Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE) is calling for volunteers for the 13th Annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, May 22-23 at Reston Town Center. For more information, contact GRACE at 703-471-9242 or, e-mail info@restonarts.org or, visit the GRACE gallery at 11911 Freedom Drive, Suite 110, in Reston Town Center. GRACE has volunteer opportunities available, such as Artist Relations; Children’s Art Zone; Hospitality Tables; Logistics; Merchandise; Publicity; Set-up/Take-down, Signage; Survey; Beer/Wine Sales and more. Volunteer opportunities are open to everyone, regardless of age, gender, race and ability. These opportunities are also extended to businesses interested in coordinating a volunteer program to feature their company and employees in the community. For additional festival information, contact GRACE at 703-471-9242 or visit the GRACE web site, www.restonarts.org.
"Get Aquainted" Gathering for Multicultural Festival Volunteers. Volunteers are needed to serve on The Reston Multicultural Festival's Planning Committee. Everyone is invited to attend a Festival "Get Acquainted" Session on Wednesday, March 24, at RCC, Hunters Woods (Dance Studio) from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The Reston Multicultural Festival is a one-day extravaganza of music,
dance, art, crafts and food to celebrate the cultural diversity of Reston. This year's Festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Lake Anne Village Center. There are volunteer opportunities for every aspect of the Festival including opening and closing ceremonies, entertainment, art displays, craft and food sales and demonstrations and publicity. For further information, directions or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Anna Dowdell, volunteer coordinator, at the Reston Community Center at 703-648-2857.
The Town of Herndon is seeking applications for citizen volunteers who are willing to serve on the Heritage Preservation Review Board as an architectural historian. The requirements are that the individual needs to be an architect or an architectural historian, meeting appropriate qualifications that qualify the individual as an expert in the area of historic preservation. It is not necessary to be a resident of Herndon. There is one meeting per month plus work sessions. Members receive $100 per month and a full term is three years. Contact the Town Clerk's office at 703-435-6804 or email viki.wellershaus@town.herndon.va.us.
Help rescue a grove of sumac and eastern red cedar (two native food sources for Reston's birds) from runaway patch of Japanese Honeysuckle with the Reston Association Environmental Staff on Saturday, March 27 from 10 a.m.-noon. Volunteers under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Meet where the asphalt path crosses Colts Brook Drive in the Polo-fields community. Colts Brook is a small residential drive that connects Fox Mill Road to Sunrise Valley Drive just a few hundred feet from Monroe Street and the Reston/Herndon border. No training is needed. Bring work gloves and wear long sleeves. RSVP via email habrock@reston.org or call 703-435-7986. For more detailed direction to this site, call Ha Brock, 703-435-7986 or Kevin Munroe, 703-435-6552.
The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia is looking for volunteers to become lead teachers, class aides and computer lab aides for the English As a second Language (ESL) educational programs. No training is required for class aide and computer lab aide positions. Volunteers are also needed to tutor adults in the Basic Literacy and English as a Second Language tutoring programs. Basic Literacy tutor training begins March 13 and ESL tutor training begins April 21. For more information or to sign up for a training session, call the Literacy Council at 703-575-7900, send an e-mail to volunteers@lcnv.org or go to www.lcnv.org.
The Fairfax County Public Library seeks volunteers to assist staff in its Public Information Office a minimum of two hours per week. Candidates must read English well, be detail-oriented and able to work at the Fairfax County Government Center near Fair Oaks mall in Fairfax. Familiarity with local newspapers a plus. Interested applicants should contact Linda Gifford at 703-324-8324 or Linda.Gifford@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Reston Association is looking for volunteers who would be interested in videotaping RA's Monthly Board of Directors Meeting at Reston Association, 1930 Isaac Newton Square, Reston. Volunteers will work with Comcast staff to help set-up and run audio video equipment. Volunteers will run the cameras during the Board Meeting. Training and equipment will be provided. No experience necessary. Dates: Thursday, Feb. 26 and Thursday, Mar. 25 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. For more information or to volunteer email habrock@reston.org or call 703-435-7986.
Volunteer opportunities currently exist for Information Desk Volunteers and Mobile Guides at Washington Dulles International Airport. A Travelers Aid Volunteer must have a "friendly, helpful manner and enjoy interacting with people from all over the world." Volunteers are asked to make a commitment to work one 3-4 hour shift per week. Early morning, mid-morning, afternoon and evening shifts are available seven days a week. There is a great need for volunteers who can work early morning, evening or weekend shifts. Experience in airline/airport operations, customer service work or knowledge of a foreign language are a plus but not necessary. Travelers Aid provides training, themed attire and courtesy parking. Training is ongoing. For more information regarding the program and upcoming training opportunities, contact 703-572-7350 or email Volunteer@mwaa.com.
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. Anyone interested who is not employed by a long-term care facility and can commit one year to working as an Ombudsman can 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. For more information call 703-960-1100 or visit www.teamintraining.org.
Inova VNA Home Health needs volunteers to visit homebound patients. Volunteers spend one to two hours a week talking to the patients, running errands and doing odd jobs. Visits are made during the day, evening or on weekends. Training is provided. Call 703-642-9041.
The Northern Virginia Family Service is looking for foster families for abused and neglected children. African-American families are particularly needed. Training, support and financial compensation will be provided for both full-time and short-term programs. For more information, call 703-533-9727 or visit smcallister@nvfs.org.
The Naomi Project needs volunteers to serve as mentors for high risk pregnant women. The women are referred from the Fairfax Hospital, Health Department, Human Services and private physicians. Volunteers give about one hour per week, determine by the client's needs and volunteer's availability. There is a special need for Spanish-speaking volunteers. Call 703-860-2633 or visit www.naomiproject.homestead.com.
The Advisory Board of the Northwest Center for Mental Health in Fairfax County is looking for volunteers. The non-profit board meets monthly on first Wednesday evenings. Applications are accepted on a continuing basis. For more information, call Cleveland Williams at 703-435-0868 or email sue.boucher@fairfaxcounty.gov.