December 2025 UpsideDown Moments Newsletter
- heavenpnd40
- Jan 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 9
December has been an incredible success, thanks to the overwhelming support and assistance we've received. Our community's generosity and dedication have made this month truly remarkable, and we are deeply grateful.
Looking Back on a Month Defined by Community, Care, and Connection
Earlier this month, we hosted our bimonthly Super Saturday Celebration. This event brings joy, creativity, and connection to 10 children residing in the shelter. We had wonderful teen volunteers to assist us on this special day, helping with crafts and games. Thanks to our partnership with Cake4Kids, we were able to provide the children with delicious treats. Each child was given a good bag, generously sponsored by You've Got Maids. We are grateful to our volunteers and community partners for helping make these moments possible.
This holiday season, our community came together to provide 350 gifts to 100 children, including 48 children in foster care. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to those who purchased gifts. In addition, we share our appreciation for St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Girl Scout Troop 70368, Integrity Community Management, and Creighton Farms. UpsideDown extends a personal thank you to Melinda Solley and Naisha Kollipara.
We also hosted a Free Shop event, serving 41 children from two local elementary schools. Families were able to select clothing, hygiene items, shoes, and sports equipment in a welcoming, dignified space. UpsideDown Moments is honored to share our sincere thanks to Jessica Klinger, Family Liaison, for her partnership and support in helping connect families with these resources. Her collaboration was instrumental in making this event a success. We are truly amazed by the number of volunteers who helped out, many of them youth, who showed up with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to give back. We had 60 volunteer hours logged for 2 hours!
Volunteer of the Month: Deana Weslow
We are thrilled to recognize Deana Weslow as our volunteer of the month! Deana truly went above and beyond when we needed urgent assistance the night before our Free Shop event. Without hesitation, she and her son showed up to help during a critical moment. Deana has continued to be an incredible support, taking bins home, sorting items, and returning them ready to go. This behind-the-scenes work is a huge help and makes a meaningful difference in our ability to serve families. We are deeply grateful for Deana's dedication, reliability, and heart for the community.
Meet Our Newest Board Member: Robert Sproul
Rob has called Loudoun County home since 2007 and is looking forward to serving this segment of the Loudoun County community. He currently lives in Leesburg with his wife, two children, and two dogs. He is an attorney at Harrison & Johnson, PLC, based in Leesburg and Winchester, where his practice focuses on representing and advising municipalities and small businesses in contract, employment, land use, regulatory, and real estate matters.
Rob enjoys fishing, spending time with his family, and restoring classic vehicles. He also volunteers with Christian Legal Aid of DC, Loudoun County Rugby Football Club, and Grace Covenant Church in Sterling.
December 2025 Impact Report:
In December 2025, our incredible volunteers logged 245 volunteer hours, and every single one of those hours made a meaningful impact. We are deeply thankful to everyone who gave their time, energy, and hearts to support our mission this year. Each hour volunteered helps us to do more than show up for our youth; it also strengthens our ability to secure funding, expand our programs, and provide meaningful resources to the families we serve. Volunteering truly makes a lasting impact, both on the ground and behind the scenes.
As we look ahead to 2026, we're excited and motivated to grow even further, and we cannot wait to work together to beat last year's total and continue building a stronger community for our youth.
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