Good morning Prince William – Please join us for a free family concert on Friday, May 12th, 6-10pm at Battlefield Garden Center in Catharpin. There will be food trucks, craft vendors, moon bounce and the Beer & Wine Garden that will benefit the Un-Trim-A-Tree Holiday Gift Program for needy kids. Music by Skinny Wallace! I’m pouring at the beer truck so come out for the fun.
· House of Mercy is collecting new packages of underwear, briefs, undershirts, socks and bras in any size, age, gender or color on Thursday, June 8th. Just drive through the parking lot at 8170 Flannery Court anytime 10am-5pm to help families with the basics! This event is called U is for Undies- super cute!
· Brain Injury Services is looking for companies to partner with to complete unique projects as well as individual volunteers to be a buddy to one of their clients. They always look for creative ways to utilize your time and talent. Please call Michelle at (703) 451-8881 ext. 232 to learn more.
· Friends of the Kennedy Center need volunteers for their JFKC Open House on Saturday, May 27th. This event will celebrate what would have been President Kennedy’s 100th Birthday. Please register on their website by May 12th- Kennedy-center.org. Jobs include check-in, artist liaison, information tables and more!
· Saved Hands Foundation needs volunteers to teach life skills to adults in Woodbridge two days a week from 4-5pm. Please email Pamela at:[email protected] to learn more about the great services are given to the homeless clients in the community.
· Astar Institute in Manassas offers language and vocational training to international students. They need a few volunteers to help with administrative and marketing tasks at their Manassas location. Please email Qurat at: [email protected] to learn more.
· Prince William Free Clinic is looking for volunteers to help with the Annual Health Fair on Saturday, June 1st 9am-1pm. Community partners will be present and clients of the clinic will have an opportunity to learn about available services. Your help is greatly needed to assist with various assignments. They also have a need for social work case managers. It’s a great way to build your resume. Please email Caitlin at: [email protected] for more info.
· Prince William Conservation Alliance needs volunteers at their next Minnieville Buffer workdays on Sunday, May 21st. The workday will keep all the native trees, shrubs and wildflowers adjacent to the K9 Gunner Dog Park in tiptop shape. Please register for the workday at: [email protected]
· Catholic Charities- Hogar Immigrant Services is urgently seeking teachers for various classes in Woodbridge, Dale City and Sterling. The English class is held Monday – Thursday for just one class a week. No foreign language or teaching experience is needed as you’ll receive all the training needed. Please call Arielle at (703) 534-9805 ext. 252 to learn more.
· Literacy Volunteers of America needs you to help adults learn to read and write. Become a volunteer tutor and make a difference in someone’s life! Previous tutoring experience is not required; they will train you. Tutor Training Workshop dates are Saturday, May 20th, and Saturday, June 3. Please register as soon as possible by phoning 703-670-5702 or by visiting www.lvapw.org.
· The American Heart Association invites you and your colleagues to join them for the Lawyers Have Heart 10K race and 5K Run and Walk. This fundraiser will take place at Washington Harbor on Saturday, June 10th. There are various volunteer assignments open and they will find something suitable for your group. Visit www.LawyersHaveHeartDC.org on contact Joellen at [email protected].
· ALIA in Manassas is looking for volunteers for computer instruction classes to seniors and administrative support in their office. The curriculum includes computer basics: creating and organizing files, sending/receiving email, using the internet and more. Please email Corliss at: [email protected] to learn more.
· TOPSoccer is looking for volunteers to help on Saturday mornings at the Vint Hill Gym. This program provides safe, fun and inclusive environment for children with development issues to enjoy the game of soccer. This promises to be a very fun Saturday morning. Please email Beth to learn more at: [email protected]
· The Retired and Senior Volunteer program has an urgent need for Meals on Wheels drivers to deliver the noon meal in both the Manassas and Woodbridge areas. It’s a super 2 hours or so while you provide a warm meal and check on their welfare. This program is for individuals age 55+, have valid driver’s license and proper insurance. A small mileage stipend is available as well training. Please email Jan at: [email protected] to learn more.
· If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call my wonderful team at Volunteer Prince William. Jan 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
ARTfactory and Birmingham Green made headlines in Manassas this week. ARTfactory’s Rooftop Productions, now Actors Theatre, won seven awards at the 2024 DC Broadway World Awards, including Best Musical for Kinky Boots and Best Choreography for The Rocky Horror Show. ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre also earned recognition, winning Best Theatre for Young Audiences for its production of The Wizard of Oz.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Green, ranked as Northern Virginia’s top nursing home by Newsweek Magazine, announced Duane Smith as its new Nursing Home Administrator, effective December 30, 2024. Smith brings extensive experience from senior living leadership roles across multiple states and holds several professional qualifications. Birmingham Green continues its 90-year mission of providing quality long-term care to Northern Virginians in need.
Looking for a new best friend? Meet Echo, a 3-4-month-old pup full of love, energy, and curiosity. This little guy, possibly a Boxer mix, is still finding his voice, but…
Should Virginia ditch the longstanding practice of electing the General Assembly and the governor in odd year elections?
The first odd year election in Virginia was in 1851, after a new state Constitution was approved and members of the House were elected to a two-year term. Before that, members of the House had one-year terms, and voters selected members every single year.
Now, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell says modern day voters are sick and tired of voting every year.
A Manassas man was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for providing drugs and alcohol to a child in exchange for sex acts and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the same victim as well as other children.
According to court documents, Olajide Benjamin Ayilaran, 24, met a 14-year-old girl during the summer of 2023 and began communicating with the victim via iMessage. In the messages, Ayilaran offered to provide the victim drugs, alcohol, and nicotine products in exchange for sex acts. Between at least Nov. 21, 2023, and Feb. 29, 2024, Ayilaran met the victim nine times, usually in the morning before the victim went to school, to exchange the products for sexual acts. Ayilaran would wait for the victim in his car in a nearby park. When the victim arrived, he gave her the drugs and alcohol and then had the victim perform sex acts on him in the car.
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.
