The Carlin, an independent living facility for seniors located near Ballston Common, has a variety of opportunities for volunteers. Specific needs include assistance with our newsletter, particularly art work; helping to organize a Walking Club for people with limited mobility; a line dance organizer; and someone with medical experience to do blood pressure checks. Call Diane Downey, volunteer coordinator, at 703-243-4300.
Volunteers are needed to prepare dinner for 10 women off-site, and then bring the meal to Pathways, a transitional housing program in NW D.C. for 10 women that are chronically homeless, and serve the meal to the residents. Dinner volunteers are needed Friday and Saturday from 6-7:30 p.m. After the initial meal is served volunteers are welcome to sit down with the residents to eat and socialize. Menus and recipes are available. Call Allison Harvey, volunteer coordinator, at 202-783-6651.
Overnight Volunteers are needed Friday and Saturday nights at Pathways, a small, transitional housing program in NW D.C. that houses 10 women. Overnight volunteers provide assistance to the residents and set out a simple breakfast in the morning. A staff person is always on call to answer any questions. Volunteers arrive at 11 p.m. and leave at 8 a.m. A two-hour training is required. Call Allison Harvey, volunteer coordinator, at 202-783-6651.
The Washington Connection is part of the Grassroots Department at Common Cause, a national non-partisan non-profit organization. Volunteers help organize, educate and mobilize members across the country via telephone, written correspondence and e-mail. They keep local activists informed on legislation and mobilize these members to write, call or meet with their congressmen on Common Cause issues such as election reform, campaign finance reform, government ethics, redistricting and media reform. Most volunteers work 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, but other days and times are available. Call Dan Lijana, volunteer coordinator, at 202-833-1200.
A driver and a driver's helper are needed to pick up food donations at local grocery stores and deliver them to the Arlington Food Assistance Center warehouse every other Thursday evening between 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Needed is a licensed driver able to lift 40 pounds and use own vehicle or drive AFAC van. Call Nancy Cude, volunteer coordinator, at 703-845-8486.
The Arlington Street People's Assistance Network is starting an employment training program for clients, working with them on building job skills, including practicing and preparing for job interviews. Volunteers are needed to do mock job interviews with clients to help them prepare for the real thing. Volunteer interviewers will be needed in late April and early May, on weekdays in the late afternoon/early evening. Contact Jessica Wood, volunteer coordinator, at 703-820-4357, ext. 17.
The Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation needs volunteers to help in one or more of the following: walk for PKD, other fundraising projects, publicity, reaching out to corporate community for support, public education about PKD and holding support group. Volunteering not only helps the PKD Foundation and the mission to find a treatment/cure, but provides a local network of people for ongoing support. There are no minimum time or training requirements to become a chapter volunteer. A person needs to be dedicated to the cause of finding a treatment and cure for PKD. Contact Ruth Grayson Scott, chapter co-coordinator, at 703-863-8651.
The Arlington Street People's Assistance Network is in need of a volunteer to help organize data and paperwork. The work entails creating files, organizing papers and basic computer skills. This project will take a total of 15-20 hours and can be done over a period of three weeks during April or early May. Work must be done during work hours (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) on weekdays. Contact Jessica Wood, volunteer coordinator, at 703-820-4357, ext. 17.
Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, Washington, D.C., is in need of volunteers. To find out how to help, visit www.avonwalk.org and select the Washington, D.C. tab, and then click on Volunteer for an updated list of volunteer opportunities leading up the big event on April 30 and May 1. On the volunteer page there is also an Event Volunteer Form that can be filled out to volunteer during the event weekend. Shifts are available on Friday, April 29, Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. There are brief descriptions of all assignments and the hours for the various shifts. Also, groups are needed to cheer on the walkers at specified Cheering Stations along the route. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 202-962-0394.
Hogar Hispano, an immigrant assistance program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, is seeking volunteers to teach English one evening a week for two hours. Classrooms are located in over 20 sites throughout Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun counties. Foreign language proficiency and previous experience are not required. Hogar Hispano volunteers attend a one-day ESL Boot Camp and are given a teacher's toolbox of games, activities and resources, a text and a teacher's guide. Volunteers are required to attend 10 total hours of training in their first year of service, which can be easily fulfilled through the workshops provided on a quarterly basis. Contact Belle Penaranda, associate ESL coordinator, at 703-534-9805, ext. 239.
Computer C.O.R.E. needs a volunteer grant writer. Assist the executive director in researching and identifying grantors, writing and preparing applications. This volunteer will have a direct impact on the quality of service provided to clients and the future development of the organization. Some grantwriting experience would be helpful. Volunteer should have excellent writing and professional skills, communication skills and follow-through, office computing skills (Windows, Word, Excel, Internet/e-mail), and the ability to work independently. Two to four hours per week with a three-month commitment. Renewable. Contact Susan Townsend, volunteer management assistant, at 703-931-7346.
Opportunity Place, the client drop-in center for the Arlington Street People's Assistance Network, has a cabinet full of client files that need sorting. The project will take about five to eight hours total, and can be done all at once or in two or three consecutive days. Project must be done during work hours — 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays. Volunteer needed as soon as possible. Opportunity Place is located at 2708 S. Nelson St., Arlington. Contact Jessica Wood, volunteer coordinator, at 703-820-4357, ext. 17.
NVBIA hosts three to four social activities throughout the year for the Brain Injury community. Guests are people who have survived a traumatic brain injury and their family members. Facilitators are needed to help set up, cook, serve and clean up after the party. Facilitators will mingle with attendees, helping them to socialize and to join in dancing or sport activities. The 2005 social calendar is : Spring Fling May 14, Summer Picnic Aug. 12 and Holiday Party Dec. 3. There are no training requirements or limitations on volunteers. Volunteers should, however, be outgoing, enjoy other people, and able to help generate a festive atmosphere. Contact Cynthia MacDonald, treasurer, at 703-569-1855.
The Arlington Community Temporary Shelter needs volunteers to help run the thrift store for two hour shifts during all store hours, Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. The shelter also needs volunteers to help with research, mailings, special projects, organizing and cleaning out files and supporting daily operations. The shelter offers help to women and families seeking shelter because of domestic violence. Call Roseanne at 703-522-8858, ext. 13, or e-mail rcampbell@tacts.org.
The Arlington Community Temporary Shelter needs weekend volunteers to support sheltered families, assist in daily operations and answer crisis and information phone calls. Caring, empathetic, non judgmental people are needed for Saturdays and Sundays for two- to four-hour shifts from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. The shelter offers help to women and families seeking shelter because of domestic violence. Call Roseanne at 703-522-8858, ext. 13, or e-mail rcampbell@tacts.org.
The Arlington Community Temporary Shelter, offering help to women and families seeking shelter because of domestic violence, hosts a Volunteer Information Night on the first Tuesday of every month from 6:30-8 p.m. at the TACTS Administrative Office, 3179 Wilson Blvd. There are more than 20 different ways to get involved. Call 703-522-8858, ext. 13, or visit www.tacts.org.
Whitefield Commons Community Resource Center needs volunteers for its after-school program. Get volunteer experience and help children improve their academic performance. Help children with their homework, and make a positive difference in their lives. After-school program runs Mondays through Thursdays, from 3—5 p.m., except on Wednesdays, when it runs from 1—3:30 p.m. Call Trinidad Coopman at 703-465-5001, or e-mail tcoopman@whdc.org.