Call to Action for 11/6/2024
Family-Friendly
Greetings, Prince William: We're getting so many requests for volunteers that we'll be publishing Call to Action twice a week for the time being. The mid-week column will focus on those events that are family-friendly to help younger volunteers looking for service hours. Please be sure to take note of all the volunteer possibilities available, email jhawkins@volunteerprincewilliam.org if you have any questions. Thank you!
Here's a listing of Thanksgiving related volunteer opportunities:
· 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.
· The Hunger Resource Center at SERVE in Manassas is the beneficiary of a fantastic food donation from area Boy Scouts and they need volunteers age 16+ to assist with unloading, weighing and placing the donated food onto the shelves on November 9. Two shifts are available, 10am-12pm and 12pm-2pm. Please be prepared to lift up to 20 pounds and for prolonged standing during the entire shift. Volunteers age 14-15 may volunteer with a parent or guardian. You'll feel great as you help this agency have food available to feed the 400 families who come each month in need of food assistance! Please visit http://scouts.nvfs.volunteerhub.com/ to sign up, email ncannon@nvfs.org for more information.
· The hard-working staff at Prince William County Community Foundation is looking for 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.
Other volunteer opportunities:
· 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 group, club or family looking for a volunteer project this winter? The dedicated staff at Streetlight Community Outreach Ministries opened their hypothermia shelter located at 14716 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge November 1 and groups are needed 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.
· Save the Date! The Bull Run Watershed Protectors invite families, work colleagues, friends and school organizations to their Bull Run Watershed Fall Cleanup 2024 on November 9, 9am-11am. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to help with cleaning the stream valley behind Costco, across Lomond to Ashton Rd. and the shops/restaurants adjacent down to Walgreens at Sudley Manor Road in Manassas. Volunteers should meet at Walgreens parking lot, 10671 Sudley Manor Drive, Manassas 20109. Safety vests, grabbers and gloves will be on hand to borrow; water to refill reusable water bottles will be provided (bring your bottles!). Prior volunteer groups have helped to remove over 12,000 lbs. of trash since 2018, resulting in the return of birds and amphibians to the area! You can be a part of this successful project! Please visit https://bit.ly/4eyYi2x to sign up and learn more.
· Girls on the Run of NOVA is preparing for their Fall 5K November 23 and 24, and they need a lot of volunteers age 13+ to make this a successful event! 5Ks will be held on Saturday, November 23 at Dulles Town Center, Dulles and Sunday, November 24 at Pentagon City, Arlington. Jobs include Greeters, Buddy Runners, Cheer Marshals, Start and Finish Line Managers, Water Stops Managers, and much more. Volunteers are needed to fill positions at various times in the morning between 6am-10am. Interested volunteers can complete the 5K Volunteer Form at www.pinwheel.us/register/index/E14KXPNPCDFQLRZ to start the sign up process or visit www.gotrnova.org. Many volunteer slots go fast, so mark your calendar and sign up today!
· Ho Ho Ho, Volunteer Prince William's program Untrim a Tree which provides holiday gifts for local children in Title I schools is now in full swing! The online donor form is available to sponsor a child or donate a Senior Basket; 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! Volunteers will be needed in December to help sort/organize toys, please stay tuned for more details! Questions? Please email utat@volunteerprincewilliam.org.
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.
