Call to Action - November 10, 2023
Greetings, Prince William -Thanksgiving is almost here! These food assistance programs can still use your help to make a holiday meal possible for food insecure families:
- ACTS is working hard on Share the Bounty, which provides Thanksgiving meals for their clients. Donations can be dropped off through November 17 at ACTS Hunger Prevention Center, 17958 Dr. David Cline Lane, Dumfries 22026. Please visit https://bit.ly/45JNmKB to view the list of requested items. Volunteers are needed, especially small groups of 7 or less to sort food and assemble Share the Bounty bags for distribution. What a terrific way to celebrate the season, making a holiday meal possible for vulnerable families! Please email Shirley at SCouteau@actspwc.org to learn more.
- Manassas City Public Schools is hosting a food drive to support families in need whose children attend Manassas City schools. Holiday food items such as stuffing mix, canned veggies, instant potatoes, cranberry sauce, etc. are needed. Donations can be brought to the MCPS Central Office, 8700 Centreville Road Suite 200, Manassas 20110 through November 15. Please call 571.377.6096 or email mcowell@mcpsva.org to learn more.
Other volunteer opportunities:
- It's All About a Kid and a Toy! Volunteer Prince William is working hard on Untrim a Tree, which provides gifts for children attending Title I schools in the community, along with Senior Baskets for homebound senior citizens. Last year over 3,500 children got gifts for Christmas and over 500 Senior Baskets were donated! We anticipate the need will be just as great this year, and you can help! Individuals, groups, clubs, families, etc. can come together to make Christmas possible for everyone! New location this year: Prince William County Fairgrounds, donation drop-off dates are December 10 (9am-8pm), or December 11-12 (12pm-8pm). An online donor form can be filled out at https://bit.ly/3QcHLYH or email utat@volunteerprincewilliam.org for more information. Volunteer help will be needed to sort toys and deliver Senior Baskets - stay tuned for more information!
- Elizabeth, a military retiree, is dealing with a life-threatening illness which requires her to attend numerous local appointments for treatment. Additionally, she has no family living nearby. But thanks to our VETS program, Elizabeth receives rides to her treatments and has made many friends with the volunteers. Not only is she able to live independently in her home, the rides provided by the volunteers are saving her life! You can be a part of this program as a Volunteer Driver for Volunteer Prince William, taking veterans and their spouse/widow to medical appointments, supermarkets, etc.! Drivers age 21+ are needed on weekdays, and schedules are flexible with most rides done between 8:30am-3pm. You'll feel great as you provide transportation and friendship to veterans and spouses who otherwise struggle to have their daily and medical needs met! Please email jhawkins@volunteerprincewilliam.org to learn how you can get involved. This opportunity is made possible by a grant from Potomac Health Foundation.
- Brain Injury Services needs a volunteer to be a PALS (Providing a Link for Survivors) for a brain injury survivor in Prince William County. The client is looking for a buddy to do monthly outings for coffee, walking, shopping etc. Helping a client get their life back in order following such a traumatic occurrence will make your day! Please visit braininjurysvcs.org/volunteer/ for more information, email mthyen@braininjurysvcs.org to learn how you can help.
- Girls on the Run Northern Virginia is hosting their Fall 5K November 18 at Dulles Town Center and again on November 19 Pentagon City Arlington. They need a lot of volunteers at both events to help with registration, parking lot direction/support, assisting runners at the Start Line, water stops along the course, cheering on the runners as they pass and Finish Line support such as snacks and medals. Corporate groups are especially encouraged to help support this event which supports the mission to positively impact the health and well-being of the girls of Northern Virginia, their families and the volunteer coaches who serve them. Please visit gotrnova.org to sign up, email mfay@gotrnova.org for more information.
- Ho Ho Ho, guess what's on the horizon! Greater Manassas Christmas Parade is less than a month away, and they need a lot of Volunteer Elves age 18+ to support Santa Lights Manassas on December 1 and the Christmas Parade on December 2! Duties include helping stage the participants, answer spectators' questions and keep everyone safe so they can enjoy the parade and the tree lighting. What better way to enjoy "Christmas in Toyland," plus you get to see all the floats and bands close up! Please visit https://bit.ly/465msNf to fill out an online volunteer form, email dhannum.gmcp@gmail.com for more information.
- Mark your calendars! Prince William County Solid Waste Division will hold a free Document Shred Event for Prince William area residents on Saturday, November 18, 9am-1pm (or until trucks reach capacity). The event will be held at Pfitzner Stadium, 7 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, former home of the Potomac Nationals baseball team. This is for PWC area residents, no business or commercial shredding will be accepted. It's a wonderful way to safely dispose of all those old documents before the holidays start up! Please visit https://bit.ly/3SiUhHm to learn more.
- Get into the holiday spirit by being a Bell Ringer for Salvation Army-Prince William Corps! Volunteers are needed through Christmas Eve for the entire County. Duties include ringing the bell, greeting the public, assisting donors, maintaining monitoring of the kettle and cash and any other duties as needed. Volunteers age 18+ welcome, volunteers age 12-17 are welcome to volunteer with an adult. You'll feel great knowing that all money raised stays in our community, supporting Salvation Army programs that help greater Prince William families! Please visit https://registertoring.com to sign up and 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.
