Know of something missing from our volunteer listings? Send it to The Arlington Connection, e-mail it to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com, mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407 with any questions. Photos are welcome.
Volunteer Fairfax now is accepting registration for this year's VolunteerFest, to be held on Saturday, Oct. 28. In Arlington, the following agency needs volunteers for projects.
* CrisisLink gives vital support to those facing life crises by providing
information, education and links to community resources to empower people to help themselves. Volunteers are needed to paint a mural in the hotline room where volunteers and workers save lives.
For a listing of volunteer projects in other areas of Fairfax county, visit www.volunteerfairfax.org and click on "VolunteerFest 2006" in the dark blue bar on left hand side of the homepage. For questions, contact Erin Whyte at 703-246-3460 or ewhyte@volunteerfairfax.org.
In the event of a crisis or disaster in Fairfax County, Volunteer Fairfax coordinates spontaneous volunteers — members of the general public who show up at a disaster wanting to help. The Volunteer Center is creating a special Volunteer Mobilization Leadership Team, comprised of trained volunteers, who will help run a Volunteer Mobilization Center, which serves as a processing point for volunteers when they arrive at a disaster site. The Leadership Team will work with Volunteer Fairfax staff to orient, train and place volunteers at the Volunteer Mobilization Center. Contact Emily Yahr at eyahr@volunteerfairfax.org or 703-246-3460, ext. 8, 1.
Volunteers at family roller skating nights help with skate rentals, work as skate "traffic cops" and sell food from the concession stand. The family roller skating series will be held every Saturday night from Oct. 21 through April 14, 2007 from 6-9 p.m. at 3501 S. 2nd St., Arlington. Teen volunteers may also stay and participate in the "teen only" skate nights from 9-11 p.m. Volunteers will receive an orientation on the first night they work. Contact Kevin Clements 703-228-4729 or visit www.co.arlington.va.us/prcr.
The Volunteer Office needs participants to help test Arlington County's Volunteer Management systems during a simulated public health emergency on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Fenwick Center, 800 S. Walter Reed Drive, Arlington. Participants will enact registering as "spontaneous" volunteers or help with volunteer management during simulation of a pandemic flu disaster scenario. Refreshments will be provided. Volunteers should sign up in advance for arrival times of either 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. Sign-up http://volunteer.united-e-way.org/acvo/survey/publichealth to register. Participants should bring a government-issued ID card.
Doorways for Women and Families provides a safe, weekly, confidential domestic violence support group. The support group helps current and former victims of domestic violence share feelings, thoughts and information to make healthy life choices and end abuse. For more information call 703-237-0881. Meetings are held Tuesdays.
Volunteer Emergency Families For Children (VEFC) needs volunteers willing to open their homes and provide short term (1-21 days) emergency shelter to local children who are victims of abuse, neglect, etc. Volunteers can choose the age, gender, and length of stay for each placement. Call 703-969-3795 or email MMiller@VEFC.org. Visit us on the web at: www.VEFC.org.
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers to assist its blood collections staff at blood drives and blood donor centers. Volunteers will assist with providing a high level of customer service to donors, and with caring for donors in the refreshment area after the donation process. This position is offered to people who are 14 or older. Training is provided. A commitment of two or more blood operations each month is requested. Blood drives last 4.5-6 hours and are held daily throughout the Potomac area. To register for training, please call the American Red Cross Volunteer Office at 1-800-272-0094, ext 1, or e-mail karlofft@usa.redcross.org.
"Voices of Children” Volunteer Project. This volunteer opportunity requires: a commitment to 8 weekly therapeutic groups for two hours; an interest in learning about group work with children; Lots of patience and a sense of humor. Contact the Arlington County Volunteer Office at 703-228-1760 or visit www.volunteersolutions.org/acvo.
The Opera Guild of Northern Virginia needs help archiving historical documents and organizing the history of the guild. Contact the Arlington County Volunteer Office at 703-228-1760 or visit www.volunteersolutions.org/acvo.
Four to six volunteers are needed to tutor Latino day laborers on basic English. Many of the day laborers who come to the Shirlington Employment & Education Center (SEEC) are looking for work, but do not speak or understand English. Contact the Arlington County Volunteer Office at 703-228-1760 or visit www.volunteersolutions.org/acvo.
The Alexandria/Arlington Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program 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 best interests of the child in court. Volunteers must complete training and background checks. Volunteers commit to one year with the program. Bilingual volunteers (Spanish/English) are greatly needed. Training begins in late February. Call 703-820-9001 or visit http://www.scanva.org.
Cherry Valley Park Invasive Plant Removal. A great way to get outside and help control invasive plants taking over Cherry Valley Park. Visit http://offices.ext.vt.edu/arlington. For more information on this and other volunteer opportunities, contact the Arlington County Volunteer Office at 703-228-1760 or visit their website at www.volunteersolutions.org/acvo.
The Auxiliary of the Virginia Hospital Center-Arlington, 1701 N. George Mason Drive, Arlington, VA 22205, has openings for volunteers in a variety of patient services, daytime and weekends. Call June Breen at 703-620-2944.