Dr. Vanessa Gattis is an adjunct assistant professor in the International Psychology Department at the Washington, DC Campus, a role she truly enjoys. It’s her other role, however, that fulfills her passion for helping others. After retiring from the US Army after almost 31 years of service, she found that she wanted to continue serving her community.
“Through a dream, the Lord led me to form the Foundation to continue my service,” Dr. Gattis explains, referring to the Prince William County Community Foundation, Inc. (PWCCF).“I formed the Foundation to help empower the residents in our community. I did not know what it would look like in the beginning, as non-profit work was new to me. Through perseverance, determination, and my faith, I knew what I had in my heart could be the start of something big.”
PWCCF serves children 18 years and under, the homeless, and families in the greater Prince William area, providing resources in several areas, including food and health. The organization also offers scholarship resources, and awards to help to promote community solutions. Their largest initiative, Combating Hunger on Wheels (C.H.O.W.), is in partnership with Prince William County Schools and provides meals to 
children 18 years and younger during their summer breaks.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic hit our community and the governor closed all schools, we were forced to revise and revamp our C.H.O.W. mission,” says Dr. Gattis. “As the schools began serving the grab-and-go meals to children, we knew weekend meals would be an issue as more and more parents were out of work. The Foundation jumped right in by helping to provide weekend meals to children in our community from the very beginning of the pandemic.”
Every Friday since the beginning of the pandemic, PWCCF has set up its C.H.O.W. Wagon at one of the 22 designated school sites to distribute meals to children whose families are suffering financial hardship so they can have enough food for the weekend. The C.H.O.W. wagon (the organization only has one) has served almost 1,350 families, equating to 8,500 meals since March 27th. The number continues to grow. Currently, they are prepared to continue through July.
The Foundation has also conducted food drives throughout the county where multiple churches, organizations, and schools have supported them. They have provided food and other resources to the vulnerable populations in the area’s homeless camps, and have provided clothing and school supplies to children in need.
“What continues to motivate me are the people in our community,” Dr. Gattis says. “Getting the opportunity to interact with and serve our community daily is my driving factor. I am passionate about what I am doing and cannot think of any place else I would rather be.”
To learn more about the organization and ways you can get involved, please the PWCCF website.
“Together, we can make a difference!” Dr. Gattis exclaims.
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