Good morning – Virginia Cooperative Extension invites volunteers to their next Master Financial Education Training on Monday May 2nd for 9 sessions. This certificate requires 24 hours of training and regular volunteering annually. It’s a super life skill program to empower families with financial education. There is a registration fee and background check required for this important training. Please call (703) 792-4765 or email them at: [email protected] to learn more.
· Stop by Chick-fil-A of Lake Ridge on Tuesday April 19th from 9am-10:30am for free coffee to learn more about volunteer opportunities from a number of community agencies including Hylton Performing Arts, Catholic Charities, Fire & Rescue, Hospice, Habitat for Humanity. Project men a House, Keep PW Beautiful and Volunteer Prince William.
· The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program –RSVP has a new email address- it is: [email protected]
· Mark your calendars for a fun event to support the House of Mercy Food Pantry on Saturday April 23rd from 6-8pm. Tastings of whiskies, music, appetizers, raffle tickets and fun for just $50 per person at MurLarkey in Bristow. Please call (703) 659-1636 to learn more.
· High school seniors age 18+ are needed to help with afterschool tutoring, homework helpers and facilitate stem, art and language arts at Victory Christian Academy. Please call Mrs. Byrd at (703) 491-7100 to learn more.
· Brain Injury Services is looking for PALS volunteers to visit folks for friendly conversation with a young man as well as summer interns. Contact Michelle for more information: [email protected] or 703-451-8881 X232.
· Semper K9 Assistance Dogs is holding an open house on Saturday April 16 from 8:00am to 12 noon. Join them for demonstrations, live music, and tours of their facility. Numerous community partners will be on hand. From Shelter to Service . . . go to www.SemperK9.org for all the details!
· Capital Caring is looking for volunteer massage therapists, reiki masters, artists, musicians and certified pet therapy animals to provide joy and comfort to patients and their families. Please call Rachael at (703) 957-1785 to learn more.
· Keep Prince William Beautiful needs volunteers on Saturday April 16th on route 1 in Woodbridge from 9am-12 noon. You also don’t want to miss their Festival on Saturday April 23rd from 10am-4pm at Pfitzner Stadium. It’s all free family fun. Please call Claudia at (571) 285-3772 for the specifics.
· Historic Manassas, Inc. is looking for two volunteers to staff the Shred-It –Truck at the April 16 Live Well Festival. Times are 9:00am to noon and noon to 2:00pm overseeing the area while citizens drop off items to be shredded – no lifting or working with the shredded items! Contact Erin at [email protected].
· Attention seniors and retirees! Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) needs daytime volunteers who can attend and monitor impaired driving cases at the Prince William County Courthouse. Contact Noreen at [email protected] or phone 703-379-1135.
· SERVE is in immediate need of volunteers who can help with food assistance on Thursday afternoons, 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Duties include greeting clients, assemble food packages, assist in the shopping area, answer questions, and check out client shopping baskets. You must be age 16 or older; schooled aged volunteers can help with a parent. Contact Jan at [email protected].
· Find out about the BEACON SCABBLE SCRAMBLE on Saturday April 30, 9 to 9pm. Go to www.beaconliteracy.org for details!
· Prince William Forest Park invites you to join them on Saturday, April 23 from 10:00am to 4:00pm for Stewardship Virginia. Help to build a 48 square foot greenhouse out of two liter bottles. Roll up your sleeves, bring some gloves, wear closed toe shoes and don’t forget to bring two liter bottles and scissors. Call Sarah for details: 703-583-6904 or email: [email protected].
· The Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Program is looking for volunteers for their summer camps beginning in June through mid-August. Jobs include assisting with crafts, activities, side walking or leading the horses. It’s a wonderful opportunity to build skills, team building and leadership for teens. Classic Camp June 27th-31st and July 25th-29th is half day camp for students with special needs. Frontier Camp is July 11-15th for rising 5th-9th graders and Girl-Power Camp is August 8th-12th for girls rising 5th-9th graders. Please call Scottie at (703) 754-6159 to learn more.
· Habitat for Humanity ReStore is just bustling with lots of new donations so volunteers are needed to build hoppers for books, racks for granite, sanitizing banquet chairs and many other fun jobs in this super fun place. It’s so easy to join in by signing up on their volunteer calendar at: www.habitatpwc.org.
· Catholic Charities –Hogar Immigrant Services has an urgent need for ESOL teachers for the classes in Manassas. You don’t need teaching experience or speak another language to make a huge difference in the life of another. Please call Cynthia at (571) 208-1572 ext. 103 to join this great team.
· Volunteer Prince William is pleased to schedule our next Volunteer Management Training Series beginning September 14th through October 19th. Come broaden and tune your skill set with these once week trainings over 5 weeks. Please call Shelley for more info at (703) 369-5292 ext. 0
· If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call my wonderful team at Volunteer Prince William. Mary can help you with the Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP) opportunities at (703) 369-5292 ext. 1, 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. 0, and Bonnie can help you with opportunities available in Disaster Preparedness at (703) 369-5292 ext. 3. Please visit our newly re-vamped website at www.volunteerprincewilliam.org. Thanks so much for all you do in our community.
Call to Action is a column written by Volunteer Prince William Director Mary Foley.
Recent Stories
Commuter traffic in the Washington, D.C. metro area is set to surge as President Donald Trump issues an executive order ending remote work for federal employees. The Center Square reports that Trump’s directive mandates federal workers return to their offices full-time, with limited exemptions determined by department heads. The move is welcomed by regional leaders like Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who have long urged a return to in-person work to bolster public transit ridership and address underused federal buildings. Federal employees, who constitute a significant portion of D.C.-area residents, are pivotal to the region’s economy.
Fire investigators are still searching for answers in two recent fires that caused significant damage in Fredericksburg and Woodbridge. The December 5 blaze at Eagle Village Shopping Center began in the warehouse of Play It Again Sports and quickly spread, destroying multiple businesses. Despite extensive efforts, investigators have been unable to determine the fire’s cause. Meanwhile, a January 21 townhouse fire in Woodbridge displaced two residents after unattended cooking sparked flames. Working smoke detectors alerted the occupants, allowing them to escape safely. Both incidents highlight the importance of fire safety and preparedness as investigations into the causes continue.
In a pivotal discussion during the January 21, 2025, meeting, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors approved funding measures for a new fire station in the Brentsville District, addressing a pressing need for expanded emergency services. The debate revolved around whether to utilize proffer funds—developer-contributed resources earmarked for public infrastructure—or tap into the county’s fire levy fund.
Brentsville District Supervisor Tom Gordy initiated an amendment to the funding resolution, proposing the use of Brentsville District fire proffers “to the greatest extent possible” before considering the fire levy fund. With $3 million available in Brentsville fire proffers, Gordy emphasized aligning these restricted funds with their intended purpose: supporting fire and rescue services.
“This approach ensures that we prioritize restricted funds before relying on broader resources like the fire levy,” Gordy explained.
Arctic high pressure continues to grip the region, keeping dangerously cold temperatures and bitter wind chills in place through Thursday morning. The National Weather Service warns that these frigid conditions will persist, with temperatures struggling to climb above freezing during the day and plummeting overnight.
Temperatures on Wednesday will remain well below freezing, with daytime highs only reaching the teens and lower 20s. Wind chills will remain a significant concern, with values ranging from -10°F to -25°F in many areas.
By Wednesday night, winds will ease slightly as high pressure drifts overhead, but temperatures will still drop to the single digits in many areas, with subzero readings likely in higher elevations.
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.
