Call to Action - December 16, 2022
Greetings, Prince William - Happy Holidays! Call to Action will be taking a "holiday break" so will not publish on December 23 and 30. We'll resume the column on January 6, 2023. In the meantime, we wish everyone a Safe, Joyous & Happy Holiday Season and All the Best in the New Year. Thank you for your support, and please stay safe!
- Late Breaking Volunteer Need: If you love teaching/tutoring, then BEACON for English Language and Literacy wants to meet you ASAP! They have an Urgent Need for volunteers to teach English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in Manassas, Manassas Park, and online via Zoom for their Winter session which begins January 2, 2023. Volunteers teach 1-2 times a week and must plan their own lessons using provided materials. Classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30am-11:30am or Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings 7pm-9pm. Tutors and Substitute teachers are also needed! No second language or teaching experience required; free, professional level training is provided. If you're going to be in town between Christmas and New Year's, BEACON can talk to you about training so you're able to start teaching right away after the holidays. Please visit Beaconliteracy.org to apply or email Jmorazuniga@osbva.org for more information.
- Give Blood, Save a Life! American Red Cross will be holding "The Joe 15 Team" 15th Annual Blood Drive in memory of Joseph "Joe" Page on January 21, 2023, at Manassas Church of the Brethren, 10047 Nokesville Road, Manassas 20110. To schedule your appointment, please visit RedCrossBlood.org/make-donation and enter the key words "The Joe 15 Team". Please email Debd509@aol.com to learn more.
- The hard-working friends at Boxes of Basics need volunteers age 18+ to help sort and organize clothing donations. Duties include packing Boxes of Basics for local children, selecting and wrapping outfits and more. You'll get a warm feeling as you provide for children who otherwise may face this winter without warm clothing! Please call 571.338.3369 or email info@boxesofbasics.org for more information.
- Brain Injury Services needs PALS volunteers to be matched in a one-to-one friendship with a survivor of a brain injury for monthly outings in the community or friendly visits in their home. You'll feel great as you help empower a client through the act of human connection! Please email mthyen@braininjurysvcs.org or call 703-451-8881, ext. 232 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.
- SERVE's Family Shelter also needs a volunteer group of 5-7 people who can prepare a home-cooked Brunch meal for its residents on January 2, 2023. It's a wonderful way to wrap up the holidays, and is also a terrific opportunity for individuals, families or small groups! Other meals are also available in January. 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.
- If you're an Honorably Discharged or Retired Veteran wanting to help other veterans, here's a great opportunity for you! The Veteran's Treatment Docket, a program of Prince William County Government Criminal Justice Services, is looking for volunteers age 21+ to act as Veteran Mentors to engage, encourage and empower fellow veterans that are involved in the criminal justice system. Duties include be available by phone/video or other means to assist docket participants and be there for your veteran. This may include nights and weekends. A 12-month commitment is required; training is provided. You'll feel great as you share your own veteran experiences and help a fellow vet get their life and affairs back on track again! Please visit http://bit.ly/3HBNZxe for details, email cmayers@pwcgov.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.
