to client families of Britepaths' programs at the end of each year who have a demonstrated need.

Families seeking assistance might inquire at their local nonprofit or other charitable organization. If you are a Fairfax County resident in need of food, contact Coordinated Services Planning at 703.222.0880. For food assistance outside of Fairfax County, Virginia CommonHelp or 2-1-1 Virginia are helpful resources. To seek other holiday assistance, you might also search Fairfax County's Human Services Resource Guide or findhelp.org. We are not able to guarantee that the information on these sites is up to date.

Books for Children

The Secret Garden at Britepaths provides free books to children in Northern Virginia from ages 0-18 to take home and build or start their own home libraries. Created with our client families in mind, The Secret Garden aims to support learning and create positive experiences around reading. Families interested in visiting The Secret Garden at Britepaths may contact info@britepaths.org, 703.273.8829, or stop by at 3959 Pender Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030.