NeighborShare ALX’s pilot program, which supports residents facing financial hardship, has been expanded from its original three-month run to a full year.

The program, launched in November by ACT for Alexandria in partnership with online donation platform NeighborShare, provides up to $400 in monetary support to Alexandrians facing an unexpected financial hardship.

“We received some generous donations from the community; we were able to extend it a little bit longer,” Chief Program Officer of ACT for Alexandria Brandi Yee said. “… [NeighborShare] is continuing on the program past the pilot. They have committed to working with these partners over the next year and continuing to offer the NeighborShare platform, as well as supporting the needs that get posted.”

Since its launch, the program has assisted 220 neighbors, which inspired the expansion of the program to include a wider array of needs and expand the service to a full year, organizers said.

The program was originally launched in response to the federal government shutdown, Yee said. The 43-day shutdown spanning from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, 2025, left at least 670,000 federal employees furloughed, while about 730,000 others worked without pay, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

During the six-week span, federal workers and contractors in Alexandria especially felt the plight of job insecurity.

According to a recent presentation to City Council, the number of federal employees residing in Alexandria has decreased by nearly 5% since January 2025, while private employment decreased by more than 1% in the same time frame.

The amount of assistance awarded to Alexandrians through the NeighborShare ALX program as of March 4 totals $30,000, with $8,000 coming directly from individual donors, ACT for Alexandria Program Manager Shelley Spacek Miller said.

But in February, NeighborShare ALX broadened its funding goals to include those impacted by the federal shutdown and those with more general needs. This means Alexandrians can request funding through the program regardless of if their requests are related to the shutdown or ongoing ripple effects, according to Yee.

Yee said ACT for Alexandria and NeighborShare decided to expand the program to include those not impacted by the government shutdown because of the outpour of donations and the continued financial gaps for families in Alexandria.

A partnership with NeighborShare appealed to ACT for Alexandria because it allows community members to rally to support those in need while bolstering the city’s preexisting nonprofit network, Yee said.

“Because I think the time we’re in now – when it feels like there’s a lot of things that are out of our control – a lot of people look at the local level to see, ‘How can I make a difference in my own backyard?’” she said. “Having a platform like this is an opportunity that allows people to take action, really meaningful action.”

The program connects donors directly with needs, which local nonprofit partners help identify. The financial gaps are posted on the website with their story and dollar amount requested, and donors can directly fund the request online. The donation goes directly to the nonprofit partners, who funnel the assistance to the person requesting help.

Or as Yee puts it: NeighborShare is “a platform that would help connect neighbors to neighbors.”

Local partners referring cases include Community Lodgings, Christ Church and the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia. As of March 17, four requests are active on the site for needs like housing payments and other bills.

“I think we always see that there is a real deep need in the community,” Spacek Miller said. “Whether it’s the high cost of living, the current environment here, it’s just really something that is pervasive and [has continued] even after the shutdown.”

If neighbors do not donate to the posted needs within two weeks, Yee said, then ACT for Alexandria donates to unmet needs using the organization’s reserves and donations from individual donors. This ensures that all needs posted to NeighborShare ALX are met.

Yee said she and the ACT for Alexandria team have been encouraged by the generosity of Alexandrians.

“We had hoped that this pilot would … also just be able to educate just the community about what the existing needs are,” she said, “and how even just a short pause in income can have ripple effects for stability and insecurity for families.”

With the expanded timeline of the NeighborShare program, Yee said the next challenge is continuing to get the word out so Alexandrians in need can be financially supported.

“When one person is struggling, the whole community feels that,” Yee said. “NeighborShare ALX is about shared responsibility and collective action.” Needs are updated daily at the program’s website. Donations of any size are tax-deductible and go toward meeting the listed needs, the site states.

“Every dollar matters,” Spacek Miller said. “Every dollar, every donation, we hope, is approachable. That’s one thing we appreciate about NeighborShare is that there’s an opportunity [to donate] that doesn’t have to be triple digit donations. It can be $5. It can be $10. It can be $15. Every time a neighbor supports another neighbor, that matters.”

By Ella Mitchell | Alexandria Times

NeighborShare, a rapidly growing nonprofit committed to helping families meet their most urgent needs with dignity and speed, is proud to announce a new national partnership with Dollar Tree, Inc., one of North America’s largest value retailers. Together, they are supporting families facing the rising costs of childcare and essential household bills by utilizing NeighborShare’s platform and network of local nonprofit partners to efficiently distribute cash assistance across communities in the United States.

NeighborShare's model centers on activating everyday donors to give small yet meaningful amounts to help neighbors with urgent household needs, such as buying groceries, paying an unexpected medical bill, or fixing a flat tire. Each day, local nonprofits identify and upload critical needs to the NeighborShare platform that might otherwise be overlooked by traditional aid systems. With Dollar Tree’s support, NeighborShare will assist hundreds more families facing unexpected childcare costs and household bills.

“At Dollar Tree, we are deeply committed to investing in the well-being of the communities we serve,” said Jennifer Silberman, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer. “NeighborShare’s approach to creating access to timely financial assistance aligns perfectly with our focus on strengthening the safety net for families in need and expanding access to vital resources. We’re honored to partner in helping more families thrive during challenging times.”

“Every day, families are facing impossible choices—between paying a utility bill or buying diapers, between keeping a job or staying home because they can’t afford childcare,” said Kelli Kreps, Executive Director of NeighborShare. “This support from Dollar Tree expands our capacity to address these moments of acute need quickly and compassionately for more families. We’re grateful for their generosity and partnership.”

Since launching in 2021, NeighborShare has provided more than 15,000 people with critical financial assistance, helping prevent deeper crises like job loss and homelessness. Dollar Tree’s investment marks a significant step forward in scaling this high-trust, high-impact approach to giving. To learn more or help a neighbor today, visit https://nbshare.org/dollar-tree-partnership.

###

About NeighborShare: NeighborShare is a nonprofit platform that enables everyday people to support a neighbor in need quickly and transparently. With as little as $400, NeighborShare provides immediate financial assistance that can prevent a family from spiraling deeper into hardship. Learn more at nbshare.org.

About Dollar Tree, Inc.: Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR), headquartered in Chesapeake, VA, is one of North America’s largest and most loved value retailers, known for delivering great value, convenience, and a “thrill-of-the-hunt” discovery shopping experience. With a team of approximately 150,000 associates, Dollar Tree operates more than 9,000 stores and 18 distribution centers across 48 contiguous states and five Canadian provinces under the brands Dollar Tree and Dollar Tree Canada. The company is committed to being a responsible steward of its business – supporting its people, serving its communities, and creating lasting value. Additional information about Dollar Tree can be found at www.DollarTree.com.

As the federal government shutdown continues, tens of thousands of Americans are facing sudden financial instability and the effects will linger for months to come. NeighborShare is stepping in with a simple, trustworthy way for everyday people to directly help neighbors impacted by the shutdown.

Even before the shutdown, 1 in 3 American households couldn’t cover a $400 emergency. Missing even one paycheck can mean missed meals, an empty gas tank, or the risk of housing loss. The shutdown only deepens that strain for contractors, hourly workers, small business employees, and families whose livelihoods depend on the day-to-day rhythm of government operations.

NeighborShare provides a fast, flexible, and direct way to help. On its trusted platform, people who want to give can contribute to real, vetted needs sourced by a national network of local partners. Every dollar goes quickly and transparently to those most affected — ensuring temporary disruptions don’t become lasting hardships. “This is not a political issue; it’s a people issue,” said Kelli Kreps, Executive Director of NeighborShare. “We’re focused on creating fast, flexible cash assistance by connecting neighbors who need help to neighbors who want to help in a trustworthy way. NeighborShare makes it possible – quickly, transparently, and with care.”

Whether it’s $10 or $100, every tax-deductible contribution helps a neighbor stay on track. Together, we can turn compassion into action, one neighbor at a time.

To learn more or help a neighbor today, visit nbshare.org/federal.