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Love in Action: How Our Community Is Coming Together for 80 Incredible Moms

This spring, something truly beautiful is happening in our community.

What started as a simple idea—to let moms living in local shelters know they are seen, loved, and celebrated—has grown into a full-fledged movement of generosity, care, and connection. Thanks to the kindness of so many neighbors, families, and local businesses, the Mother’s Day Giving Project is in full bloom.


80 Moms. 91 Kids. 3 Shelters. One Purpose: Love.


Together, we are supporting 80 mothers and 91 children currently living at the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter in Fairfax and two local domestic violence shelters. Our mission? To remind each of these mothers that they matter—deeply. That even in the midst of hardship, they are not forgotten.


With the help of our Daisy Girl Scout troop, friends, and neighbors, we’ve assembled 80 beautiful self-care gift basketsfilled with donated items. Each one is intended to include a $20 Target gift card—and we are still in need of 8 more to complete the set.





Now, our focus shifts to what comes next: preparing for a celebration of love and community.


A Mother’s Day Brunch to Remember

On Saturday, May 10th, we’ll be hosting a Mother’s Day Brunch at the Katherine Hanley Family Shelter for the moms and children living there. In addition, we will be delivering brunch meals to the two domestic violence shelters so that all 80 moms feel equally celebrated and supported. It’s our way of creating moments of connection, nourishment, and joy for women who deserve to feel honored.


We’re still gathering:

  • Monetary donations to reach our $500 goal

  • Non-perishable food & drinks (due Friday, May 9th)

  • Prepared/perishable food donations (to be picked up Saturday between 9–9:30 AM)

  • Volunteers for set-up, serving, and clean-up



Why This Matters

Mother’s Day can be especially painful for women navigating homelessness or recovering from trauma. This project is about more than baskets and brunch—it’s about dignity, hope, and the healing that happens when a community shows up with open arms.

This experience has been a humbling reminder that small acts of love create big ripples. Whether it’s a donated journal, a warm meal, or a heartfelt thank-you, every detail says to these moms: you are not alone.


Looking Ahead: Holiday Cheer, Part 2 🎄

Last year, our community rallied again in December for the Holiday Cheer Drive, collecting toys and gift cards in under 20 days. Because of you, each of the 115 children living at these shelters woke up to a gift and a stuffed animal on Christmas morning.





We’re planning to bring it back this year—and dream even bigger. In addition to toys and gift cards, our goal is to create a holiday celebration that includes:

  • A warm holiday meal

  • A visit from Santa and his elves

  • More magic and memory-making moments


And in time, we hope to expand both of these projects to support more shelters across Virginia.


Join the Movement


This work only happens because of people like you. If you’ve been looking for a way to make a meaningful impact—on your street, in your neighborhood, and in the lives of local families—this is it.

Thank you to everyone helping bring this vision to life. Your kindness is love in action, and it’s making more of a difference than you may ever know.


A Special Thank You

This project wouldn’t be where it is today without the help of local storytellers who used their platforms to spread the word and rally support. I'm deeply grateful to Jillian Diamond at Washington Family Magazine for her beautiful article, Mothers Supporting Mothers: A Gift on Mother’s Day, and to Kristin Johnson at the Fairfax Times for her thoughtful coverage in Giving Back to Others.


Thank you both for helping to amplify this message of compassion, community, and care. You’ve helped turn quiet generosity into a powerful ripple effect of love.


With deepest gratitude,

Kelly Republicano

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