Send announcements to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Jennifer Lesinski at 703-917-6454.
This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.
Loudoun Volunteer Services (LVS) is seeking volunteers for Make a Difference Day, a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors. Make a Difference Day is an annual event that takes place nationally on the fourth Saturday of every October. This year's local event will take place Saturday, Oct. 28.
LVS has selected the Holiday Coalition as its service project and needs volunteers to help collect household items to be distributed during the holidays. One of three suggested baskets — a Homey Household Basket, a Squeaky Clean Basket, or a Yummy Tummy Basket — will need to be delivered Oct. 28, to Harper Park Middle School, 701 Potomac Station Drive, N.E., Leesburg, between the hours of 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
To register to donate items for one of the above baskets, call Lisa Rose, volunteer coordinator at 703-777-0113. The registration deadline is Oct. 15.
The Loudoun Arts Council is looking for volunteers for its 2006 Designer Showhouse, which will be open to the public through Oct. 15. The Council will hold the 20-day event at the historic Rust Manor House in Leesburg, a 68-acre nature site owned by the Audubon Naturalist Society.
Volunteer opportunities include room docents, ticket and furniture sales assistants and directional and parking attendants. Volunteer opportunities are open to everyone, regardless of age, gender, race and ability. These opportunities are also extended to businesses and organizations interested in coordinating a volunteer program to feature their company and employees. Contact Eltinge at jeltinge@aol.com.
The county Health Department is seeking volunteers to be
"patients" during the CodeFlu 06 exercise Saturday, Oct. 21, at Heritage High School in Leesburg. This year's exercise will focus on the county's ability to respond to a flu pandemic by testing plans for mass vaccinations and distribution of medication. The exercise will also familiarize residents with the process of obtaining medications should an emergency occur. Volunteers are needed to spend about three hours playing the role of patients. Everyone is welcome. Visit www.loudoun.gov/health/volunteer.htm or call the Health Department at 703-777-0234.
The Loudoun Museum is seeking a number of volunteers for this year’s 15th annual Hauntings event a success. Each year, costumed guides lead visitors through downtown Leesburg’s historic, and reportedly haunted, sites. This year’s walking tours will be Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28, from 6-10 p.m. The museum needs volunteers in all areas of the event. Examples of volunteer opportunities include ticket sales, tour guides, site interpreters/storytellers and museum visitor services help. Call Beth Friedmann, museum administrator, at 703-777-7427 or e-mail bfriedmann@loudounmuseum.org.
The Loudoun County Special Olympics Equestrian Team assists athletes and needs volunteers on Sundays, through Oct. 29. It needs side walkers to help riders stay on the horses and leaders to guide the horses. The program runs from 12-5 p.m. Must be at least 14 years old and commit at least one hour on any Sunday.
Lynden Farm is located at 19690 Silcott Spring Road, Purcellville. Contact Amy Wilcox with the Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services at awilcox@loudoun.gov or 703-771-5010.
AARP Tax-Aide, a free, volunteer-run tax counseling and preparation service, is seeking volunteers to electronically complete and file 2006 federal and state income tax forms, from Feb. 1-April 15. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome but ability to use a computer is a must. Evening and Saturday shifts are available. Tax counselors receive free tax training and become IRS certified by passing the IRS examination. Call Patty Callahan, 703-207-0056 or via e-mail pcallahan@cox.net or call toll-free 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669) or visit www.aarp.org/taxaide.
Sterling Community Center, 120 Enterprise St., offers the T.A.G. Program, for ages 11-13 and the TEEN Program, for ages 14-18. Both programs offer special events and trips, plus volunteer service projects to put towards volunteer service credits. Call 703-430-9480.
The Medicare Counseling Program at the Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging is seeking sharp people willing to help Medicare beneficiaries with Part D Prescription Insurance. Training is available in early November to prepare for the high call demand between Nov. 15-Dec. 31. Volunteers needed in Leesburg for three-hour shifts one or more days per week. E-mail dbressle@loudoun.gov or call Debra Bressler at 703-777-0257.
The Home-Delivered Meals Program is looking for volunteers to deliver a hot, nutritious meal and a friendly smile to Loudoun older adults confined to their homes. Leesburg and Ashburn areas need drivers. E-mail dbressle@loudoun.gov or call Debra Bressler at 703-777-0257.
There are currently vacancies for representatives on the following county and regional advisory boards, commissions and committees.
* Agricultural District Advisory Committee: One at-large landowner engaged in agriculture or forestal production and one at-large local landowner.
* Animal Advisory Committee: Broad Run District.
* Commission on Aging: Sterling District.
* Committee on Financial Performance Audit: Seeking eight district-specific and three at-large members to serve on a blue ribbon panel to work in conjunction with the board's external auditor, KPMG, on a financial performance audit of Loudoun Public Schools and the Loudoun county government. Interested candidates with financial management background are encouraged to apply.
* Community Action Agency Advisory Board: Three at-large, low-income representatives.
* Community Services Board: At-large representatives.
* Commuter Bus Advisory Board: Potomac District.
* Disability Services Board: At-large business representatives or representatives who have a disability or who have a family member with a disability.
* Economic Development Commission: Leaders from all sectors of the business community are encouraged to apply for terms beginning in January 2007.
* Equal Employment Opportunity Plan Committee: At-large representatives.
* Fire-Rescue Commission: Two emergency medical services representatives; one fire representative. Representatives must be volunteers within the fire-rescue system.
* Historic District Review Committee: At-large representative.
* Library Board of Trustees: Potomac District.
* Rural Economic Development Commission: Representatives with expertise in production agriculture, banking and finance, horticulture or the equine industry.
* Transportation Safety Commission: At-large representative.
* Woods Road Special Exception Oversight Committee: At-large representatives.
Contact Cherie Giles, Board of Supervisors' Office, 703-771-5034, or by e-mail at fgiles@loudoun.gov or by fax at 703-777-0421. Information about each board, committee and commission is available on the Loudoun County Government Web site at www.loudoun.gov/advisory.
The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, has volunteer opportunities available. Call 703-430-2397, Ext. 123.
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is seeking Blood Services Volunteer Ambassadors to assist its blood collections staff at blood drives and blood donor centers. This position is offered to people who are 14 years of age or older. Specific responsibilities include greeting donors and providing them with essential reading materials, serving refreshments, and observing donors for post-donation reactions to giving blood. Training is provided. A commitment of two or more blood operations each month is requested. Blood drives last four and half to six hours and are held daily throughout the Potomac area, including Loudoun County. To register for training, call the American Red Cross Volunteer Office at 1-800-272-0094, Ext. 1 or e-mail karlofft@usa.redcross.org.
Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice/LAWS (Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter), a nonprofit domestic and sexual violence center, is seeking applicants for its fall volunteer training sessions. The 30-hour intensive training includes sessions on definitions, resources and effective ways to support victims and survivors in their recovery. Volunteers receive a certificate of completion from the certified training program. visit www.lcsj.org and click on volunteering or call Christine Agnello, 703-771-9020, Ext. 28.
LINK, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization, is seeking volunteers for its food-bank, assisting needy families in selecting five-day allotments of food items, to restock shelves and load food into family vehicles. Call Roberta at 703-450-4643.
Prison Fellowship’s National Office, located in Lansdowne, supports the work of thousands of churches in their hands-on ministry to prisoners and their families. Volunteer opportunities are primarily during business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The fellowship is looking for people who have skills or interests in any of the following areas: office administration, marketing, hospitality, data entry, library administration, prayer support and Web research. There are also opportunities for high-school students during the summer months. Contact Dawn, volunteer services, 703-554-8440 or at volunteers@pfm.org.
Inova Loudoun Hospital is looking for adults to volunteer within its Chaplaincy Services department. The mission is to visit patients and help them draw upon their own spiritual resources in order to cope with their experience of illness. Volunteers are expected to attend a 14-week training program and commit several hours per week for one year visiting patients. Classes begin in September and meet on Monday evenings. The training program, now in its third year, offers mature adults an opportunity to develop personal and professional skills necessary to offer effective pastoral care in the health care setting. The volunteers were recently recognized by Loudoun Volunteer Services and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors as the 2004 Outstanding Adult Volunteer Team. Contact Chaplain Tom Chirdo at 703-858-8034 or tchirdo@lh.org.
Loudoun County Community Corrections is looking for volunteers to serve as court assistants. Volunteers must be 18 years of age and pass a criminal background check. A commitment of one year at four hours a week requested. Duties include providing court coverage, performing financial interviews on indigent defendants, data entry, case compliance, case intakes and basic administrative duties. Training is provided but a knowledge of the court system is helpful. Contact Karen McQuaid, deputy director at 703-737-8519 or kmcquaid@loudoun.gov.
Loudoun Families for Children, a nonprofit, volunteer organization providing temporary homes for children in crisis and a mentoring program for at-risk children, needs volunteers. Anyone interested in more information about the orientation program, call Kim Burk, 703-771-9505 or e-mail kburk@burkinc.com.
Loudoun Volunteer Services is seeking volunteer opportunities appropriate for youth, ages 12-18. Students may be looking for short-term or long-term opportunities and may be available to complete tasks that can be done at home.
Anyone who can use the assistance of a youth volunteer, go to www.loudoun.gov/pio/volunteer.htm to register your organization and opportunity. Contact Lisa Rose, volunteer coordinator, at 703-777-0113.
The ASPECT Foundation is looking for families to host a foreign exchange student for the upcoming school year. The students come from all over the world for the chance to experience life in the USA while attending high school. These students have their own health insurance and spending money. Host families provide the student with room and board. Call 703-433-0362.
The Loudoun Museum is seeking a number of volunteers to assist guests as they visit the museum. Duties include greeting guests, providing basic tourist and heritage information, collecting admission fees and answering the telephone. Hours are flexible with both morning and afternoon shifts available. Training will be provided.
The Loudoun Museum is located at 16 Loudoun St., S.W., Leesburg. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m., Sundays. E-mail bfriedmann@loudounmuseum.org or call 703-777-7427.
La Voz, conduit between the Hispanic/Latino and immigrant populations, government agencies and other groups in order to promote self-sufficiency, is in need of volunteers for a range of different activities such as grant writing, ESL instructors and child care for educational presentations. In addition, it is seeking a minimal amount of office space to initiate the Newcomer Welcome Center. La Voz is always in need of financial support. All donations are tax deductible. Contact La Voz of Loudoun at 703-777-1417.
Loudoun Volunteer Services (LVS) announces its volunteer-match Web site, a service of the Points of Light Foundation, corporately sponsored by Dominion Power. The Web site is aimed at both volunteers, who are seeking to find opportunities best suited for their particular interest or skill, and organizations seeking a way to publicly advertise their volunteer opportunities. To register for this free service, visit www.loudoun.gov/pio/volunteer.htm and click on "register your organization's volunteer opportunities," or to volunteer click on "looking for volunteer opportunities." Contact Lisa Rose at 703-777-0113.
Plans are underway to commemorate several important anniversaries over the next two years. In May 2007, Loudoun County will be celebrating its 250th anniversary and Virginia will be marking the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement. In 2008, Leesburg will be celebrating its 250th Anniversary and Purcellville will mark 100 years. A 250th anniversary steering committee is working together to coordinate events and projects that celebrate the anniversaries. Citizens and community groups are encouraged to bring ideas and planned events to the committee.
Anyone who would like to be involved with the planning of the 250th anniversary or would like more information about the community committee, contact Robin Geiger at 703-771-5511 or by e-mail at rgeiger@loudoun.gov.
The Good Shepherd Alliance is seeking volunteers to be administrators; case managers; thrift store clerks. Contact Joy Trickett at 703-433-2631 or joygoodshepherd@bigplanet.com.
The Loudoun County MADD Chapter is seeking additional court monitors for Loudoun Traffic court program in which trained volunteers observe and gather data on DUI court proceedings, including arraignments, pretrial hearing, trials and sentencing. The data collected focuses on three prongs: to evaluate the courts, to track the offenders and to plot trends in punishment and case outcomes. Training is provided. Volunteer one day a week or one morning or afternoon a week. Leave a voice mail message on 703-771-8127 or send an e-mail to maddloudoun@aol.com.
Loudoun Interfaith Relief Inc., is seeking volunteers that can pick up food from local grocery stores in the Leesburg and Ashburn areas. Drivers are needed every morning. Loudoun Interfaith Relief Inc. is a nonprofit food pantry that provides emergency food supplies to residents in need living in Loudoun County. Call 703-777-5911.
Next Level 4 Teens Inc., a local, nonprofit, youth organization will be officially opening its educational facility by the start of this school year and will need a staff of volunteers to provide assistance with the following programs this fall and throughout the year: tutoring. 4-to-1 and 1-to-1, after school and weekends; after-school program, homework club and other activities; educational workshops and seminars on various subjects; and Friday nite fun for high-school students. Help is also needed mornings, afternoons, and early evenings at the front desk and in the administrative office on weekdays and Saturdays. All positions open to adults and high-school students. Visit www.NextLevel4Teens.org.