The Naomi Project needs volunteers who will be trained to serve as mentors to disadvantaged pregnant women and new mothers. The mission of the Naomi Project, a free, confidential, interfaith program sponsored by the Virginia Council of Churches, is to promote healthy pregnancies, babies and mothers. The next training session for volunteers is Saturday, Sept. 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Falls Church Presbyterian Church, 225 E. Broad St., Falls Church. A $20 registration fee covers a background check, study materials and lunch. Spanish-speaking volunteers are especially needed. Contact Pilar Jones at 703 860-2633 or naomiproject@hotmail.com, or visit www.naomiproject.org.
Volunteer Fairfax is seeking disaster volunteer leaders. In the event of a crisis or disaster in Fairfax County, Volunteer Fairfax coordinates spontaneous volunteers — members of the general public who show up at a disaster wanting to help. The Volunteer Center has created a special Volunteer Mobilization Leadership Team, comprised of trained volunteers, who will help run a Volunteer Mobilization Center, which serves as a processing point for volunteers when they arrive at a disaster site. The next Volunteer Mobilization Leadership Team informational meeting will be Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m., at the Volunteer Fairfax office, 10530 Page Ave., Fairfax on the lower level. Contact Hubert Lee at hlee@volunteerfairfax.org or 703-246-3460.
The Volunteer Learning Program is seeking tutors. Volunteers are needed for day and evening hours to work one-on-one with adult learners in public libraries. VLP is a joint community project of the Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County's Juvenile Court, and the Fairfax County Public Library. Call 703-246-2139 or e-mail VLP@fcps.edu.
Doorways for Women and Families is seeking volunteers for its Safehouse domestic violence shelter program. Volunteers are needed for weekend and evening shifts and to answer its 24/7 hotline. Some weekday opportunities are also available. Training begins August-September. Call 703-522-8858 x13 or email volunteer@doorwaysVA.org. For more information log on to www.doorwaysva.org/volunteer.
Department of Community and Recreation Services seeks volunteers to become part of daily operations and help provide activities in all programs offered. Volunteers may commit to short-term projects or long-term projects. Potential volunteers must be at least 18 years old, complete a background, and participate in training. For more information about volunteering with CRS call 703-324-4386, TTY 711.
Volunteers for Change is a volunteer program for adults including weekend and weekday evening community service projects. Projects include planting trees, ESL tutoring, playing bingo with the disabled, bagging food for the homeless and more. Call Cori Bassett at 703-246-3460 or e-mail cbassett@volunteerfairfax.org.
The Committee for Helping Others Food Closet continues to accept donations of nonperishable food during normal business hours for distribution to local families in need. Canned meats are especially welcome. The Food Closet is located at 133 Park St., N.E., in the Vienna Courts complex. Enter through the side door marked "Women's Center" and go down the stairs to the large plastic bin labeled "Food Donations." Call Carolyn Mysel at 703-938-7213.
Doorways for Women and Families offers a monthly volunteer orientation meeting the first Tuesday of every month to learn more about volunteer opportunities with our family shelter, domestic violence Safehouse and other community programs. Log on to www.doorwaysva.org/volunteer or email volunteer@doorwaysva.org for more information.
Community Come Alive! Be a volunteer that provides assistance and companionship to members of the community. Volunteers are needed for tasks such as: grocery-shopping, transportation, light housekeeping, seasonal yard work, writing letters, home organization projects, friendly visits, social telephone calls and more. No time commitment required. Free presentations on "volunteering" to local interfaith and community groups are available. For more information, contact the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging Cluster Care Program at 703-324-5184 or e-mail trina.mayhan-webb@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Donations for wounded service men and women hospitalized in Iraq continue to be collected by the American Legion. T-shirts, socks and basketball-style shorts are in great demand for the summer. Other popular items include CDs, DVDs, pocket books, new men's and women's underwear, flip-flops/shower shoes and toiletry items. Drop off donations at Vienna American Legion Post 180, Attn: Joyce, 330 Center St., N. For a receipt for a donation, attach a note with a name and address, and the receipt will be sent.
VIP Desk Volunteer Opportunity. The Fairfax Area Agency on Aging's Volunteer Development Unit has an onsite volunteer opportunity to help at its volunteer intake desk. Volunteers assist with a variety of office-related tasks such as mailing information packets, answering general phone calls from the community, filing and copying, and assisting with staff projects. Volunteers should be at least 18 years old and able to volunteer during regular office hours. Call the Volunteer Intake Line at 703-324-5406 or e-mail melanie.mitchell@fairfaxcounty.gov.
The Fairfax Area Agency on Aging "Meals on Wheels" program is in immediate need of volunteers to deliver meals during the week, Monday-Friday, to senior adults in the Vienna area. The job involves picking up meals at specified sites between 10:30 a.m. and noon, and delivering the meals to seniors by 1 p.m. Drivers can choose to deliver meals on a daily, weekly, monthly or substitute basis. Mileage reimbursement is available. Call the Volunteer Intake Line at 703-324-5406 or e-mail melanie.mitchell@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Volunteers are needed by the AARP and Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna. Services include non-emergency transportation, shopping, home repair, telephone reassurance and respite to family caregivers. E-mail AARP at vaarp@aarp.org.
Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) seeks area residents to become foster care providers to neglected children with special needs. NVFS provides intensive training, certification and continuing education; careful child/parent matching; ongoing assistance and 24-hour support from professional social workers; financial reimbursement; help locating support services for your special foster/respite child; foster/respite parent support groups; and family activities. Call Ginny at 703-219-2184 for more information.
The Center for Multicultural Human Services is now accepting volunteer applications for the following opportunities. For more, contact Ellen Klene at 703-533-3302 or e-mail eklene@cmhs.org.
* School-based Children’s Enrichment Program. This opportunity involves activities with multicultural groups of children at Timberlane Elementary School and Pine Spring Elementary School including reading, homework help and socialization activities. Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings, 6:30-8 p.m.
* School-based ESL Program for Immigrants. This opportunity involves teaching English to multicultural groups of parents whose children attend Timberlane Elementary School and Pine Spring Elementary School in Falls Church. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Level. Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evenings, 6:30-8 p.m. Teaching materials and orientation are provided.
Historic Vienna Inc. needs someone with videography skills to help make a video record of interviews with local Vienna citizens with rich and long memories. Contact HVI board member Christopher Vereide at 703-938-5187 or hviadmin@ci.vienna.va.us.
Project SUCCESS is seeking donations for items to put into transition bags for children who are moving from home into the foster care system without notice. The transition bags are canvas bags filled with items for girls and boys ages newborn to 18. All donated items must be new. Items such as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, school supplies, paperback books, key chains, pajamas, underwear and socks, small stuffed animals and toiletries will help make the transition easier for all. These bags are filled and given to the Fairfax County Family Services Adoption and Foster Care programs. Individuals who would like to make donations or have collected items for this effort should call Mary Wolf at 703-425-6240. TTY 703-222-9693.
Fairfax County Police are seeking volunteers who are interested in becoming Auxiliary Police Officers. APOs are trained to perform a variety of operational support and administrative duties, which include patrol, traffic control, security of prisoners, communications, desk assignments, fingerprinting, crime prevention and special events. To be considered, applicants must live in Northern Virginia and be at least 21 years of age. Applicants must be in good health and without a criminal record or history of drug use, and not be an applicant for police officer in any jurisdiction. To apply, obtain a brochure or additional information about the Fairfax County Auxiliary Police Unit, call 703-280-0576.
Volunteer English instructors are needed to teach Adult English as a Second Language with Hogar Hispano of Catholic Charities. Training provided, no second language required. Classes meet evenings and weekends and begin in September throughout Northern Virginia. Call 703-534-9805, Ext. 222 or visit www.ccda.net/hogar_hispano.html.
HCV is seeking adults to work one-on-one with sixth through eighth grade Hispanic students throughout the school year. Mentors help students with schoolwork and offer friendship and advice. Volunteer with "Alianza Escolar" and help change a child's life. Contact Margarita Kay at 703-671-5666, Ext. 136, or e-mail Education_hcv@yahoo.com.
Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption Program is seeking homes for children in need. In addition to free training, foster parents may receive monthly financial assistance for the expenses of the child in their care. Call 703-324-7639 to help.
The Volunteer Learning Program is looking for volunteer tutors to work one-on-one with adult learners who are working on the GED, high school diploma, or attempting to improve reading, writing or math skills. Tutors are needed for both day and evening tutoring one-on-one if the public libraries or in small classroom settings. Fairfax County Public Schools, the Fairfax County Juvenile Court and the Fairfax County Public Library System sponsor the Volunteer Learning Program. Call 703-246-2139 or e-mail VLP@fcps.edu.
Volunteer Language Interpreters are needed for the Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court to assist court staff and clients. Duties include facilitating communication between clients and court staff, translating court documents, interpreting at some court hearings and helping clients review their court orders. Fluency is required in both English and another language. A commitment to one weekly four-hour shift during business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) for at least six months is needed. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. For more information and an application, contact Gwen Robinson, volunteer services coordinator, at 703-246-2697, TTY 703-273-3713, or send e-mail to gwen.robinson@fairfaxcounty.gov.
The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia needs volunteers for a one-to-one basic literacy tutoring program designed to work with adults reading below the fifth grade level. No teaching or foreign language skills are required. There is a $35 training fee to cover books and supplies. Call 703-575-7900 or visit www.lcnv.org.
Odyssey Healthcare, a hospice provider, seeks volunteers in the Northern Virginia community to visit and/or assist terminally ill patients and their families during their end of life journey. Opportunities open to those who have compassion, desire to help one to two hours a week, share with a patient or their family, assist with office support or help with bereavement care. Training is provided. Call Karen Baroody at 703-821-9200 or e-mail kabaroody@odsyhealth.com.
Volunteers for Change offers a flexible calendar of weekend and weekday evening projects for adults. A one-time orientation at Volunteer Fairfax's office in central Fairfax is required. To register for the next orientation, contact Emily Swenson at 703-246-3460 or e-mail eswenson@volunteerfairfax.org. Visit www.volunteerfairfax.org.
Volunteer Fairfax has been mobilizing people and resources to meet regional community needs in Fairfax since 1975. To learn about volunteer opportunities in the area, visit www.volunteerfairfax.org or call 703-246-3460.
Childhelp USA Children’s Center of Virginia is recruiting and training sensitive volunteers during the month of September for the various positions at our advocacy center in Fairfax. People are needed for playroom volunteer, volunteer mentors and children’s activities leaders. All positions provide help to children affected by child abuse. Senior citizens are welcomed. Contact Cheryl Ray at 703-208-1549, or e-mail Cray@Childhelpusa.org.