Greetings, Prince William: It's All About a Kid and a Toy! Volunteer Prince William's program Untrim a Tree which provides holiday gifts for local children in Title I schools is now live and accepting donor forms! While we've been able to get kids sponsored, we still have around 2,000 children who are still waiting on Santa! The online donor form is available to sponsor a child or donate a Senior Basket; please visit https://bit.ly/3QcHLYH to fill out and submit a form. The whole family can participate, and you'll feel great being part of a program which helps so many of our vulnerable children have a Happy Christmas! Volunteers will also be needed December 7 thru 10 to help sort/organize toys and deliver Senior Baskets. Please stay tuned for more details! Questions? Please email utat@volunteerprincewilliam.org.
· You can help vulnerable families have a holiday meal for Thanksgiving! ACTS' Share the Bounty distribution needs volunteers to help with sorting donations and assembling the Share the Bounty bags during November. This will take place in their Food Donation Center, 17958 Dr. David Cline Drive, Dumfries, Monday-Thursday. Volunteer hours are flexible between 9am-3:30pm. You'll feel great knowing your giving spirit will help food insecure families have a Happy Thanksgiving! Please email SCouteau@actspwc.org to learn how you can help.
· If you love helping others learn, we have a wonderful opportunity for you! BEACON for English Language and Literacy is recruiting volunteers to teach adult ESOL students for their upcoming Winter session which runs December 2-February 27. No teaching or language experience is required, and training is provided. To learn more, please sign up for a virtual information session at Info session sign-up or contact Seth at 571.428.2524.
· Brain Injury Services (BIS) has an ongoing need for volunteers to be PALS (Providing a Link for Survivors) for survivors of brain injury. This is a one-to-one friendship program for brain injury survivors; the program connects BIS clients with volunteers who can help them socialize in the community and rebuild social skills through friendship. Once a month outings for coffee, walks, chess, lunch, etc. can help a client get their life back on track following such a traumatic occurrence! Please visit www.braininjurysvcs.org/volunteer/ for more information, email mthyen@braininjurysvcs.org to learn how you can help.
· The hard-working staff at Boxes of Basics is looking for volunteers to be Weekend Shift Leaders, helping to guide volunteers as they pack boxes of clothing which are then given to vulnerable children in our local schools. If you have leadership skills and can commit to a weekend shift once a month or once a quarter, this agency would love to meet you! You'll feel great knowing you're helping to provide new clothing for up to 100 kids a week and doing your part to fight clothing insecurity! Please email ashley@boxesofbasics.org to learn how you can get involved.
· You can make a difference in the life of a child! CASA CIS needs volunteers age 21+ who care about children growing up in a safe, permanent and loving home. The staff will hold their next Virtual Information Session on November 13, 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 or to inquire about alternate dates.
· Ho Ho Ho! Get into the holiday spirit by volunteering for Santa Lights Manassas on December 6 and the 78th Greater Manassas Christmas Parade December 7 in Old Town Manassas! These events would not be possible without the support of over 300 volunteers which lets them spread holiday cheer to the community! Volunteers are needed to help stage the participants, answer spectator questions and keep everyone safe so they can enjoy the parade and the tree lighting. What better way to enjoy the Christmas holidays? Please visit https://elevationleads.net/gmcpvolunteer/ to sign up and ask any questions.
· The hard-working staff at Prince William County Community Foundation needs volunteers to support their Thanksgiving Food Drive to provide those in need with a holiday meal! Volunteers are needed to pack food boxes November 20, 6pm-9pm and load food boxes November 22, 6pm-9pm at Motiv8 Church, 14654 Joplin Road, Manassas 20112. Volunteers are also needed to hand out food boxes on November 23, 8am-3pm at 17965 Dumfries Shopping Center in Dumfries. Your help will bring holiday cheer to hundreds of local families dealing with food insecurity! Please email info@pwccfoundation.org to sign up.
· Scout troops, youth groups and families, here's a couple of great group projects for you! PWC Office of Historic Preservation is looking for a group that can paint a fence at Brentsville Courthouse (paint will be provided). Another group is needed to install a water diversion bar in the trail down to the historic Haislip-Hall House at Brentsville Courthouse. The courthouse is located at 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow 20136. Both projects are family-friendly, but volunteers should be at least 13 years old. Please email jmcdonald@pwcgov.org to learn more.
· Is your office, club, Scout troop or service group looking for a volunteer opportunity? Streetlight Community Outreach Ministries has opened their hypothermia shelter located at 14716 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge and groups are needed to prepare and drop off meals for 30 adult residents through March 30, 2025. Meals are needed each night and should be prepared off-site and dropped off at the shelter between 6:30pm-7pm. Your group will provide comfort for the homeless with a hot, nourishing meal they can enjoy during the cold winter months! Please visit https://bit.ly/3XXR5SR to sign up and get more information, email thermalshelter@thestreetlight.org or call 571.677.2883 to learn more.
· If you want to get firsthand experience working directly with the homeless, here's a perfect opportunity! Streetlight Community Outreach Ministries needs volunteers age 25+ to assist staff at their hypothermia shelter, 14716 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge. Two volunteers are needed each evening through March 31, 2025, 6pm-10pm. Duties include assisting with preparing and serving dinner, passing out supplies as needed and light set-up and/or clean-up. You'll feel great knowing you are providing this vulnerable population with a way to get out of the cold for a hot meal and a warm place to sleep! Please visit https://signup.com/go/uxArBJd to sign up, email gtibbs@thestreetlight.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.
