Good morning – The Community Health Network at the Manassas Park Community Center needs volunteers on Tuesdays from 8am-noon. Duties include assisting patients with medical forms, assisting with tracking information on electronic software and other admin jobs. Great training is provided by the VA Dept. of Health. Please call Valda at (703) 792-6755 to learn more.
· Don’t forget to buy your tickets to the 2nd Annual Cajun Occasion Crawfish Boil on Sunday May 15th. This year’s event benefits the Un Trim A Tree Holiday Gift program for needy kids. Please register by May 10th! This promises to be great fun and for a great cause. It’s a family picnic with authentic Louisiana Buffet and a Crawfish Boil, music by Kitty and the Fat Cats and the beer and wine garden. All you can eat is $40/person or just $10 to be a tourist with limited concessions of burgers, dogs, drinks and ice cream but access to the wine and beer garden. Please purchase your tickets online at: missiontix.com
· Habitat for Humanity has started the new home makeover on Central Park Drive. Lots of volunteer opportunities on this home. Please visit the volunteer calendar for all the specifics at: habitatpwc.org for all the specifics.
· Helping Neighbors Outreach Center in Dale City needs volunteers to help in the office on Thursdays from 9:30-3:30. Duties include answering the phone, mailings and other admin duties. Please call Pastor Edmonds at (703) 964-7725 for more info.
· Embrace Treatment Foster Care is collecting new or slightly used small pieces of luggage at the Manassas Mall office, next to Sears during traditional business hours. The luggage will be used so children entering foster care have a way to bring their own clothes and things. It’s so easy to help a kid by with a small suitcase. I think kids would love to have one of those fun cases on wheels to move to their next home. Please call Gretchen at (540) 613-5120 to learn more.
· The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers to install smoke alarms in the Manassas area on Saturday May 7th 8am-2pm and Saturday June 11th. Please register for this event at: volunteerconnection.redcross.org. Volunteers will start at Tabernacle Baptist Church on Barrett Drive. Please call (571) 293-1771 for more info.
· PW Soil and Water Conservation District needs volunteers on May 12, 13, 26 and 27 to help with out of doors environmental education activities with elementary students in Nokesville. This promises to be great fun! Please call Pam at (571) 379-7514 to learn more.
· Letter Carrier’s Food Drive is Saturday May 14th. Volunteers are needed to pick up donations are various post offices and deliver to the ACTS warehouse in Dumfries. It would be most helpful if you have a truck and or large vehicle. The donated food is so important to helping hundreds of families in need every week. Please sign up for this at: signupgenius.com/go/30e058a5aa2ea7f94-the24th or call Jane at (703) 441-8606.
· Prince William Free Clinic is looking for volunteer doctors, pharmacists, Physician assistants, nurses, translators and admin folks to expand their services to needy clients in Woodbridge. Your couple of hours a week can be monumental to our neighbors. Please call Caitlin at (703) 496-9403 or via email at: [email protected] to learn more.
· House of Mercy needs volunteers to help in the donation center by sorting, hanging and labeling donations as well as on Saturday May 21st to hand out shopping list to customers at specific grocery stores. Bring your family for an hour or 2 to help so many people in need. Please visit houseofmercyva.org to register.
· Prince William Conservation Alliance is looking for volunteers for a number of their projects this spring. They will be at the K-9 Gunner Dog Park on May 14th 10-2pm and June 16th 2:30-4pm to clean up and improve wildlife habitat. Please bring your gardening tools and a smile. They will be at the Merrimac Farm on May 15th 2pm-4pm and May 28th 9:30am-11am for planting, weeding, mulching and removing invasive plants. Please call Vinetta at (703) 490-5200 to learn more.
· The Manassas Heritage Train Festival needs volunteers on Saturday June 4th 8am-3pm. Duties include set-up and crowd control of this super fun day. You don’t want to miss it. Please email Erin at: [email protected] to learn more.
· Mark your calendars for Thursday June 2nd for the annual Do More 24 Day. Register your non-profit and support your favorite cause is a s easy as can be. Please visit DoMore24.org to learn more and of course support a kid and a toy at Volunteer Prince William with just $24.
· The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program –RSVP has a new email address- it is: [email protected]
· 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.
