Join Volunteers for Change, a unique volunteer program for adults, featuring a flexible calendar of fun weekend and weekday evening projects to fit a busy schedule. The only commitment needed is a one-time orientation at Volunteer Fairfax’s office in central Fairfax. Upcoming orientations will be held: Saturday, Nov. 5 from 2-3 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 7 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. After orientation, volunteers can choose from projects including planting trees, bagging food for homeless families, tutoring adult ESL students, playing bingo with the disabled, special community wide events throughout the year, and more. Contact Ann Doyle to register for the next orientation at 703-246-3460 ext. 2,2 or e-mail to adoyle@volunteerfairfax.org. Visit www.volunteerfairfax.org for more information.
Alexandria Volunteer Bureau needs volunteers to help with and attend our 13th Annual Evening in the Heart of Alexandria Silent Auction at the Goodwin House on Oct. 13—need help with registration, setup, checkout. Contact 703-836-2176 or mail@AlexandriaVolunteers.com.
American Cancer Society seeks volunteer to help with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5-Mile Walk on Oct. 22 from 7 a.m. to noon. Contact Joellen Brassfield at 703-937-1902 or Joellen.Brassfield@cancer.org.
The Alexandria/Arlington Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA) is seeking volunteers to speak up for abused and neglected children in court. Volunteers conduct interviews with children, families, and professionals, monitor compliance with court orders, write detailed reports, and represent the child in court. Volunteers must complete training and background checks. and commit to one. Bilingual volunteers (Spanish/English) are greatly needed. Training begins in late September. Call 703-820-9001 or visit www.scanva.org.
Good Shepherd Housing & Family Services is looking for volunteers. Two opportunities: baby-sit for children whose parents are attending our budget-counseling course. Parents will be in the adjacent room. Activities/snacks will be provided for children. Every other Tuesday or Thursday evening 6:30-9 p.m.; and front desk volunteer: answer phones, greet visitors and assist in referrals to other local resources. Weekdays 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Contact Liz Buczynski at 703-768-9404 or lbuczynski@goodhousing.org.
United Community Ministries Backporch Thrift Store is looking for volunteers to help accept donations, sort and price items and place on store floor. Contact Betsy Damitz, volunteer coordinator at 703-768-7106, ext. 328.
Bryant Early Learning Center is looking for volunteers to help with the infant and toddlers program. Rocking and feeding of infants, being involved with toddlers activities, playtime, lunch, etc. Contact Betsy Damitz, volunteer coordinator 703-768-7106, ext. 328.
Northern Virginia Family Service seeks area residents to become a foster care providers to neglected children with special needs. NVFS helps families get the most out of foster/respite care experience by providing 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. Register now for summer training. Call Ginny at 703-219-2184.
Healthy Families Mount Vernon/Lee at the South County Building 8350 Richmond Hwy., Suite 525 is in need of a volunteer twice a week for two hours to help with organizing files, xeroxing, collating, etc. and help in keeping the storage area organized of brochures, baby clothing, miscellaneous baby items, etc. Contact Irma Dobber at 703-704-6794. Healthy Families is a countywide program that seeks to identify and reach expectant parents who are isolated within their community and in greatest need of parenting education. It promotes child health and development, positive parenting, parent competence self-reliance and self- esteem and it helps families establish links with community support network.
The following volunteer opportunities and more are available through the Alexandria Volunteer Bureau. For more information, call 703-836-2176 or visit www.alexandriavolunteers.com.
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria - Kennel Assistants are needed. Volunteers are needed to assist Animal Care staff in their cleaning duties to help maintain a sanitary and safe environment for the animals. Duties include laundry, washing toys, cleaning floors, cages, and kennels, feeding and exercising pets. Must be willing and able to do heavy labor and have the ability to follow instructions and work independently. Time requirements are once a week for at least two hours each visit. General volunteer orientation will be provided as well as ongoing training with the volunteer manager. Volunteers are also needed to help with maintain the landscaping around the animal shelter. Volunteers water plants, pull weeds, rake leaves, trim bushes as needed, and pick up trash. Flexible hours between Sun. and Thurs. Age: 16 and older. Alexandria.
King Street Cats - Volunteers are needed to feed the cats on a daily basis in the morning and evening. Volunteers are also needed to provide fosterhomes for cats as well as a volunteer who is interested in updating the agency's website. Training is provided. Age: 16 and older. Alexandria.
The Del Ray Artisans – Seeking volunteers for all aspects of community arts organization and gallery operations. Opportunities include mailings, gallery and garden maintenance, grant writing, fundraising, special events, gallery sitting and outreach activities. Age: 15 and older. Wheelchair accessible. Alexandria. 703.979.8996 or 703.838.4827
Empowered Women International - Volunteer coordinator and an arts and crafts gallery coordinator are needed to recruit and train volunteers to promote and sell the arts. An arts resources organizer, bookkeeper, and special events volunteers are also needed. Age: 18 and older. Alexandria.
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum - Volunteers are needed to serve as tour guides and much more. Alexandria.
Little Theatre of Alexandria - Volunteers are needed to help with mailings, the box office, and other clerical duties. Alexandria.
Port City Playhouse – Volunteers needed to help with set construction and painting. Need ushers for performances. Groups of up to10 are welcome. Youth ages 15 and older are welcome. Alexandria. 703.838.2880
SOHO: A Space of Her Own – The Art League - Volunteers are needed to work with a unique art and mentoring program which serves at-risk, low-income girls, ages 12-16. Girls and mentors attend workshops in art and design, then work together to remodel the girls' bedrooms. A one-year commitment is required, as is a criminal background check and attendance at 3 mentor orientation sessions. Alexandria. 703.519.1741.
Alexandria Community Service Board – Volunteers are needed to serve as representative payees on behalf of people with a disability. Volunteers keep track of automatically deposited checks and pay bills for persons with mental retardation or mental illness. Requires two hours per month, per account. Volunteers work from home. Friendly visitors are also needed for one-on-one outings and activities for adult residents with mental retardation. Board members are also needed. Age: 21 and older. Alexandria.
Alexandria Dept. of Human Services – Volunteers are needed to serve on the outreach committee planning and executing projects to help foster children and others. Tasks include fundraising events. Age: 18 and older. Wheelchair accessible. Alexandria.
ALIVE! Child Development Center- A volunteer is needed to serve as co-chair for the center. The center participates in the state childcare subsidy program. The volunteer provides oversight and direction to the center director in formulating policies and goals, work with the committee to oversee and support marketing, and much more. Age: N/A. Alexandria.
Computer C.O.R.E – Special events volunteers, a bookkeeper, 10 resume tutors, board members, outreach and fundraising committee members are needed. Age: 16 and older. Alexandria.
Alexandria C.A.R.E.S. – Volunteers are needed to serve as volunteer coordinators. Volunteers arrange staffing for monthly seat check events, assist with volunteer welcome packets, coordinate volunteers, and maintain database. Volunteers are also needed to support administrative work, help parents with car seats inspection, and much more. Training is provided. Alexandria.
Alexandria Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program - Volunteers are needed to serve as advocates for children in the Alexandria Juvenile Court. Volunteers advocate for children in abuse and neglect, custody, and other cases. Volunteers conduct interviews with the children, families, and professionals involved in the case, monitor compliance with Court Orders, write detailed reports, and attend Court hearings at which they represent the best interest of the child. Volunteers must complete a 40-hour training, as well as complete background checks. The time commitment is 10 to 20 hours per month, and volunteers are asked to make a one-year commitment to the program. Bilingual volunteers are also needed. Age: 21 and older. Alexandria.
Alexandria Dept. of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities – Coaches are needed for youth basketball and softball. Volunteers are also needed to regulate the play of the game and call the balls, strikes, and outs. Alexandria.
Alexandria Transitional Housing Program – Volunteers are needed to provide childcare while parents attend a life skills meeting once a month. Alexandria.
Alexandria Tutoring Consortium – Tutors are needed to work with Alexandria Public School children. Training is provided. Alexandria.
Arlandria Health Center - Volunteers are needed to read in Spanish to young children ages 6 months to 4 years on Wed. and Fri. in the clinic waiting room for the “Reach Out and Read” program.
Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless – Volunteers are needed for SKIT (Support for Kids in Transition) Spend one hour 7-8pm interacting with children from our Sullivan House shelter. Volunteers will read and play games with children 2-12. Age: 18 and older. Arlington
Beth El House - Mentors and tutors are needed to help formerly homeless families transition to independent living. Volunteers will teach basic household budgeting and balancing checkbook. Volunteers are also needed to support children activities and outings as well as teach conversational Spanish to child care provider.
The Campagna Center/Wright to Read – Tutors and mentors are needed to work on-on-one with children in the evening or on the weekend. Book buddies are also needed for an after-school program, and waiting room readers to read out loud to children 6 months to 5 years of age. Training is provided. Age: 16 and older. Alexandria.
The Child & Family Network Centers – Volunteers are needed to read stories to children, share computer skills with four-year old children, play games, plan and organize special programs, and help with administrative work. Age: N/A. Alexandria.