Send volunteer notices to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com or call Rebecca Halik with any questions 703-917-6407.
The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership, through the support of the City of Alexandria, is sponsoring a free information session on August 29, from 6 – 8:30 pm at the Lyceum, 201 South Washington St., in order to recruit at least 200 new mentors. The Partnership will kick off the event by serving a light dinner from 6 – 7pm, and the information session is scheduled from 7 – 8:30 pm. Current mentors, youth, parents, and staff who are involved in local mentoring programs will discuss opportunities for the community to participate. RSVP to attend by calling 703-838-4180, ext. 261, or by e-mailing mentoring@alexandriava.gov . Visit www.alexandriava.gov/mentoring.
The Orphan Foundation of America (OFA) is seeking volunteers to serve as virtual mentors for youth transitioning out of foster care into college and post secondary education. vMentoring encourages teens to stay in school and develop the skills and confidence necessary to lead productive lives. Through a secure internet portal, mentors communicate with their mentees at any time around the clock. The time requirement is typically an hour per week. They must be 25 years old or older. Background check is required. Training is provided on foster-care issues through conference calls, and supported with online materials. A two-year commitment is requested. Visit http://www.orphan.org for more information. Call 571-203-0270.
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. Local leaders are also needed to serve children in crisis by sharing VEFC's mission within their community. Call 703-969-3795 or e-mail MMiller@VEFC.org for details. Visit www.vefc.org.
The Alexandria Domestic Violence Program is looking for volunteers to provide hotline coverage and crisis counseling to survivors of domestic violence. The program is also specifically seeking children's group leaders and bi-lingual translators. Volunteers are required to participate in 40 hours of training and requested to donate 10-15 hours per month over weekends and holidays. The next volunteer training will kick off on Saturday, March 10, with a retreat from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Contact Lacie Hughes at 703-838-4911. Visit www.alexwomen.com.
You are invited to make a difference in one child's future learning success by volunteering through the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC) to tutor a first or second grader in the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS). There are still children who do not have tutors who were identified last fall by teachers and pre-testing as needing additional help in reading. To register to tutor for the remainder of the 2006-2007 school year, visit www.alexandriatutors.org or call 703-549-6670 ext 119 to have information mailed to you.
Be a Hero for Capital Hospice. Make a difference by helping those who need hospice care. Capital Hospice is participating in the 26th Annual Hospice Cup Sailing Regatta in Annapolis on Sept. 8. Volunteers are needed for a variety of Capital Hospice committees to support Hospice Cup XXVI. Reply to Caroline at 703-531-1111 or specialevents@capitalhospice.org.
Doorways for Women and Families offers a free support group for survivors of domestic violence. The group meets every Tuesday in a confidential locationi n Arlington. Please call 703-237-0881 for more information. Free childcare is provided.
Doorways for Women and Families is seeking volunteers for its Safehouse domestic violence shelter program. Volunteers are needed for weekend and evening shifts and to answer our 24/7 hotline. Some weekday opportunities are also available. Training begins August-September. Call 703-522-8858 x13 or e-mail volunteer@doorwaysVA.org. For more information visit www.doorwaysva.org/volunteer.
The Alexandria Office on Women is recruiting new volunteers for its winter training with the Speakers Bureau. The Office on Women's Speakers' Bureau is a group of volunteers who present an education program on domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and teen pregnancy prevention to Alexandria youth. The Speakers Bureau presents to 5th-, 7th- and 9th-graders throughout the school year. The expected volunteer commitment is four to six hours per month and volunteers must have the flexibility to present during the school day. Contact Jen Harris at 703-838-5030 or send an e-mail to jennifer.harris@alexandriava.gov.
Doorways for Women and Families invites you to attend a monthly volunteer orientation meeting the first Tuesday of every month to learn more about volunteer opportunities with our family shelter, domestic violence Safehouse and other community programs. Visit www.doorwaysva.org/volunteer or e-mail volunteer@doorwaysva.org for more information.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training (TNT) is recruiting volunteers to help in the fight against blood cancers by raising funds as they train to walk, run, cycle or swim in honor of local patients. Team In Training provides personalized coaching, group training and support, and the chance to meet new people and be part of a team. In addition to weekly training sessions under the guidance of a certified coach, TNT offers training events and clinics on nutrition, equipment, injury prevention and safety. Area Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at (703) 960-1100; or visit: www.teamintraining.org/nca.
The Del Ray Artisans – Seeking volunteers for all aspects of community arts organization and gallery operations. Opportunities include mailings, gallery and garden maintenance, grant writing, fundraising, special events, gallery sitting and outreach activities. Age: 15 and older. Wheelchair accessible. Alexandria. 703-979-8996 or 703-838-4827
Port City Playhouse – Volunteers needed to help with set construction and painting. Need ushers for performances. Groups of up to10 are welcome. Youth ages 15 and older are welcome. Alexandria. 703-838-2880
SOHO: A Space of Her Own – The Art League - Volunteers are needed to work with a unique art and mentoring program which serves at-risk, low-income girls, ages 12-16. Girls and mentors attend workshops in art and design, then work together to remodel the girls' bedrooms. A one-year commitment is required, as is a criminal background check and attendance at 3 mentor orientation sessions. Alexandria. 703-519-1741.
National Organization for Victim Assistance – Volunteers needed to update databases, handle correspondence, mailings. Alexandria. 703-535-6682.
Northern Virginia Family Services -- Volunteers needed plan and coordinate special events, fundraise or provide clerical and graphic support. NVFS offices are located throughout the area and have a wide range of volunteer opportunities available at multiple locations. Alexandria office 703-370-3223.
UCM's Transitional Housing Program is looking for volunteer groups to help provide a prepared well balanced meal for about 60 people, this includes children. Groups would be asked to sign up for 1 meeting per year on the third Tuesday evening of each month. The grocery bill would be at the group's expense and a tax donation slip would be provided. Assistance with child care is needed. Call Betsy Damitz, volunteer coordinator 703-768-7106 ext. 328.
Alexandria Adult Day Services Center seeks volunteers to perform meal light preparation and service, kitchen clean up and some light administrative duties such as coping and preparation mail for distribution. Contact Kim Taylor-Davis at 703-838-4224 or kimberly.taylor-davis@alexandriava.gov.
Friends of Alexandria Archaeology seeks volunteers to enter historical data into computer files. Contact Jen Barker at Jennifer.barker@alexandriava.gov or 703- 838-4399 and for graphic design contact Ruth Reeder at ruth.reeder@alexandriava.gov or 703-838-4399.
The Alexandria Community Services Board is urgently seeking volunteers to serve as legally appointed guardians for geriatric adults with mental illness. Ideal guardians will be compassionate persons who are able to make difficult decisions. The duties require approximately two hours per month after training. Without guardians, these persons are highly vulnerable to exploitation, homelessness, multiple hospitalizations and loss of medical care. Contact Jennifer Cohen Cordero at 703-838-4455 or jennifer.cordero@alexandriava.gov.
Alexandria Domestic Violence Program is training volunteers in January and February to work at their shelter and hotline. Other opportunities include the children' program, translation, court advocacy, assisting with support groups and one-time group activities. Contact Mary Ann Johnson at 703-838-4911 or maryann.johnson@alexandria.gov.
Alexandria Performing Arts Association seeks board members. A board-run, all volunteer organization, APAA puts on productions in music, dance and poetry and runs a music and playwrights competition for Middle and High School students in northern Virginia. Contact Keith Donaldson, 703-402-6674 or kmdon@juno.com
Alexandria Senior Services Meals on Wheels, deliver food to seniors. Contact Brenda Walls, 703-836-4414.
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra. Volunteers needed to usher at concerts at 7 p.m. Dates are Feb.3, March 3 and May 5. Duties: usher concert goers to seats, hold main doors, sell refreshments, assist with box office sales and will call. See the concerts for free.703-548-0885 or danforth@alexsym.org.
Alexandria Volunteer Bureau-Volunteers needed on a regular basis to serve as office receptionist once a week, or to work occasionally in office with data entry, fielding phone calls, mailings special events. 703-836-2176 or mail@AlexandriaVolunteers.com.
ALIVE! sorts and distributes food monthly on the 4th Saturday. Contact Suzanne Lamb, 703-683-4634. ALIVE! is also seeking volunteers for weekly afternoon food deliveries and to help with a wide range of tasks in preparation for its Annual Gala on April 14. Tasks include publicity, administrative duties, auction item recruitment and fulfillment, set up and clean up, wait staff and bar backs, and registration. Contact Pamela Goodell, Volunteer Coordinator,703-837-9300 or volunteers@alive-inc.org.
Capitol Region Earth Force seeks creative, computer literate volunteer to create materials promoting events and activities of Earth Force classes in the D.C. metropolitan area. Contact Jennifer McDonnell, 703-519-6867 or jmcdonnell@earthforce.org
Alexandria’s Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) program is seeking a volunteer who could assist with a short-term project for a few hours per week in the office. The volunteer would be responsible for some filing work and would be required to sign a confidentiality agreement. If you would like more information, contact Erika at 703-838-5030.
The Child & Family Network Centers has many volunteer opportunities, including volunteering in classrooms, field-trip assistants, ESL and Spanish language tutors, clothing drive assistant and office assistant. They also need volunteers to help prepare for their annual wine tasting fundraising event in the spring. Contact Patricia Chapman at 703-836-0214 or pchapman@cfnc-online.org.