Festive Tea Expresses Appreciation for Support of Dunbarton Residents

Eight members of Assistance League of Northern Virginia recently held a Thank You Tea for the talented Hugs Team of craftspeople in the Dunbarton Community of Bristow, Virginia. The nonprofit wanted to thank them for all their efforts in making the special Hugs pillows for its Operation Hugs program, and for handcrafting quilts, baby hats and blankets, and children’s hats and scarves that will be distributed through the Baby Bundles and New Clothing for Kids programs. The Hugs Team has been creating these wonderful, handcrafted items for Assistance League for nearly 20 years. For the Operation Hugs program, the organization provides a colorful pillow, along with a small stuffed animal, book, toothbrush, and toothpaste, to kindergarteners at certain elementary schools to help them establish a good bedtime routine. The hats and scarves are distributed to elementary school students when winter jackets are delivered. The students appreciate having one-of-a-kind items made especially for them.

For the tea, members provided an assortment of finger sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, cake, cookies, coffee, tea, and cider. Unfortunately, some members of the Hugs Team could not attend, but all those who attended enjoyed the event. After eating and visiting, the members shared the thank you posters and cards that had recently been received from local elementary school students for their Hugs pillows, which are always appreciated. Members described the programs and answered questions from the guests. After the tea, the Hugs Team provided 308 Hugs pillows and more than 300 hand-made items, such as quilts, blankets, scarves, ear warmers, and hats. Assistance League is very grateful to the Dunbarton Hugs Team for the continuing support of its programs.