Send announcements to the Herndon Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, send an e-mail to herndon@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday 5 p.m. for the following week's paper. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call Christopher Staten at 703-917-6447 with questions. This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.
The Northern Virginia Association for Volunteer Administration (NVAVA) presents a workshop, "Supervision, Motivation, Retention" on Thursday, Jan 19 from noon to 2 p.m. NVAVA's response to mid-winter weather and traffic are small group discussion meetings planned around the county. NVAVA is a professional non-profit membership organization for persons committed to the effective involvement of volunteers in community programs and services. Contact the small group facilitators for directions to the location convenient to you and details about specific group sessions: Jeannine Deem Purdy at 703-549-1607, ext 129
Volunteer Fairfax is beginning an eight-part professional development series for volunteer coordinators and program managers at nonprofit organizations. The first session, "How to Fire a Volunteer," teaches volunteer administrators how to dismiss a volunteer. Speaker Angie Carrera, language access coordinator for the Office of the County Executive, teaches participants how to allow a volunteer to leave with dignity while the organization maintains its reputation as a great place to volunteer. The workshop is on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 8:30 a.m. at the Reston Chamber of Commerce, 1763 Fountain Drive, Reston. Fees range from $35 to $55 per session. To register for a session go to www.volunteerfairfax.org or for more information contact Erin Whyte at ewhyte@volunteerfairfax.org.
The Naomi Project, a free, confidential, interfaith program sponsored by the Virginia Council of Churches, needs volunteers who will be trained to serve as mentors to disadvantaged pregnant women and new mothers.
Mentors provide positive reinforcement, help clients learn about good health during pregnancy and safe practices after birth, locate needed information, services and equipment, model sound parenting skills and support their clients as they plan for healthy, stable futures.
The next training session for volunteers is Saturday, March 11, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at Falls Church Presbyterian Church, 225 E. Broad St., Falls Church. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Spanish-speaking volunteers are especially needed.
For more information, contact Pilar Jones at 703-860-2633 or naomiproject@hotmail.com, or visit www.naomiproject.org.
With the help of Kidsave, children living in orphanages in Colombia, Russia and Kazakhstan, ages 7 to 15, will travel to the U.S., live with host families for six weeks, and attend day camp. This program aims to increase the awareness of the plight of orphaned children and gives these children the chance to meet families who can change their lives. Over the past six years, more than 90 percent of the children have been adopted by families they met while in the U.S. for their summer camp experience. Those interested in making a difference in these children's lives, visit www.kidsave.org, contact the Kidsave Volunteer Coordinator, Alla Kamins with questions at 571-243-1897 or e-mail her at alla@global.t-bird.edu.
World Heritage Student Exchange program, a public benefit organization, is seeking local host families for high school boys and girls from Spain, France, Germany, Thailand, Japan, Mexico, Switzerland, Denmark and Italy. Students are already awaiting word on their host family for the 2006-07 academic school year. Host families provide room, board and guidance for a teenager living thousands of miles from home. Couples, single parents and families with and without children in the home are all encouraged to apply. The exchange students arrive from their home country shortly before school begins fall 2006. For more, call Judith Henderson at 1-800-888-9040.
Odyssey Companions are needed for about two hours each week, to provide empathetic care, such as reading, talking, writing letters for the patient, holding hands or watching television. Other occasional tasks might be to run errands or prepare a simple meal. Companions are not required to do any lifting and the visits are flexible according to your schedule. If you have more time to give and enjoy talking on the phone, our very busy staff would really appreciate your assistance for a four-hour shift each week. Call Carol, the Volunteer Coordinator, at 703-821-9200, for an application form.
The Bargain Loft is a local thrift store located at 336 Victory Drive in Herndon. It is run by an all volunteer staff, and is clean and air conditioned. All the money made by the Bargain Loft goes to help Herndon/Reston FISH, which helps people with emergency needs such as money for rent, utilities or medicines.
Bargain Loft is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There are two shifts, mornings from 10 a.m.-noon and afternoons from noon-2 p.m. The Loft particularly needs people on Saturdays and can always use teenagers who want to acquire some Community Service time. Call Mr. Stringer at 703-437 0600.
Volunteers needed at the Herndon Adult Day Health Care Center. The center is looking for individuals to run the following programs: bingo, ceramics, any musical programs/sing-alongs, horticulture programs and individuals interested in helping with community trips. Process involves an interview, filling out paperwork, criminal background check, TB screening and orientation. Contact Kelly Fowler at 703-435-8729.
People who are looking for an opportunity to help folks directly and can stay by their home phones for just one day a month can become a Family Assistance volunteer, providing "Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help" to your neighbors in need. Last year FISH helped 931 families and individuals with financial assistance totaling more than $120,000. FISH also needs drivers to take elderly and disabled persons to local doctor appointments and to help pick up furniture donations, Call 703-437-0600.
Volunteers are needed weekdays, 10 a.m.-noon, to guide individuals and families through four rooms of the Kidwell Farmhouse at Frying Pan Park in Herndon. Training is provided. Preferred commitment is at least two shifts per month. Kidwell Farm, located at Frying Pan Park and operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority, recreates the era from 1920 to 1950 when family dairy farms blanketed the local landscape. Call Sherry Bizette at 703-437-5318 or apply online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
Travelers Aid is seeking volunteers to serve as mobile guides and information desk staff at Washington Dulles International Airport. Volunteers provide access to agency social workers, airport information, directional services, transportation options, tourist information and more. Trained to be information experts, our volunteers welcome people to the Washington capital region and add a personal touch. We have a need for weekday evening, 6-9 p.m., information desk volunteers. Mobile guide scheduling is flexible. Contact Travelers Aid at 703-572-7350 or volunteer@mwaa.com.
The Reston-Herndon American Association of University Women's tutoring/mentoring program at Forest Edge Elementary School in Reston needs volunteers to spend an hour on Tuesdays, from 3:15-4:15 p.m., working with academically at-risk young girls, supporting them with friendship, homework help and some fun. The program also needs substitutes and donations of games or books. Call Elisabeth Pugh at 703-759-4494 or e-mail Metrigero@aol.com. Visit the Web site www.aauwofva.org/branches/reston.htm.
The Fairfax County Health Department is launching a major volunteer recruitment drive to staff the Fairfax Medical Reserve Corps, a program of the Fairfax County Citizen Corps. More than 13,000 medical and nonmedical volunteers are needed to respond to a full-scale public-health emergency in Fairfax County. In the event of a bioterrorism attack or a naturally occurring epidemic, MRC volunteers would be called upon to staff vaccination or medication dispensing sites. In a worst case scenario, this could mean providing for all residents in Fairfax County — more than 1 million people — in three to five days. To accomplish this, 96 teams, comprising 142 people per team, would staff dispensing sites at all county public-high schools and George Mason University. In addition, a large number of non-medical volunteers are needed to provide general support, such as assisting patients with forms and performing data entry and other administrative tasks. Contact Foster at 703-246-2485, TTY 703-591-6435, or by e-mail at donna.foster@fairfaxcounty.gov or visit www.fairfaxcountycitizencorps.org.
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is seeking volunteers for nursing homes or assisted living facilities in their communities and weekly visits. Listening, observing and mediating, the ombudsman works with the residents, their families and the facility staff to ensure that resident's rights are protected and they are being adequately helped. Applicants must successfully complete training and must be available to volunteer four hours per week during regular business hours. 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 to honor local cancer patients. Call 703-960-1100 or visit www.teamintraining.org.
Volunteer Emergency Families For Children needs volunteers willing to open their homes and provide short-term — one to 21 days— emergency shelter to local children who are victims of abuse, neglect, etc. Volunteers can choose the age, gender and length of stay for each placement. Most requests in this area are for three- to five-day stays. Call 800-756-6167 or e-mail MMiller@VEFC.org for details.
The Center for Multicultural Human Services is seeking CHAMPS mentors to provide children of prisoners in Northern Virginia with friendship, recreational activities and constructive example. Contact Ellen Klene at 703-533-3302, Ext. 107 or eklene@cmhs.org.
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. Call Lorraine Lottahall at 703-246-4760 or e-mail lorraine.lottahall@fairfaxcounty.
Volunteer tutors are needed for day and evening hours to work one-to-one with adult learners in public libraries or adult learning centers. Additional opportunities are available working with adolescents in alternative school settings. The Volunteer Learning Program trains tutors, assesses learners, and provides materials with follow-up support. VLP is a joint community project of the Fairfax County Public Schools Adult and Community Education, Fairfax County's Juvenile Court, and the Fairfax County Public Library. Call 703-246-2139 or e-mail VLP@fcps.edu
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. Auxiliary officers undergo almost as much training as regular police officers, but because they offer their services on a volunteer basis, they provide a considerable savings to county taxpayers while relieving patrol officers to handle assignments that only they can perform. The police department provides uniforms, equipment and insurance. Auxiliary officers must perform an average of 24 hours of volunteer service a month to maintain their status in the unit.
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. Contact the auxiliary coordinator at 703-280-0576.