Good morning –
· Please don’t forget that Hurricane season is right around the corner so mark your calendars for our annual Hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday – May 25th-31st. It’s a great time to stock up on chainsaws, ice packs, batteries, light sources, first aid kits, radios, tarps and fire extinguishers to name just a few. I will have more to come so mark your calendars!
· House of Mercy has started a mobile food pantry in George Town South. Please call Ann at 703-659-1636 to find out about all their activities and how you can help.
· Old Bridge United Methodist Church needs volunteers on Saturday May 31st to bag sweet potatoes for distribution to the needy in the community. Many hands are needed to bag 40,000 pounds of taters! They will be at the church from 8:30-3pm. The church is located at 3966 Old Bridge Road.
· Literacy Volunteers of Prince William are looking for volunteer tutors to work with adults. The next training is in July. Please visit: lvapw.org for more info. Also, please mark your calendars for Wednesday June 4th to join them at the Annual Taste of Prince William at the VFW Hall in Dale City. It promises to be a wonderful evening for a wonderful agency.
· Habitat for Humanity Restore has some big projects coming up and could use some extra help. Please call: 703-369-6708 for all the details.
· Brain Injury Services is looking for PALS volunteers to participate in a one to one friendship with a survivor of brain injury in Fairfax. They also have a gentleman in Prince William who would love someone to help with his model trains. Too bad my brother lives in Vermont- he loves trains. Please contact Michelle at [email protected]. for more info.
· Volunteers are needed at SERVE for three upcoming events. Volunteers are needed at the Save ‘N’ Serve Thrift Store on June 22 8am – 12pm Volunteers are needed at the Food Pantry June 26-27 9am – 5pm. Volunteers are also needed to hand out fliers and sort donations during the thrift store’s Customer Appreciation Sale on May 31st 10am – 3pm. Volunteers must be at least 16yrs old. Please email Jan at:[email protected] to learn more.
· Speaking of hungry families – the Haymarket Food Pantry needs your help as they are low on food supplies for needy families. Please consider picking up a few extras items when you shop for groceries this week. Especially needed at this time includes cereal, oatmeal, canned fish, soup, pasta, beans and rice, canned fruit, baby food and canned vegetables. You can drop off your donations on Monday and Friday mornings 10am-noon at the pantry located at: 14740 Washington Street in Haymarket.
· Area Agency on Aging needs volunteers to cover the front desk at their Adult day Healthcare program in Woodbridge. Hours are Monday-Friday from 10am-3pm. Tasks include answering phones and greeting participants. Please call Melodee at (703) 792-4583 to learn more.
· BEACON Adult Literacy needs volunteers to work with ESL adult learners. No prior experience is needed as you will be given all the tools needed to make a successful partnership with your student. Please call Caroline at (703) 368-7491 to learn more.
· The Salvation Army also needs a Spanish speaker to help with gathering information from needy families seeking assistance at their Woodbridge office. They would love this volunteer 1-2 days a week either in the morning or afternoon. This is a busy office offering great services to the community and a wonderful way for anyone interested in social services to gather great experience. Please call Emily at (202) 756-3906 to learn more.
· If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call my wonderful team at Volunteer Prince William. Coleen can help you with the Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP) opportunities at (703) 369-5292 ext. 207, Shelley can help with any individual or group project and send you weekly updates if you’d like. Shelley is at (703) 369-5292 ext. 201, and Bonnie can help you with opportunities available in Disaster Preparedness at (703) 369-5292 ext. 202. Please visit our newly re-vamped website at www.volunteerprincewilliam.org. Thanks so much for all you do in our community.
Recent Stories
Join Uriah Kiser, founder and publisher of Potomac Local News, as he sits down with Dayna-Marie Miles, the newest member of the Manassas City School Board.
In this engaging episode, Dayna-Marie shares her journey to the school board, her priorities for education in Manassas City, and her vision for fostering open communication between the board and the community.
Prince William County’s plans for an indoor sports complex in Woodbridge face a significant shift following this week’s decision by the Board of County Supervisors to allocate $250,000 for a consultant to determine the best use for the site. The 21.85-acre property near I-95 and the state’s most enormous commuter lot, the Horner Road lot, had been the centerpiece of a proposal to build a large indoor recreation facility to attract travel teams and host major events like graduations.
The property, once proposed as the location for a large indoor sports and recreation facility, is now part of a broader development plan. County officials aim to aggregate the land with four adjacent parcels, totaling nearly 50 acres of county- and state-owned land, including existing commuter parking lots. The mission is to transform the area into a community hub that harmonizes living, working, and leisure spaces while generating jobs and tax revenue.
Known colloquially as Prince William Landing, the area was previously considered as a potential site for a new Washington Commanders football stadium alongside another location near Potomac Mills mall. Both sites were discussed as part of efforts to keep the team in Northern Virginia after its lease on FedEx Field expires in 2027. However, those plans did not materialize.
According to county documents, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, along with the Finance Department and Office of Procurement Services, is leading the effort to attract a strategic real estate partner. The process will follow the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 (PPEA) to identify a development partner capable of delivering a project that strengthens the county’s sense of place and meets diverse community needs.
Three amendments are one step closer to being enshrined in the Virginia Constitution after passing the Senate on Tuesday. These amendments address abortion rights, marriage equality, and the restoration of voting rights for formerly incarcerated felons.
The resolutions on abortion and voting rights passed along party lines, while the marriage equality resolution received bipartisan support with a 24-15 vote. Democrats currently hold a 21-19 majority in the Senate for the four-year terms through December 2027.
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin cannot veto constitutional amendments. The process requires these amendments to be approved twice over two years, with a legislative election in between. If approved again, the proposed amendments will appear on the 2026 ballot for voters’ consideration.
Germanna Community College (GCC) hosted a ribbon cutting at its new Stafford expansion today, January 23, 2025. The event marked the opening of two buildings in Stafford: the Barbara J. Fried Building at 10 Center Street and the Kevin L. Dillard Health Sciences Building at 25 Center Street.
GCC was established in 1970 as part of Virginia’s Community College System and has locations in Culpeper, Locust Grove, Fredericksburg, and Stafford. The school’s website says over 13,000 students are enrolled.
The new expansion added 74,000 square feet to the campus with a $20 million investment. GCC plans to double enrollment in allied health services, like nursing. They will also expand their cybersecurity, IT, general education, and dual enrollment programs.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
