Robert Reed 

Bob Reed first came to Herndon-Reston FISH as a retirement project, listing Bargain Loft items on eBay and managing their sales.

 

Bob’s career was spent as a Director of Engineering and a project Developer, including work for Fairfax County on public service projects and upgrading and development of low-income housing. He found a purpose in the opportunity to improve living conditions for the lower income-members of our community. 

 

Nine years Bob ago was recruited to serve on the FISH board. It was a great fit! In addition to his work on eBay sales, Bob joined the Development Committee, researching, writing and submitting many grants.

 

Four years ago, Bob stepped into the role of President of the Board of Directors and brought his leadership and management skills to FISH. Bob’s tenure as president has included several challenges, like the loss of our largest funding source when Fairfax County changed their funding priorities. But Bob helped the board strategize new funding sources, and his efforts led FISH to a more diversified funding stream.

 

When the pandemic began, Bob led FISH through the changes needed, including virtual meetings and the temporary closing of our Bargain Loft thrift store. He oversaw a major expansion when Herndon-Reston FISH was selected by Fairfax County to help distribute funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) and Consolidated Appropriations acts and other pandemic assistance. In 2020 and 2021, Herndon-Reston FISH distributed almost ten times more funds into our community than in previous years and was recognized for efficient and speedy work with exceptional record keeping and processes. 

 

Bob is being recognized as a StarFISH for his devoted service to Herndon-Reston FISH and our community.

 

Bob says, “FISH is a unique important never-ending charity in the safety net of non-profit organizations that provide critical services to the local community. It has great potential with a simple mission statement. FISH is worthy of the dedicated volunteers, hard-working small staff. What could be better? Regardless of your education, religion, or economic status you will find satisfaction in helping neighbors needing assistance. Herndon-Reston FISH is a long time respected local charity worthy of your donations of time, talents, and treasures. Our proven assistance procedures and coordination with local organizations assure your efforts and donations are very effective in helping neighbors in crisis. Generations of Herndon Reston residents have been helped because people like you are willing to do what they can through Herndon Reston FISH. Thank you for your continued support. “

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Clara Chambliss

Clara Chambliss has been an active Herndon Reston FISH volunteer for more than ten years. As a professional accountant, she and her husband developed and ran the auction checkout system at FISH Fling Auctions. While everyone else enjoyed a leisurely dinner and dancing, Clara and her team worked behind the scenes to process every auction item, prepare checkout sheets for each bidder, and then log their payments into the system. 

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In 2015, Clara joined the Executive Board of FISH as the Treasurer and served in that role for the next two years. Upon stepping down, she became our check writer and has written most of the assistance payments issued by FISH for the past five years. This job grew in frequency and importance over the course of the pandemic, when FISH was selected to help disburse a couple of million dollars of direct assistance into our local community. 

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Clara and her husband enjoy spending time with their three grown children, and seven grandchildren, plus she maintains a full time accounting practice. 

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Clara views Herndon-Reston FISH as a caring, helpful and well-run organization that has enabled local governments and organizations to work with FISH to provide Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help.

Her message for everyone watching is that even though COVID is relaxing its hold on our community, and our residents are finally able to try to get back to a somewhat ‘normal’ life, we cannot let our guard down.  Contributions, donations, visiting and shopping at the Bargain Loft, etc., needs to continue at the same or greater pace to reach all the families and individuals in need in our community.

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Nancy McCormick 

Nancy began as a Bargain Loft volunteer in late 2019 following retirement from the federal government.

 

She is a twice-a-week volunteer at the Bargain Loft, and she does a little of everything.  She sorts donations in the back room, prices the easy stuff, researches information on more involved items, and works the register, although she says she hasn’t done it much recently.  If it gets really quiet and there are no donations to sort, Nancy likes to clean and keep the shop’s back area neat.  Our Bargain Loft managers count on Nancy because she is always willing and ready to help with a smile. 

 

When asked what FISH means to her: Nancy responded, “As a relative newcomer, I am still learning all the wonderful things FISH does. I was drawn to help at the Bargain Loft because I love thrift stores that support worthy local efforts.  And FISH does this 100%!  It is hard to believe that in such an affluent area there exists such hardship, so I like to donate merchandise to the Bargain Loft (as well as buy stuff!) because I know the profits will help someone in our area.”  

 

“I am so very thankful to be a part of a great Bargain Loft team doing fun work that helps those in need.  I enjoy the managers and the other volunteers. And I'm thrilled that my loud laugh hasn't frightened anyone, or at least as far as I know.  I can bring my whole self to the Bargain Loft and know that I am accepted and loved and appreciated.  What else could I ask for!”

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M&T Bank

M&T Bank has been Herndon-Reston FISH's "go to" bank for several decades now. The institution has helped us keep abreast of the changes in commercial banking from paper checks to ATM machines and from debit cards to online banking.

 

Over the years, M&T has sponsored some of our key FISH Flings. It was even recognized for its generous contributions to 2010 and 2015 Flings. 

 

More recently, M&T was our liaison with the Small Business Administration to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program loan in the early stages of the COVID pandemic. This program was key to helping us maintain our payroll and cover applicable overhead, and M&T walked us through the process and kept us up to date with program changes.

 

As the pandemic continued, FISH was selected by Fairfax County to help distribute federal funds to landlords and other providers on behalf of COVID-impacted families and individuals. These funds totaled more than $5 million. M&T Bank was our bank of choice to help. In fact, when the first of these extremely large payments began hitting our account, the bank called us to verify that we actually wrote the checks. 

 

On a more personal basis, Bill Berg, an M&T Vice President and Senior Branch Manager for Reston and Herndon, has always been available to answer our questions by phone or email.

 

M&T Bank has built their business on a tradition of reliability, accuracy and responsiveness to the needs of their customers. At M&T, they pledge to work hard to earn their customers trust and business. They are committed to understanding what’s important, so they can provide the best solutions for their customers financial needs.

 

We certainly feel they have done that for FISH. Thank you M&T Bank for being there and for your support!