Family&Community Services, LLC

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to
walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8

We believe in personally investing in the neighborhoods
where we work through community ourtreach, partnerships
and collaborations. Our philosophy is that empowering
children and parents to be involved where they live helps
to build brighter futures!

Former FCSS Staff Member Helps in Africa

Yolanda Gill, LCSW, Clinical Team Supervisor for FCSS, took part in a service trip
in Ghana, West Africa that was organized by VCU's School of Social Work along with
Peaceworks, Inc. The service trip consisted of 18 students and alumni.

The group was able to work with street children in the capital of Accra and assisted in the building of a Child Development Center that will serve as a school and an orphanage. While
there, short classes were conducted on sex education and much needed medical supplies were provided. The sponsored street children will reside at the center and receive an education and a safe haven from the dangers on the streets. Since few schools exist, this will offer new hope to these children.

Christmas Angel Program Helps Deserving Area Children

For the past several years, children and their families from Jack and Jill School in Richmond's West End, have been helping Family & Community Support Systems to sponsor children in the Richmond Metro area who would otherwise not have a very bright Christmas. This

Shirley Combs wraps Christmas gifts donated for deserving children in the area.

collaborative effort is a fun and rewarding experience for all who are involved. FCSS interviews families to ensure that they are not receiving other assistance for Christmas. At that point, Shirley Combs, FCSS Administrative Assistant, deciphers the children's requests and makes Christmas ornaments with two wishes for each child. These ornaments are placed on the Christmas Tree at Jack and Jill School. The parents of the children there pick an ornament, buy their gifts and return them to Jack and Jill. The collection usually requires multiple trips to pick up all of the gifts! What a blessing!

We typically are able yo assist 15-20 families, serving over 50 children. Over one hundred gifts are usually wrapped and distributed to these families.

We welcome corporate sponsors for our Christmas Angel program. If your company is interested, contact us in early November to join in our mission to help families in need.

In 2007, Dominion Packaging helped to sponsor many of our families with a corporate donation. We have also received donated hams for our families from area churches. There are many ways to help. Contact us to see how YOU can help!

Many thanks go to our friends at Jack and Jill School!

FCSS Partners with Cornerstone Assembly of God Church in Chesterfield County to Provide Community Outreach

As part of our vision to give back to the communities in which we serve and our clients live, for over 7 years, Family & Community Support Systems has volunteered it services in the Shady Hill Trailer Court off of Jeff-Davis Highway in Chesterfield county. Services offered have included: facilitating support groups for parents; providing resources and referrals for families in need; individual and family counseling; providing parent education classes and collecting clothing to be distributed at the community outreach which occurs every third Sunday of each month.

Family & Community Support Systems has been partnering with Cornerstone Assembly of God Church and Pastor Shawn Franco since Cornerstone AG decided to place an outreach center (Trailer) in the community. Many exciting changes are taking place in this community thanks to the love and resources that are given so freely.

Julia Griffith, LCSW
FCSS Founder / Director

In 2009, FCSS Director Julia Griffith excitedly accepted a request to be a board member of the Cornerstone Revitilization Center (CRC). The mission of this non-profit group is to revitalize all of the Jeff-Davis corridor with the help of local Chesterfield County churches. In 2010, CRC received its non-profit status. One of Julia’s passions is to bring much needed resources to families in need. “It’s such a simple thing… to collect items that are no longer useful for one family and recycle them to a family that is in need.”

If you have items that are still useful (appliances, furniture, clothing, etc.) give Family & Community Support Systems a call and we will try to find a new home for them!

“I believe that is what God calls us to do… to live simply so that others may simply live!” In the United States, we are truly blessed with so much that we could share with others. I encourage our staff to share in the same manner. Our company philosophy truly is that we share with others our time and resources. I believe that is what sets our agency apart from others. We try to take the blessings that we’ve received and pass them on to others. We give of our time, talents and money."