Potomac News Online | Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering is a part of life in Prince William County, from local government and social agencies to libraries, schools, churches, youth groups and service organizations.

The Voluntary Action Center, a private non-profit agency, has matched prospective volunteers with agencies hat need someone to help out. For information on volunteer opportunities, call (703) 369-5292 or visit the center at 9300 Peabody St., Manassas.

Another source for volunteer positions is a new Web site:?http://www.volunteermatch.com. Other organizations in the county that often need volunteers include:

AGENCY ON AGING

Prince William Area Agency on Aging has volunteer opportunities in the areas of home-delivered meals, conducting games and entertainment at the adult day-care centers, assisting with computer and information support at the central office and working as crafts instructors and receptionists at the senior centers in Woodbridge or Manassas.

For information or to volunteer, call (703) 792-6400;?http://www.volunteermatch.com.

BEACON

The Benedictine Educational Assistance Community Outreach to Neighbors assists in literacy programs such as helping adults get their high school equivalency, English as a Second Language or any other adult with educational needs. Training and follow-up support is provided.

To volunteer, call (703) 331-5513.

CASA

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Greater Prince William is a non-profit volunteer agency dedicated to serving abused, neglected or abandoned children in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park.

Volunteer advocates become a special friend to the child, while investigating the situation, monitor court orders for adherence, report findings to a judge and speak in court on behalf of the child’s best interest. Training is provided. For information call (703) 330-8145or visit?http://www.CASA-PW.org.

INTERFAITH CAREGIVERS

Prince William Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers Program covers a broad range of supportive assistance. Their needs include volunteers to assist people who have just returned from the hospital with meal preparation, light housekeeping and companionship.

For older residents, volunteers provide transportation to and from doctors, the grocery store, therapy and treatments. Companions are also needed for people who are HIV positive and AIDS patients.

For information, call (703) 369-5063.

OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM

The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, funded by Area Agencies on Aging, recruits volunteers to investigate complaints made about community-based long-term care service providers. Volunteer ombudsmen are assigned to specific nursing homes or assisted-living facilities and become familiar with specific residents and staff. The ombudsman helps residents with problems they cannot solve alone. Training is provided. Call (703) 324-4535 for additional information or to apply.

CHARITIES

? Securing Emergency Resources Through Volunteer Efforts in Manassas is a non-profit agency that assists families and individuals facing temporary emergency situations. SERVE provides shelter to homeless people, emergency food to those in need, transitional housing and support services and emergency payments for rent, utilities, medicine and fuel assistance.

Volunteer positions are available in the office to do light typing, filing and answering the phone; as drivers to assist those moving from the shelter or to pick up donated furniture; in the shelters for a variety of jobs; or as Life Skills educators. Anyone handy with tools or a paint brush and can make repairs is welcome or someone with a green thumb who can do outside yard sprucing up. Volunteers also work in the Clothes Closet and Food Closet, organizing and distributing donations. For information on volunteering, call (703) 335-1245.

? Action in the Community Through Service in Dumfries is a non-profit agency that provides temporary emergency housing, the Turning Points Safe House, long-term transitional housing and one day-care center.

Volunteers, after thorough training, work in the Turning Points program to help clients through the court system.

In addition, ACTS operates a Help-line telephone service, an emergency food and financial assistance program and the Tele-teen hotline.

To volunteer, call (703) 441-8606., Ext. 19.

EXTENSION OFFICE

Prince William Cooperative Extension Office has a large network of volunteers that draw on the resources of the community and Virginia Tech.

Among the programs offered by the service that are staffed by volunteers are master gardeners, 4-H Clubs, Rainbow Handicapped Riding Center, guide dog host families, personal finance counselors and Strong Families: Competent Kids parenting group leaders.

Volunteers also help extension service support programs by writing newsletters and by performing clerical and computer work.

For general information, call (703) 792-6289 or visit the office at Suite 105, 8033 Ashton Ave. in Manassas. For more specific services, call Financial Education Program/Nutrition/ Education, (703) 792-6287; Parenting/Education, (703) 792-6288; 4-H, (703) 792-6286.

GOVERNMENT

Prince William County Government has a number of volunteer opportunities in county agencies.

For information, call (703) 792-4636 or visit?http://www.pwcgov.org, click on jobs-volunteers.

HOSPICE

Hospice of Northern Virginia in Arlington offers comprehensive in-patient and at-home care for terminally-ill patients, and those who love them. Its volunteer network covers a wide area from home care, bereavement and grief support to office and office duties.

Call Hospice Volunteer Services at (703) 525-7070. Training is conducted on an as-needed basis.

There is also a Hospice office in Manassas, the Prince William Clinical Office, (703) 392-6707.

LIBRARIES

The Prince William Library System relies on its volunteers to help the libraries run smoothly. Volunteers reshelve books, man the check-out counter and do a variety of other jobs. Positions are available at all libraries and volunteers may work at the branch closest to home. To volunteer, call (703) 792-6201.

LITERACY

The Literacy Volunteers of America-Prince William conduct workshops for those interested in helping adults to learn or improve their basic reading skills. After training, volunteers are matched with an appropriate adult student. Call (703) 670-5702.

LITTER CONTROL

The Prince William Clean Community Council relies on volunteers to maintain its Adopt-a-Spot and Adopt-a-Highway programs as well as help educate the public to the effectiveness of recycling.

For information, call the PWCCC at (703) 792-6272.

MUSEUM

The Manassas Museum uses volunteers to staff its store, Echoes. Volunteers answer visitor inquiries and conduct periodic visitor surveys, among other duties. Tour guides are needed for school groups. They work about 3 1/2 hours a month. Training is provided for all positions.

For information, call the museum at (703) 368-1873.

REFUGEES

The Refugee Resettlement Program often needs volunteers to teach English as a Second Language. Training and materials are provided.

Call (703) 369-6101 for information.

SAVAS

The Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocacy Service provides crisis intervention, court companionship, hospital companionship, and support groups for survivors (and their families) of sexual assault. Anyone who has a few hours a week and would like to help survivors on their road to recovery, please call Dee Mann at (703) 497-1192.

VOLUNTEER TUTOR PROGRAM

Partnership Prince William enlists the support of the business community through the Volunteer Tutor Program. Volunteer tutors will work with students who are struggling with reading or math. Anyone who is able to give an hour per week and would like additional information about becoming a volunteer tutor, please contact Cathy Angelo at Partnership Prince William, (703) 369-5292, Ext. 28 or e-mail at?[email protected].