Attend Thriving Family Summit
The Thriving Family Summit vision began with a drug overdose and death of a local teenager and a local church offering to host her memorial service. In response, local church and Fairfax County leaders gathered to identify some specific actions to deepen awareness of the growing teen trends of broken families, drug addiction, anxiety, depression, and suicide, and how to make resources better known and accessible. The free Thriving Family Summit will be held Saturday, March 11 at 15451 Lee Highway, Centreville. See http://thrivingfamilysummit.com/
Learn Drug Prevention Strategies
The next UPC Prevention program will be held Thursday, March 16, 7 p.m. at Westfield High School’s Lecture Study room. This adults-only UPC parent awareness program features an evening of dialogue with a panel of high school seniors on drugs and alcohol use, teen parties, and healthy teen-parent communication. Middle school and high school parents can benefit from this program.
Free Carseat Inspections
Certified technicians from the Sully District Police Station will perform free, child safety carseat inspections Thursday, March 16, from 5-8:30 p.m., at the station, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. No appointment is necessary. But residents should install the child safety seats themselves so technicians may properly inspect and adjust them, as needed.
Because of time constraints, only the first 35 vehicles arriving on each date will be inspected. That way, inspectors may have enough time to properly instruct the caregiver on the correct use of the child seat. Call 703-814-7000, ext. 5140, to confirm dates and times.
Club To Host Realtor
Kathy Sparks, owner of the Team Sparks Realty Group, will tell the GFWC Western Fairfax County Woman's Club (WFCWC) at its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 20 at the Cale Community Center what it is like to be a self-employed single woman working in real estate in Northern Virginia and also give some tips and pointers on preparing a house for sale. Sparks is a licensed Realtor, an accredited staging professional, a certified investor agent specialist, and a property owner and investor herself. She will share stories about her professional life and show examples of good staging and presentation that helps homes sell.
WFCWC usually meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of the month, September through May, at the Cale Community Center, 4615 Stringfellow Road. Guests are welcome and admission is free. For more information about WFCWC, visit www.wfcwc.org or call Mary Jane Hasselkus at 703-378-4250.
Dulles Suburban Center Meetings
As the Dulles Suburban Center Study enters into its second phase, the Advisory Group has set its schedule for the next several months. Residents are invited to attend the meetings and hear what the group is discussing regarding land use in the Dulles Suburban Center. The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Sully District Governmental Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly, on March 21.
Specific meeting topics will be posted on the Dulles Suburban Study website http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/dullessuburbancenter/meetings.htm.
Several Volunteers Needed
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries at 4511 Daly Dr. Suite J, Chantilly seeks individuals to volunteer for the following:
Volunteer(s) to clean office and bathroom, Tuesday or Thursday, either 8:30-9:30 a.m. or 2:30-4 a.m.
Volunteer(s) to answer phones and schedule appointments, Tuesday and Thursday, 2 - 4:30 p.m. Requirements: good phone skills, personable, able to conduct pantry tours. Interview and completed application required.
Volunteer(s) for Client Services Intake, Monday and Friday, 9:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. Requirements: Spanish speaker preferred, ability to work with clients, able to conduct pantry tours. Interview and completed application required.
Volunteer for Food Pantry, bagging clients' food choices, Thursday, 10:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. Requirements: must be able to stand for long periods of time and lift at least 25 pounds. Interview and completed application required.
See http://wfcmva.org/how-you-can-help/volunteer-program/
Food Donations for WFCM
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries’ food pantry needs donations of 1-2 pound bags of rice; fruit juice; jelly; red, white or black beans (can or bagged); canned vegetables (no green beans of corn needed); macaroni and cheese; can pasta; pasta sauce; and pasta (spaghetti, rotini, elbow, etc.).
Toiletries needed, which WFCM clients cannot purchase with food stamps, include diapers, toothpaste, shampoo and solid deodorant.
Bring all items to WFCM’S food pantry’s new location at 4511 Daly Dr. Suite J, Chantilly from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
Contact Terri Kelly at tkelly@wfcmva.org if willing to coordinate a food drive.
Volunteer Drivers Are Needed
Fairfax County needs volunteers to drive older adults to medical appointments and wellness programs. For these and other volunteer opportunities, call 703-324-5406 or go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and click on Volunteer Solutions.
Meals on Wheels Volunteers
Fairfax County needs Meals on Wheels drivers in Chantilly and group Meals on Wheels coordinators in both Chantilly and Fairfax. Contact Volunteer Solutions at 703-324-5406, TTY 711, VolunteerSolutions@fairfaxcounty.gov or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices/volunteer-solutions.htm.
Long-Term Care Advocates
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program needs volunteer advocates for residents in assisted living and nursing facilities. Training is provided in September. Call 703-324-5861, TTY 711 or email Lisa.Callahan@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Give Caregivers a Break
Fairfax County needs Respite Care volunteers throughout the county to give family caregivers of a frail older adult a well-deserved break. Volunteers visit and oversee the safety of the older adult for a few hours each month. Volunteers are matched with families in or near their own neighborhoods. Support and training is provided. Contact Kristin Martin at 703-324-7577, TTY 711, or Kristin.Martin@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Drive Seniors to Appointments
Fairfax County needs volunteers to drive older adults to medical appointments and wellness programs. Call 703-324-5406, TTY 711, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/olderadults and link to Volunteer Solutions or email VolunteerSolutions@fairfaxcounty.gov.