Call to Action - November 4, 2022
Greetings, Prince William - Celebrate Our Veterans! The staff at Habitat for Humanity Prince William is holding a Veterans Day Cookout next Friday, November 11, 11am-4pm at the Habitat ReStore, 10159 Hastings Drive, Manassas 20110. Come thank our vets for their service and enjoy a meal, fantastic fellowship and some good deals in the ReStore! Please email info@habitatpwc.org to learn more.
That faint "gobble, gobble" you're hearing in the distance can only mean one thing: Thanksgiving is near! Both ACTS and SERVE are now holding their holiday programs, and your help is needed!
- ACTS "Share the Bounty" (formerly Operation Give Thanks/Operation Turkey) is in high gear to make a holiday meal possible for their clients. It runs through November 11, and food donations are urgently needed. Please visit https://bit.ly/ACTSSTB to learn how you can support this important program. Volunteers age 6+ are needed thru November 22 to assist with check-in, make distribution bags, and sort donations. Please email scouteau@actspwc.org to learn more.
- SERVE's Operation Turkey kicks off November 8 and will make a holiday meal happen for their vulnerable clients in greater Prince William. Please visit https://bit.ly/SERVEOPT to learn how you can help, email jwarren@nvfs.org for more information. Volunteers age 16+ are needed to help sort/unload food and assemble food bags. Please visit nvfs.volunteerhub.com/vv2/lp/opturkey to register, email ncannon@nvfs.org to learn more about volunteering.
- Help clean up Prince William! Bull Run Watershed Protectors are holding the Bull Run Watershed Cleanup November 12, 9am-12pm. Volunteers/Groups of all ages welcome! Meet at Walgreens parking lot, 10671 Sudley Manor Drive, Manassas 20109. Volunteers will clean the stream valley behind Costco, across Lomond to Ashton Road and the shops/restaurants adjacent down to Walgreens at Sudley Manor Road. If you care about the environment, this is the perfect opportunity for you! Please visit https://bit.ly/3yNOXBi to register for this family-friendly event.
- You can make a difference in the life of a child! Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is seeking volunteers age 21+ who care about children growing up in a safe, permanent and loving home. The staff is holding a Virtual Information Session on Wednesday, November 16, 6pm-7pm. Learn how you can help protect abused and neglected children in your community by becoming a volunteer advocate. Please email jpolen@casacis.org or call 703.330.8145 to receive the link to the meeting.
- Help spread holiday cheer! CRi (Choice. Respect. independence.) needs holiday-minded volunteers spruce up the daily COVID routine of both residents and staff by decorating the exterior of a CRi home for Winter Solstice/Christmas. Decorations can be homemade or purchased, and as simple or as complex as you would like. Regardless of what you choose to do, you are making a world of difference for residents and staff. CRi has homes in Richmond, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties. For more information and to express interest, please email Janet at jdavison@mycri.org.
- Ho Ho Ho! The 76th Annual Greater Manassas Christmas Parade takes place December 3 at 10am, and volunteers age 18+ are still needed! Route Marshalls will stand along the parade route to ensure everyone's safety; Staging Marshalls will help organize/line up parade participants. Breakfast provided! You'll feel all kinds of holiday spirit as you support this "Hometown Christmas" event! Please visit https://bit.ly/3U7PZAS for specifics, email Volunteers@gmchristmasparade.org for more information.
- The wonderful staff at Historic Dumfries urgently needs a volunteer Arborist who can help remove a very old pine tree near the historic house. Someone knowledgeable about trees is needed to examine and help staff determine the best course for the safety of the house and wildlife in the area. If you work for a landscaping or tree removal business that's willing to donate a few hours for this one-time need, please contact Lisa at info@historicdumfriesva.org to learn more.
- Remember the Fallen…Honor Those Who Serve…Teach Our Children the Value of Freedom. Northern Virginia Veterans Association is holding Wreaths Across America December 17 and 18 at Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle. Volunteers age 16+ are needed both days to help with operating the event (not wreath laying) from National Museum of the Marine Corps parking lot. Individuals and groups are welcome to lay wreaths on the gravesites. Please visit novavets.org, scroll down to Upcoming Events for more information. Please email NOVAVETS.WAA@novavets.org to learn more.
- Project Food needs volunteers (age 18+) to assist with food pickup and delivery on Monday and Thursday afternoons. You must have a car and be willing to lift items up to 25 lbs. For more info., please email Dave Edwards at dave@projectfooddmv.org or call 202-425-7841.
- The SERVE Family Shelter needs volunteer groups of 5-7 people who can prepare a home-cooked meal for residents experiencing homelessness. They have a particular need for meals on Christmas Day and New Year's Day - it's a wonderful way to have a meaningful holiday, and is also a terrific opportunity for individuals, families or small groups! Volunteers provide, prepare and deliver nutritious meals for about 60 guests on weekends and holidays. Groups can either serve in-person or prepare and drop off the meal. Please visit nvfs.org/get-involved/volunteer/ to view available meals, contact Julie at jrmartinez@nvfs.org or call 571.748.2674 to learn more.
- You can help feed food insecure families! SERVE has an Urgent need for Food Recovery Drivers, age 21+ to support their food assistance program. Volunteers drive to area grocery stores/restaurants to pick up food donations and deliver back to the Hunger Resource Center in Manassas. Be prepared to lift boxes weighing up to 50 pounds. Training is provided along with an agency van. Teens can ride with drivers to help. Just one day a week can make a life-long impact on a family in need! Please email ncannon@nvfs.org for more information.
If you are looking for other opportunities, please don't forget to call our wonderful team at Volunteer Prince William at 703.369.5292. You can also visit our website at www.volunteerprincewilliam.org. Thanks so much for all you do in our community.
