Know of something missing from our community civic calendar? E-mail it to arlington@connectionnewspapers.com. Deadline is 2 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Call Rebecca Halik at 703-917-6407 with any questions. Photos are welcome.
Saturday/May 12
Volunteer Training. Ever dreamed of being called a hero? Join a dedicated team of crisis hotline volunteers.
Volunteer interviews are being scheduled now. Apply online at www.crisislink.org. Direct questions to: volunteer@crisislink.org or call 703-527-6016. Evening and weekend training starts May 12.
Wednesday/May 16
Lecture. 7-9 p.m. at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. "Small Steps to Health and Wealth Part 1." 703-228-6417 for information or to register.
Saturday/May 19
Interested in Foster Care? Have questions? Join the Arlington County Foster/Adoptive Program at the next Prospective Foster Parent Orientation Session sfrom 10 a.m.-noon at 3033 Wilson Blvd. Find out what it takes to be a foster parent, the process of getting certified and how you can help a child in need. Contact Gerson Paniagua, Resource Recruiter, at 703-228-1550.
Wednesday/May 23
Lecture. 7-9 p.m. at Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. "Small Steps to Health and Wealth Part 2." 703-228-6417 for information or to register.
F.Y.I.
Arlington County has been awarded federal funds under the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP). Arlington County has been selected to receive $20,390 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
Funding awards are determined by the Arlington County Local Board which includes members from Arlington Interfaith Council, Catholic Charities, Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities and other community based organizations.
Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must be private voluntary non-profits or units of government; have an accounting system; practice nondiscrimination; have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs; and if they are a private voluntary organization, they must have a voluntary board.
Qualifying agencies are urged to apply. Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds should contact Indra Corea of the Local Board at 703-979-3380 for an application form.
The deadline for applications is May 11. All applications should be addressed Attn: Indra Corea, The Salvation Army, 518 South Glebe Road, Arlington VA 22204.
This spring, the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) launches a new program "Plant a Row for the Hungry" to bring fresh, nutritious produce to the 700-plus families who come to AFAC for food assistance each week. Local home and community gardeners are encouraged to plant an extra row of produce in their gardens to help AFAC hunger relief efforts. Donations of surplus vegetables such as bumper crops of tomatoes or zuchinni are also welcomed.
To help gardeners get started planting, AFAC will provide free packets of vegetable or herb seeds throughout the spring and summer to anyone agreeing to donate some of the produce back to AFAC. Send a self-addressed, stamped (first-class) envelope to: Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), Plant A Row, PO Box 6261, Arlington, VA 22206-0261
The Arlington Food Assistance Center is Arlington’s food pantry. The mission of AFAC is to distribute groceries to needy Arlingtonians who cannot afford to purchase all the food they need. The high cost of living in Arlington means that many families struggle to make ends meet. In its last fiscal year, volunteers from AFAC distributed over 975,000 pounds of food directly to Arlington families.
Student Researcher needed to assemble data about cost of living in Arlington County for White Paper on Hunger. This is a perfect opportunity for a college student interested in poverty/hunger issues in our high-cost community. Qualified high school seniors will also be considered. Self-starter. Must know how to conduct research and be able to search on own for sources. Contact Nancy Cude, Volunteer Coordinator, 703-845-8486.
Spanish teacher needed. A group of senior adults at the Walter Reed Center,2909 S. 16th St. who are learning Spanish need a new teacher. The class may be held on Thursday or Friday mornings for 1 1/2 hours at Walter Reed. The class is scheduled in a series of 5-6 weeks. The current teacher is staying through May 10. Volunteers must have some English language skill in order to respond to questions from the students. Teaching experience is desirable, not essential. Onsite bilingual staff will help with resources and provide orientation. Contact Janice Covert, Volunteer Coordinator, 703-228-4730.
Arlington Reads Green is a community wide program sponsored by the Arlington Public Library. Read one or all of five books, participate in book and film discussions, nature walks, art show and more. Arlington Read Green aims to foster awareness of global warming issues and other environmental challenges. Runs through mid-May. Visit www.arlingtonva.us/library.
The Arlington Sister City Association (ASCA) is looking for a volunteer to coordinate our student exchange activities. Each year we host approximately 20 high school students from Aachen, Germany for three weeks in early April. In the summer, we send about the same number of Arlington high school students to Aachen for three weeks. The Student Exchange Program Coordinator would work with a group of ASCA volunteers to coordinate program activities, including matching Aachen students with host families, publicizing the opportunity for the Arlington students, collecting applications and application fees, etc. Contact Sandra MacDonald, Chairman, 571-232-7319 or www.arlingtonsistercity.org.
Farmers Market. Saturdays from 9 a.m.-noon at N. Courthouse Road and N. 14th St. in Arlington. Enjoy a variety of vendors.