[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 148 (Tuesday, October 2, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2039-E2040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMEMORATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANNANDALE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY 
                               FOR ACTION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM DAVIS

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 2, 2007

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Annandale Christian Community for Action, ACCA, on the occasion of 
their 40th anniversary.
  ACCA is an alliance of 26 churches in the Annandale community which 
strives to unite all Christians in an effort to promote and sponsor 
Christian social action. Its motto, ``doing what Jesus would do,'' is 
the principle that guides the ACCA in its mission to serve those in 
need. The volunteer organization provides day care, food, rental 
assistance, furniture and other services to low-income families in the 
Annandale/Bailey's Crossroads area.

[[Page E2040]]

  ACCA began in October 1967, when Fred and Emily Ruffing witnessed and 
acted upon a tremendous need in their community. The couple worked for 
a govemment-subsidized daycare center in Mount Pleasant Baptist Church 
in Alexandria, which had just enough resources to provide for families 
on welfare, but not the working poor. Distressed at the idea of making 
families return to welfare to provide their children with daycare 
services, Mr. and Mrs. Ruffing set out to organize their own daycare 
center with the help of eight local churches. Through an abundance of 
support from the local community, they succeeded in meeting the need 
and led their organization, ACCA, to branch out into other activities 
such as transportation, housing and emergency cash assistance.
  I have had the pleasure of working with ACCA on so many issues 
affecting people in need, from establishing its daycare center, to 
helping found the Bailey's Crossroads homeless shelters, to its food 
and furniture programs for the poor. Their dedication has made a 
difference for thousands of families.
  While ACCA now provides an array of services to those in need, its 
original daycare facility continues to thrive as the Child Development 
Center in the old Annandale Elementary School on Columbia Pike. It 
cares for over 200 infants and children of the working poor.
  In memory of its founder, Fred Ruffing, ACCA provides an annual 
memorial scholarship for aspiring college students with disabilities. 
Emily Ruffing continues to work in the Child Development Center as a 
social worker.
  Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank the Annandale 
Christian Community for Action for being the embodiment of Christian 
love in and around the Annandale community. Their continued success 
serves as a testament to the power of volunteerism and what can happen 
when individuals come together in faith to accomplish what others never 
dreamt possible. I call upon my colleagues to join me in commending and 
congratulating the ACCA on 40 years of excellence.

                          ____________________