The Fifth Annual Light the Night event will be held at Reston Town Center on Saturday, Oct. 4. The event consists of a 2-mile walk to raise awareness about leukemia and lymphoma. Participants raising $100 or more will carry red illuminated balloons and cancer survivors and patients will carry white balloons to symbolize "lights of hope." The event will also include a musical performance by the Swiftkick Band, face painting, kids games and refreshments. Call 703-960-111. Visit www.lightthenight.org\nca.
Volunteer Fairfax and The Fairfax County Public Library are in partnership for VolunteerFest, an event featuring hands-on projects including organizing books, assisting with children's programs, Internet tutoring, landscaping, creating displays, sorting book donations, cleaning and more. The them this year is "Volunteers Bring Libraries to Life" and takes place on Saturday, Oct. 25, rain or shine, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at library facilities throughout the county. Call 703-246-3460, e-mail VolsRUs@volunteerfairfax.org or visit www.volunteerfairfax.org.
Volunteers are needed for the fourth annual Community Gala at the YMCA Reston. This year's event takes place aboard the YMCA Cruise Ship-'SS Dreams Come True on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 7 p.m.-midnight. The facility is located at 12196 Sunset Hills Road, Reston. All proceeds benefit individuals, families and children unable to afford the programs or membership in the YMCA. Call 703-742-8800.
Volunteers are needed on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. to help host five Reston homes that will be open to the public for the Reston Historic Trust’s second annual Reston House Tour. Volunteers will each receive a free tour pass. Anyone over the age of 16 is welcome to volunteer. Forms for registration are available at the Reston Museum & Shop, 1639 Washington Plaza at Reston’s Lake Anne Village Center. For more information, call 703-709-7700.
Reston Association (RA) is currently seeking volunteers to participate in the Weed Warriors Program on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m.-noon at Lake Newport Soccer Field. Volunteers will help restore Reston's forests to their natural state, protecting native ferns, wildflowers and tree seedlings which are under attack by invasive exotic plants like English ivy, Japanese Honeysuckle and Bamboo. These fast growing plants seriously damage local ecosystems, taking away vital food and habitat from already stressed wildlife populations. To sign up, or for more information, e-mail habrock@reston.org or visit www.reston.org. Call Ha Brock at 703-435-7986.
The Rotary Club of Dulles International Airport will hold the Opportunities Open, its seventh annual golf tournament, on Monday, Sept. 29, at Hiddencreek Country Club in Reston. The tournament will be held as a scramble so that all levels of golfers can play. A silent auction and awards dinner will follow the tournament. All levels of sponsorship are available.
Proceeds will benefit the mentally and physically disabled who need housing and employment. Organizations will include Arc of Northern Virginia (ARC), Service Source, Every Citizen Has Opportunities (ECHO), and The ARC of Loudoun (LARC). The Rotary and local businesses are contributing volunteers, prizes and administrative costs.
Golfers or those who want to sponsor events during the tournament can call Bruce Tria, chairman at 703 506 7614 or e-mail him at bruce_tria@ustrust.com.
The Reston Association (RA) will host a chartered bus trip to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 8 a.m.–6 p.m. for ages 55 years and older. The fee is $53 for Reston residents; $58, non-residents. Fee includes entry fee to gardens and lunch. The bus leaves from Lake Anne Fellowship House, Thoreau Place and Hunters Woods Fellowship House. Call 703-435-6530 or e-mail Ashleigh@reston.org for further information and registration.
RA is sponsoring a chartered bus trip to the National Theater in Washington, D.C. to see a matinee of the Musical "CATS" on Sunday, Oct. 5, from 12:15-5:45 p.m. The show starts at 2 p.m. The event is for individuals ages 55 and older. Cost for the trip is $77 for Reston residents; $82 for non-residents. Seats are in the Orchestra section with no stairs to climb. The bus leaves from Lake Anne Fellowship House, Thoreau Place and Hunters Woods Fellowship House. Call 703-435-6577 or e-mail Ashleigh@reston.org for further information and registration.
Fairfax County General Court Services is seeking volunteers and interns to assist in the Fairfax County General District Court performing administrative tasks. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and successfully pass a criminal background investigation. To request an application, call Lorraine Lottahall, volunteer/intern coordinator, for an application at 703-246-4760 or e-mail lorraine.lottahall@fairfaxcounty.
ReSource Therapy Associates, Inc. is sponsoring a Pet Loss Support Group for people experiencing grief after the loss of an animal. Sessions will be held every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. at ReSource Therapy Associates, Inc., 11864 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 101, Reston.
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is seeking volunteers for nursing homes or assisted living facilities in their community which they visit weekly. Listening, observing and mediating, the ombudsman works with the residents, their families and the facility staff to ensure that residents' rights are protected. Applicants must successfully complete training and must be available to volunteer four hours per week during regular business hours. Anyone interested who is not employed by a long-term care facility and can commit one year to working as an Ombudsman should call 703-324-5435. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ombudsman.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training is recruiting volunteers to train for marathons and races in support of local cancer patients. For more information, call 703-960-1100 or visit www.teamintraining.org.
Inova Blood Donor Services conducts community blood drives on a regular basis. Donating takes about one hour. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health for three days prior to donating. Call Invoa Blood Donor Services at 703-208-7000.
The NOVA Career Development Network invites those seeking jobs or career transitions to participate in a weekly networking and job support group. The group meets Tuesday mornings from 10:45 a.m.-noon at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston, 1625 Wiehle Ave. Call Roy Seabolt at 571-263-1430 or e-mail rseabolt@cox.net for more information. Visit www.communitylink.allnva.com/groups/novacdn.
Three Wishes Program makes power wheelchairs available to senior citizens (65 years and up) and the permanently disabled with no cost to the recipient if they qualify. The power wheelchairs are provided to those who cannot walk and cannot self-propel a manual wheelchair in their home, and who meet the additional guidelines of the program. No deposit is required. Call 800-451-0971 for more information.
Individuals age 50 and above looking for permanent employment are encouraged to call Senior Employment Resources at 703-750-1936, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., for an interview.
The Northern Virginia Family Service needs foster families for abused and neglected children. African-American families are particularly needed. Help is needed in both full-time and short-term programs. Training, support and financial compensation will be provided. For more information about the Northern Virginia Family Service, call 703-533-9727 or e-mail smcallister@nvfs.org.
The Naomi Project needs volunteers to serve as mentors for high risk pregnant women. The women are referred from the Fairfax Hospital, Health Department, Human Services and private physicians. Volunteers give about one hour per week, determined by the client's needs and volunteer's availability. There is a special need for Spanish-speaking volunteers. Call 703-860-2633 or visit naomiproject.homestead.com.