About CCAP
Our Foundation: Faith and Fellowship
CCAP was established in October 1974 by eleven local churches under the name Christian Cooperative Action Program. Our founders recognized that while each congregation was doing good work individually, we could do more for our neighbors by working together.
In 1975, we transitioned to the Congregational Community Action Project. By working with interfaith communities, we could better support our mission to help local families who could support themselves three weeks of the month but struggle financially to make it that fourth week.
Today, we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable organization funded by local faith communities, businesses, civic groups, bequests, grants, foundations, and many generous individuals. If you’d like to contribute to CCAP’s work, check out our Give Help page.
Our Mission: Guided by our faith in God and love of our community, CCAP is committed to helping our neighbors to meet basic needs with food, clothing, and financial resources.
Our Vision: Our neighbors can always count on the compassion and generosity of the community in times of need and will have meaningful opportunities to lift themselves out of difficult life situations.
Our Values
50+ years of serving the Winchester, VA Community
For over five decades, we have been the bridge for families in Winchester and Frederick County who work hard to make ends meet for three weeks, only to face the overwhelming weight of the “fourth week.”
Whether it is an unexpected utility bill, an empty pantry, or the need for professional clothing to start a new job, we believe that you matter and we want to help.
- Guided by our faith in God and love of neighbor
- CCAP is a community lifeline for all people in our area who find themselves struggling to meet basic needs, providing stability and security while enabling them find paths to self-sufficiency.
- Our neighbors can always count on the compassion and generosity of the community in times of need, and will have meaningful opportunities to lift themselves out of difficult life situations.
- The core principles we commit to following as we support our neighbors in Winchester and Frederick County
- Motivated by God’s call to serve those less fortunate than us
- Respecting the different circumstances that bring people to us for help
- Promoting dignity and self-worth through peoples’ experiences with us
- Encouraging long-term growth as our neighbors navigate life challenges
- Relying on community generosity with time, effort, and resources
- Being grateful to our supporters and reflecting it in how we treat them
- Assuring good stewardship of the help our community provides
Relationship-building: dignity in every interaction
We know that the obstacles of financial crisis and food insecurity often come with hidden emotional weights. Our volunteers guide you through these moments with respect and dignity.
We are a relational ministry. When clients walk through our doors, they aren’t just a case number.
Adaptability: Modern solutions for modern times
Our outreach and assistance methods are constantly evolving to meet the modern needs of Winchester and Frederick County, VA.
Fundraising
We turn community energy into direct action through events like the Annual Benefit Bike Tour, where local cyclists turn their miles into grocery bags and utility payments. By partnering with over 45 local churches and hundreds of neighbors, we make sure that every dollar donated stays right here in this community to solve immediate, local crises.
We are grateful for our partners in a 50-year legacy of restoring hope and self-sufficiency in Winchester and Frederick County.
Community Assistance
We provide a safety net through our full-service Food Pantry, alongside our 24/7 “Friendly Neighborhood Freedges” for round-the-clock emergency access.
Our Unique Boutique provides a dignified shopping experience for professional and work-ready attire and more.
Beyond material goods, we offer strategic financial assistance to cover the critical gaps like overdue rent, utility cut-offs, or emergency car repairs that stand between a family and their stability.