Call to Action for 11/27/2024
Family-Friendly
Greetings, Prince William: The holidays are here, and we're continuing to promote those family-friendly volunteer opportunities! Please be sure to take note of the volunteer possibilities available, email jhawkins@volunteerprincewilliam.org if you have any questions. Thank you!
· It's 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 in full swing! We have less than 500 children waiting on Santa, but time is getting short to make Christmas happen for a child! Please visit www.volunteerprincewilliam.org/donate/untrim-a-tree-donor-interest-form.html to fill out and submit a form. You'll feel great being part of a program which helped over 3,000 children have a Happy Christmas in 2023! Please email utat@volunteerprincewilliam.org for more information.
· You can help vulnerable children in the community have a Joyous Christmas! Volunteer Prince William needs volunteers to help with Untrim a Tree December 7, 8 and 9 at the Prince William County Fairgrounds. Volunteers age 16+ are welcome, volunteers under 16 are welcome to volunteer with a parent. Duties include greeting donors and assisting with unloading donations from their vehicle, placing senior baskets in their proper area and moving bags of toys from the check-in area to a storage area. Be prepared for prolonged standing and lifting of contractor bags which may weigh up to 20 pounds. Please sign up at https://bit.ly/3Z9ARrn, email utat@volunteerprincewilliam.org for more information. Volunteers are also needed to help deliver the Senior Baskets/Gift Bags to our two senior centers for distribution to Meals on Wheels clients! Please visit https://bit.ly/3CASs2P to register. Your help will make a homebound senior very happy this holiday season!
· You can provide new, warm clothing for a vulnerable child! The fantastic staff at Boxes of Basics need sponsors who can make the holidays brighter for a local child by sponsoring a Box of Basics. It's super easy: 1) Visit their Sign Up Genius page at https://bit.ly/4i8a2eQ; 2) Select a size/gender Box of Basics and sign up; 3) Use their shopping list to buy items to help fill Boxes of Basics; 4) Drop off your unwrapped purchases at one of their convenient donation locations by December 20. Please visit https://boxesofbasics.org/clothing-donations for a list of donation sites. Imagine how happy you'll make a child and their family feel this Christmas when they receive new clothing they are proud to be seen in!
· If you enjoy decorating for the holidays, here's a wonderful opportunity for you! CRi, Choice. Respect. independence needs volunteers age 12+ to put up decorations around the exterior of their group homes. Decorations can be homemade or purchased, just please make sure they can withstand the weather for the duration of the holiday month. While third parties are not allowed inside the homes, decorations can be made and given to staff to hang indoors. Commercial holiday decorations are welcome such as string lights, Santa, ornaments, and Christmas trees; string lights are a HUGE hit with residents in all the group homes! This family-friendly opportunity will be sure to put you in the holiday mood as you brighten up the lives of these clients who deal with developmental disabilities and/or mental health issues. Please email swhite@mycri.org to learn more.
· The wonderful staff at House of Mercy need volunteer Elves to support their Christmas with Mercy program beginning December 3. Preparation help is needed December 3 thru 6 and again December 9 thru 12. Then, help is needed December 13 and 14 to assist clients with "shopping" for their families. Volunteers age 16+ are welcome, volunteers age 12-15 are welcome to volunteer with a parent or guardian. All sorts of fun jobs are available, and you'll get into the holiday spirit as you help provide vulnerable families with a wonderful Christmas! Please visit https://bit.ly/4fyY5gq for more information and to register, email kjohnson@houseofmercyva.org for more information.
· Remember the Fallen. Honor Those Who Serve. Teach Our Children the Value of Freedom. Mark your calendars for Wreaths Across America happening on December 14 to thank our servicemembers for their sacrifice. Please Note: This year at the National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico, Wreaths Across America general wreath laying will not be open to the public due to overcrowding and traffic congestion. Instead, the Wreaths Across America event will only be open to community groups and those with grave specific requests placing wreaths for their loved one. For information on community groups, or for grave specific wreath requests, please email NOVAVETS.WAA@novavets.org. General wreath laying will be available to volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery; please visit https://bit.ly/4i8eni8 for more information.
· Is your group, club or family looking for a volunteer project this winter? The dedicated staff at Streetlight Community Outreach Ministries needs groups to prepare and drop off meals for 30 adult residents through March 30, 2025. Meals should be prepared off-site and dropped off at the shelter between 6:30pm-7pm. Your group's donation will provide 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. Please email thermalshelter@thestreetlight.org or call 571.677.2883 to learn more.
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.
