Affordable Housing Corporation (AHC)
AHC, a nonprofit developer of affordable housing, operates in Vienna to provide quality homes for low- and moderate-income families. AHC Also offers services for residents and homeownership opportunities. www.ahcinc.org/index.html.
Northern Virginia Family Service
NVFS addresses the needs of many communities in our region by providing services like foster care and multicultural human services. See extensive volunteer opportunities on their website. 703-385-3267 or http://www.nvfs.org/.
Committee for Helping Others (CHO)
CHO is a Vienna organization committed to providing simple, loving charity to those in need. CHO is currently seeking volunteer drivers for their furniture and transportation programs. Their 14th Annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service is Tuesday, Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2589 Chain Bridge Road. 703-281-7614 or http://www.cho-va.com.
Alternative House
Alternative House is a housing service with programs like Assisting Young Mothers and, in cooperation with Fairfax County Public Schools, the Homeless Youth Initiative, which provides safe transitional housing to homeless students. Volunteer opportunities include drivers, event hosts, food drive organizers and tutors. 703-242-6474 or http://familypassfairfax.org/.
The Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna
SCOV is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to providing opportunities for adults (50-plus) to seek rewarding lives and to live independently in their homes for as long as possible. In 2012 SCOV provided services and programs to more than 3,000 older adults and was voted the Best Nonprofit of the Year by the Vienna Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce. Volunteers at SCOV serve as medical drivers, companion drivers, friendly callers and visitors, health and wellness counselors, fundraisers and grant writers. 703-281-5088, director@scov.org or www.scov.org.
Family PASS
Family PASS strives to step in before families lose their housing by providing rental subsidies, extensive case management and other assistance including education, job training, child care, food, transportation, health care, help with children’s issues and counseling. Volunteer opportunities include drivers, event hosts, food drive organizers and tutors. 703-242-6474 or http://familypassfairfax.org/.
So Others Might Eat
SOME is a 40-plus-year-old Washington, D.C. based organization with church partnerships throughout Northern Virginia and a storage facility in Vienna. SOME works to meet the immediate daily needs of needy adults and children with food, clothing and health care, with the goal of breaking the cycle of homelessness by offering services such as affordable housing, job training, addiction treatment and counseling, to the poor, the elderly and individuals with mental illness. www.some.org.
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
The Vienna Branch of AAUW represent a diverse cross-section of Vienna and Oakton area women working together to promote equity and education for women. The organizations holds educational talks, monthly meetings and does work on projects to contribute to the community. http://aauw-va.aauw.net/branches/vienna/.
AFCEA Educational Foundation
AFCEA provides educational scholarships and continuing education and training programs for people in the hard sciences disciplines related to the Department of Defense. http://www.afcea.org/education/scholarships.
Rotary Club of Vienna
The Rotary Foundation, Vienna Chapter was founded in 1965, and during the past year, Vienna Rotary donated $168,000 to local schools, nonprofits and the Town of Vienna. The chapter works to support local efforts like festival ViVa! Vienna! and holds programs like the “New Generations” program, Interact, which focuses on helping youth ages 12-18 develop good character. 703-255-4742 or http://www.rotary.org/en/Pages/ridefault.aspx.
Optimist Club of Greater Vienna
The Optimist Club of Greater Vienna is an all volunteer, community service organization. Members donate their time, energy and funds to serve the youth of the greater Vienna community including students at James Madison High School, George Marshall High School, Oakton High School, all schools in their school pyramid, local Scout Troops, sports teams and youth groups. Their website provides an overview of the Optimists’ many activities. http://www.optimistclubofgreatervienna.org.
The Vienna Host Lions Club
The 42 members of the local chapter of the world’s largest service club do service projects in the spirit of their motto, “We Serve.” They collect eyeglasses and hearing aids and prepare them for those who need them, fundraise with “White Cane Days” to donate to 13 organizations which help the blind, and they sell Christmas trees and participate in holiday bazaars to raise funds for hearing, youth, welfare, and safety and civic organizations. See where the money goes and how you can help online. 630-571-5466 or http://e-clubhouse.org/sites/viennahostlionsva/index.php.