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 at-risk pregnant women and new mothers. The Naomi Project is active in Fairfax and Arlington counties, Alexandria and Falls Church. It is an all-volunteer resource mother program that pairs high-risk or at-risk pregnant women and new mothers with trained volunteers who are committed to promoting healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Mentors provide positive reinforcement, help clients learn about good health during pregnancy, locate needed information and services, model sound parenting skills, and support their clients as they plan for healthy, stable futures.
The next training session for volunteers is four Thursday evenings--April 7, April 14, April 21 and April 28--at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Spanish-speaking volunteers are especially needed. Contact Pilar Jones at 703-860-2633 or naomiproject@hotmail.com, or visit www.naomiproject.homestead.com .
Low-Income Tax Preparation Assistance (ACAP). The Arlington Community Action Program Inc. (ACAP) is seeking volunteers to serve as greeters, screeners and tax preparers at one electronic filing volunteer income tax preparation site. Volunteers are needed every Friday from 5-8 p.m., through April 8. Call Glenda Martinez, volunteer coordinator, at 703-241-2040, Ext. 52.
Volunteer tax assistance. Seeking volunteers to prepare taxes for low-income families at locations in Arlington, Fairfax, Alexandria. No experience required. Free training and certification is now available online through the IRS or traditional classes. Hours are flexible. The commitment can be as few as three hours per week, January through April 15. Contact Brenda Kuhlman, Northern Virginia VITA Coordinator: 703 359-6777 or Brenda.kuhlman@dss.virginia.gov.
Special Olympics Volunteers offers an opportunity to help individuals with disabilities from Arlington County participate in Special Olympics. Volunteers are needed for the time trials Saturday April 16, and the Regional Invitational Track Meet Saturday April 30. Visit www.co.arlington.va.us/prcr or call 703-228-1026.
Regular meetings of the Arlington Civitan Club are held at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 5115 Little Falls Road, Arlington in the lower ground level at 6:45 p.m. each second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The mission of Civitan, a non profit organization, is to build good citizenship by providing volunteer organizations of clubs dedicated to serving individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people with developmental disabilities. Contact Jack Mueller at 703-237-4706 for reservations on Sunday prior. Learn more about Arlington Civitan at www.civitan.org.
The Society of Recovering Sorority Girls (RSG), through its founders, Kristina “Morgan” Rose and Deandra “Brooksie” Brooks, announce the start of Arlington's “Project Cinderella” for the 2005 prom season. “Project Cinderella” is a formal dress donation drive that will provide high school girls in need with a dress to wear to their prom. Dresses will be collected through mid-May. The organization requests that donated dresses be in good condition and dry-cleaned. Gently used prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses and formal wear are all acceptable donations. All donors will receive income tax receipts from the Arlington County School District. To participate, contact Morgan and Brooksie at info@recoveringsororitygirls.com.
Drop off your used cell phones at the Cingular locations in Ballston Common Mall. Proceeds benefit the Soroptimist International of Arlington's Women's Opportunity Awards program and other programs dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in our local community and throughout the world. All cell phone donations are tax-deductible. Call Sharon Williams at 703-404-0932 or visit www.siarlington.org to find out more about Soroptimist International of Arlington.
The Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry needs a volunteer during the months of February and March to help with database entry. Computer skills a must; previous experience a plus. We need volunteers age 18 and up who are free on weekdays. Non-English speakers accepted. Contact Stacey Snowden, volunteer coordinator, at 703-533-5505, ext. 13. NOVAM is located at 803 W. Broad St. in Falls Church.
Friends of the National Zoo needs volunteers for the Kids' Farm exhibit. The exhibit is designed as a special place for children from 3 to 8 years old to learn about the importance of caring for animals, and where some of their food comes from, but it offers something for people of all ages to discover. Volunteers help children learn the basics of caring for animals by supervising the contact area. Special qualifications: a strong interest in agriculture and farming, interest in working with children, flexibility, good communication skills, and an eagerness to interact with a wide variety of visitors. Volunteers age 18 and up are needed to work three 3-hour shifts a month for one year, and monthly meetings. Training: April 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, and 16. Saturday sessions run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Weekday evening sessions run from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is also a general orientation training for all new volunteers on Saturday, June 18. Contact Bob Cmarik at bob@fonz.org or 202-673-4874. The Kids Farm is located at 3001 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC.
Capital Partners for Education (CPE), the only combination scholarship, mentoring, and academic support and enrichment organization in the Washington Metropolitan area, is seeking motivated and committed professionals to mentor low-income high school students. There are no special skills required. CPE mentors are ordinary people, 21 years of age or older, who want to spend quality time with young adults in their community. CPE asks their mentors to commit to a two-year mentoring relationship, during which they meet with their student once per month and call or e-mail their student once per week. Volunteers also must attend one New Mentor Training Session. Training Session dates are: Wednesday, March 23, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 26, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Wednesday, April 20, 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 7, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 14, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; and Saturday, June 11, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
For more information on CPE's mentoring opportunities and to download a mentor application, please visit our website at www.cpfe.org and see the "Applications" section. Call 202-338-1330 or email Darin Simmons at darin@cpfe.org.