Call to Action - November 7, 2023-Fall Events
Greetings, Prince William - Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and these food assistance programs can still use your help:
- ACTS has kicked off Share the Bounty, their annual Thanksgiving program which provides Thanksgiving meals for their clients! Donations can be dropped off through November 17 at ACTS Hunger Prevention Center, 17958 Dr. David Cline Lane, Dumfries 22026. Please visit https://bit.ly/45JNmKB to view the list of requested items. Volunteers will also be needed, especially small groups of 7 or less. Key volunteer date: November 11 (Scouting for Food). Volunteers will also be needed through November to help sort food and assemble Share the Bounty bags for distribution. What a terrific way to celebrate the season, to make a holiday meal possible for food insecure families! Please email Shirley at SCouteau@actspwc.org to learn more.
- Manassas City Public Schools is hosting a food drive to support families in need whose children attend Manassas City schools. Holiday food items such as stuffing mix, canned veggies, instant potatoes, cranberry sauce, etc. are needed. Donations can be brought to the MCPS Central Office, 8700 Centreville Road Suite 200, Manassas 20110 through November 15. Please call 571.377.6096 or email mcowell@mcpsva.org to learn more.
Other opportunities:
- Boxes of Basics has a need for volunteers during November to help assemble boxes of clothing for needy children in our area. They currently have nearly 100 kids waiting on boxes, so help is urgently needed! You'll feel great as you help vulnerable children get the clothing they need to get through the coming cold weather! The November volunteer calendar is up, please visit https://bit.ly/3t6kj6b to sign up.
- Boxes of Basics also has a desperate need for donations of boy's pants in sizes 5T, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12 & 16 and girls long-sleeve tops in sizes 4T, 5T, 6 & 8. If you have these items in good condition, please consider donating them. Items can be brought to their office at 9239 Mike Garcia Drive, Manassas 20109 or you can visit boxesofbasics.org to view a listing of other drop-off donation sites. Please email sally@boxesofbasics.org to learn more and thank you for helping the kids!
- SERVE needs volunteers age 18+ to assist with their annual Coat Closet Distribution November 6-17. Duties include accept/organize donations, help families locate a proper sized coat, maintain neatness and cleanliness of the Coat Closet and other jobs as needed. Volunteers must be prepared to stand, bend and lift up to 15 pounds. You'll feel awesome knowing you're helping vulnerable families have access to warm coats, scarves, hats and gloves prior to the wintry weather! Please email ncannon@nvfs.org for more information.
- The Bull Run Watershed Protectors invite your families, friends and school organizations to continue to make a difference in cleaning the stream valley behind Costco, across Lomond to Ashton Rd., and the shops adjacent down to Walgreens at Sudley Manor Road in Manassas. Join them for this cleanup on November 11, 9am-11am! Credit for service hours are available! Safety vests, grabbers, and gloves to borrow, and water to refill your reusable water bottles are provided. Please visit https://bit.ly/405JEcU to sign up and learn more.
- Attention Home Improvement fans! The awesome staff at Habitat for Humanity Prince William County will be making repairs and updates on three local Boys & Girls Clubs in our community (Alloy, Heiser and Hylton) the week of November 13-18. Volunteers are needed to help, so haul out your toolboxes and sign up today by visiting the Volunteer Calendar at habitatpwc.org. You'll feel great knowing your work will help provide children with safe, decent, and inviting places to grow and expand! Please email fzoch@habitatpwc.org for more information.
- Mark your calendars! Prince William County Solid Waste Division will hold a free Document Shred Event for Prince William area residents on Saturday, November 18, 9am-1pm (or until trucks reach capacity). The event will be held at Pfitzner Stadium, 7 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, former home of the Potomac Nationals baseball team. This is for PWC area residents, no business or commercial shredding will be accepted. It's a wonderful way to safely dispose of those old documents which are cluttering up your home! Please visit https://bit.ly/3SiUhHm to learn more.
- Manassas City Public Schools is hosting a Coat Drive to support families in need whose children attend Manassas City schools. New or clean, gently used coats are needed to ensure children will stay warm this winter. Donations can be brought to any MCPS elementary school or to the MCPS Central Office, 8700 Centreville Road Suite 200, Manassas 20110 through November 20. Please call 571.377.6096 or email mcowell@mcpsva.org for more information.
- It's All About a Kid and a Toy! Volunteer Prince William has kicked off Untrim a Tree, which provides gifts for children attending Title I schools in the community, along with Senior Baskets for homebound senior citizens. Individuals, groups, clubs, families, etc. can come together to make Christmas possible for everyone! New location this year: Prince William County Fairgrounds, donation drop-off dates are December 10 (9am-8pm), or December 11-12 (12pm-8pm). An online donor form can be filled out at https://bit.ly/3QcHLYH or email utat@volunteerprincewilliam.org for more information. Volunteer help will be needed to sort toys and deliver Senior Baskets - stay tuned for more information!
- Ho Ho Ho, guess what's on the horizon! Greater Manassas Christmas Parade needs a lot of Volunteer Elves age 18+ to support Santa Lights Manassas on December 1 and the Christmas Parade on December 2! Duties include helping stage the participants, answer spectators' questions and keep everyone safe so they can enjoy the parade and the tree lighting. What better way to get into the holiday spirit, plus you get to enjoy all the floats and bands close up! Please visit https://bit.ly/465msNf to fill out an online volunteer form, email dhannum.gmcp@gmail.com for more information.
If you are looking for other opportunities this Fall, 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.
