The 29th Annual Arlington County Fair is currently seeking and registering community volunteers to assist with the event setup, execution and break-down from Monday, Aug. 15 to Monday, Aug. 22, at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 S. Second St. Volunteers will assist with setup, execution and break-down of the fair in three-hour shifts. Volunteer opportunities include: setup of exhibitor, vendor and sponsor indoor and outdoor booths; hanging signs and banners; providing security for exhibits, petting zoo and entertainment; sponsor, vendor and exhibitor booth support; food vendor support; transporting ice and water; information booth; T-shirt booth; break-down of exhibitor, vendor and sponsor booths; removal of signs and banners; loading vendor supplies and equipment; and packing supplies and materials for storage. Special event experience is helpful but not required. Teen volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult volunteer. To apply, call 703-920-4556 or visit www.arlingtoncountyfair.org. The deadline for applications is August 1.
The Arlington Community Services Board is seeking volunteers for the Substance Abuse Committee to the Board. The Substance Abuse Committee reviews and evaluates existing and proposed substance abuse services and facilities available to serve the community. Meetings are held once a month for two hours. Call Jennifer Slark at 703-228-4871.
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.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is looking for African-American volunteers to serve as advocates for children in Arlington Juvenile Courts. To learn more call 703-836-1820 or visit www.scanva.org.
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 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.
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.