Send volunteer notices to gazette@connectionnewspapers.com or call Rebecca Halik with any questions 703-917-6407.
The American Red Cross Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region is seeking youth to work as Volunteer Ambassadors at blood operations this summer. Teens 14 years or older are offered the opportunity to earn Service Learning credits and develop job skills by assisting the blood collections staff. Training is provided. A commitment of 30 hours over the summer is required. Training is held throughout June. 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.
Become a volunteer advocate, who is assigned to a specific local nursing home or assisted-living facility in the City of Alexandria and make weekly visits, meeting one-on-one with residents. Using the skills of listening, observing and mediating, the ombudsman works with the residents, their families and the staff of the facility, to ensure that the residents' rights are being protected. Applicants must be available to volunteer four hours per week, primarily during regular business hours. Interviews of applicants will be held during the summer in preparation for the next annual training, scheduled for Sept. 17, 18, and 28 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For further information and an application, call 703-324-5861, TTY: 703-449-1186 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/LTCOmbudsman.
Claude Moore Colonial farm seeks volunteers for their Hearth Cooking Workshop. For more details contact erolando@1771.org.
The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership seeks adult mentors. The Alexandria Mentoring Partnership is a collaboration of 15 mentor programs, City staff and volunteers working to recruit, train and support adult mentors in the City in order to match every child who wants or needs a mentor with a caring adult. No prior experience or prior training is required: we will train you. Visit www.alexandriava.gov/mentoring, e-mail mentoring@alexandriava.gov or call Mike Mackey, Alexandria's Gang Prevention Coordinator, at 703-838-4180, ext. 242.
Join the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department. The Alexandria VFD offers equal opportunity to all qualified volunteers. Persons interested in membership should meet City health, fitness and background standards, and to commit required time for training, deployment and support activities. Multiple categories of training status are available to encourage participation by all qualified applicants. Contact Deputy Chief W. Scooter
Slade at 703-706-3955 or avfdrecruitment@gmail.com.
Carpenter's Shelter has various volunteer opportunities: front desk attendant, breakfast servers (1st Saturdays and Sundays of the month), lunch servers (2nd Saturday and 4th Monday), and chaperones for children's fieldtrips. Contact Jasmin Witcher at 703-548-7500 or jasminwitcher@carpentersshelter.org.
Friends of Guest House needs a volunteer for a small database entry project putting client records into a new database. Contact Kari Galloway at 703-549-8072 or director@friendsofguesthouse.org.
INOVA Home Health needs "Friendly Visitor" volunteers to provide companionship to homebound patients throughout Northern Virginia. Flexible hours and days. Training provided. Contact 703-916-2885.
The Lee-Fendall House Museum seeks volunteers to guide visitors through this historic Lee Family home. Volunteers will interpret the house's history from its Revolutionary War era beginnings, through the Civil War and the modern Labor movement. Seeking individuals who are available to volunteer a minimum
of six hours each month - weekday and weekend shifts are available. Training provided. Contact Kristin Miller Lang at 703-548-1789 or
contact@leefendallhouse.org.
The Lyceum needs volunteers for three positions: front desk attendant (duties include greeting and orienting visitors, answering the phone and providing area information), museum shop volunteer (assist customers with selection and purchase of shop merchandise), and education program docent.
Contact Pam Budde at 703-838-4994 or Pam.Budde@alexandriava.gov.
Shelter House needs volunteers for Kid's Night, held Tuesdays through Thursdays. Your job would be to have fun with the kids and provide structured play to increase social skills and learning. Contact Victor Dooley at 703-536-2155 or volunteer@shelterhouse.org.
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.
Higher Achievement seeks teacher mentors to work with motivated scholars at Hammond Middle School from 6-8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Karen Berry, Volunteer Coordinator, 202-544-3633 or kberry@higherachievement.org
The Hispanic Committee of Virginia needs volunteers for their youth programs, including volunteers to mentor Hispanic teenagers and for "Arroz Con Leche," a weekly reading and writing enrichment program for immigrant 2nd and 3rd graders. Spanish language proficiency is not required, training and support is available, and average commitment is just 1-2 hours/week. Contact Jodi Hammer at 703-671-5666, ex. 20, or educationcoord@hcva.org.
Project Northstar needs volunteers to tutor children who live in homeless shelters, transitional housing programs and foster care. Project Northstar matches adult volunteers with the same student for one evening per week to work on basic math and reading skills. 202-223-0144, ext. 10
RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) seeks volunteers for the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, which provides live, secure, anonymous, instant message-style crisis support to the growing number of people who prefer communicating via the Internet --- giving those affected by sexual assault a safe place to turn when they can't find their voice. Contact Darcey West at 202-544-0227 or darceyw@rainn.org.
Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia is holding trainings for Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers. Trainings will be held in the winter and the spring. For more information, contact the SCAN office, 703-820-9001, info@scanva.org.
WETA seeks a volunteer immediately to assist with WETA's online auction that takes place the first week of June. Good Computer and communication skills for a job that includes soliciting items for the Auction, follow up, data entry and fulfillment. Contact Janet Riksen, Senior Projects Officer,WETA, jriksen@weta.com or 703-998-2442.
Wright to Read seeks volunteers to tutor elementary school students in Alexandria Schools, and for Book Buddies, an after-school reading program held at William Ramsay Elementary on Tuesdays and at Jefferson-Houston Elementary on Wednesdays. They also need pediatric waiting room readers to read to children at the Saint Asaph Street Clinic. To register for orientation, contact Ginny Biggs at 703-549-0111, ext. 339
The Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC) needs tutors! Call 703-549-6670 or e-mail atc@opmh.org to learn how you can give a child the gift of reading. Visit www.alexandriatutors.org to learn more. ATC has volunteers from over 20 faith-based communities and was established in 1997 in support of Alexandria City Public Schools. Primary Initiative is to help ensure that all ACPS first and second graders can read at or above grade level by the end of second grade.'
The SARA program is looking for compassionate listeners who would be comfortable talking to sexual assault survivors and their families. SARA requires volunteers to complete 40 hours of training to become a hotline companion. While the initial training commitment is intensive, the commitment following training is two hotline shifts per month. Volunteers take evening or weekend shifts from home or anywhere accessible by phone. The next SARA training is scheduled to begin in late January and meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and on two Saturday mornings. For more information or to register for the SARA training, contact Stacey Calhoun at 703-838-5030 or stacey.calhoun@alexandriava.gov .
The Alexandria Community Services Board is urgently seeking volunteers to serve as legally appointed guardians for geriatric adults with mental illness. Service would start in late January 2007 or after. Ideal guardians will be compassionate persons who are able to make difficult decisions. Guardians make decisions about personal care, health care and living arrangements. Guardians meet periodically with the client and his/her social worker or service provider. The provider will give guardians pertinent information relevant to decision making.
Some of the clients in need of guardians may eventually be placed in nursing homes outside of Alexandria in locations such as Manassas, Warrenton, Fredericksburg or possibly Richmond. The guardian would then need to maintain correspondence with service providers in the location and visit as needed, approximately one or two times per year.
Guardians are bonded and court-appointed in Alexandria and will receive a copy of the Virginia Handbook for Guardians: A Practical Handbook. A tuberculosis test and training is required. The duties require approximately two hours per month. For more information about this volunteer opportunity, contact Jennifer Cohen Cordero at jennifer.cohen-cordero@alexandriava.gov or 703-838-4455, x165.
Volunteers are needed to help teach students ages 6-12 etiquette and manners. Students are taught all around Northern Virginia including Alexandria, at recreation centers and middle schools. All interested should contact Ms. Black at EB2204@verizon.net.
Alexandria Library seeks enthusiastic, mature volunteers with experience in Microsoft Word and WordPerfect to assist patrons using our word processors. Help needed all library hours--days, nights, weekends at the Beatley Central, 5005 Duke St. Call 703-519-5900x206 or e-mail lderoche@alexandria.lib.va.us.