Volunteers sought in region to help in coronavirus fight

Good Morning Prince William – We are receiving a number of non-COVID19 volunteer needs, along with several volunteer opportunities associated with COVID19.  In an effort to make this less confusing, we have broken the opportunities down into non-COVID19 opportunities first, followed by volunteer opportunities associated with COVID-19.

Non-COVID-19 Opportunities:

• BEACON for Adult Literacy urgently needs volunteers to become virtual technology facilitators for their fall classes operating now to November 12. Classes are held Monday and Wednesday morning (9am-11am) and Tuesday and Thursday evening (6:30pm-8pm). Volunteers will provide technical support via Zoom for instructors of online classes 2-4 hours a week. Basic knowledge on hosting meetings and using Zoom features preferred. Please fill out an application at https://beaconliteracy.org/get-involved/volunteer-application/. For more information, call 571.422.2242 or email [email protected].
  
• Divine Inspirations Inc., a nonprofit which provides performing arts opportunities for underprivileged, at-risk youth, is looking for volunteers to help as a Virtual Executive Assistant and a Virtual Social Media Manager.  They are also looking for community minded individuals who would be interested in joining their Board of Directors.  Please email [email protected] to learn more.
  
• For Children’s Sake of Virginia urgently needs Virtual Tutors age 18+ to help foster children with their schoolwork.  Volunteers can assist any weekday or evening on a wide variety of subjects from elementary through high school.  These foster youth are struggling and now that school continues to be virtual, they need some serious help from dedicated tutors.  Please contact Kelley at [email protected] for more information.
  
• Habitat for Humanity PWC has been named beneficiary of the 27th Lou Maroon Golf Celebration, scheduled for September 16 at Evergreen Country Club, 15900 Berkeley Drive, Haymarket 20169.  Golf-loving volunteers are needed starting at 9am to help with set-up, registration and various golf contests throughout the day.  To sign up, please  visit Habitat’s Volunteer Calendar at https://habitatpwc.volunteermatrix.com/.  Please email [email protected] or call 703.369.6708 to learn more.
  
• Historic Manassas is hosting the annual Bands Brews and BBQ event on Sept 12 in Old Town.  Volunteers are needed beginning at 8am to help with such duties as directions, thermometer readers, sell/check tickets and pour beer.  Volunteers are asked for work four-hour shifts; masks are required for all volunteers.  Please email[email protected] to learn more about this fun event.
  
• Prince William Food Rescue (PWFR) can still use volunteer Food Rescue Heroes as the program is super busy delivering food to both ACTS and SERVE homebound clients.  Volunteers in the Gainesville/Haymarket area are especially needed!  Home food deliveries are no contact and follow social distancing guidelines.  PWFR is an app-based program enabling volunteers to pick up viable, close to expiration food from supermarkets, restaurants, food pantries, etc., and then deliver it to a program that can immediately use the food. More info on PWFR may be found at https://pwfoodrescue.org/.  Please contact Shirley at [email protected] or call 703.441.8606 ext. 212 for more information.
  
• The Salvation Army is collecting items for seniors and vulnerable populations. You can help by creating care packages from the security of your own home and safely dropping items at their Prince William location in Woodbridge. Food items such as canned soups/other dry or canned foods are requested.  Non-food items such as socks, toiletries, diapers/baby wipes and sanitizing supplies are also needed.  Donated items can be dropped off at 1483 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge Suite 102, Woodbridge 22192.  Please email Angela at[email protected] or call 202.345.2238 to learn more.
  
• Serve Our Willing Warriors needs volunteers for their upcoming 3rd Annual Warrior Bike Ride September 26, at The Farm Brewery at Broad Run, 16015 John Marshall Highway, Broad Run, VA 20137.  Volunteers will help with setting up, acting as Route Hosts, break down/clean up and much more!  Individuals and groups welcome!  The first riders depart at 7:30am and all cyclists will be done by 2pm.  Volunteers must wear a mask and observe social distancing.  Free lunch and a t-shirt to all volunteers!  For more information, please email Liz at[email protected].
  
• SERVE’s Hunger Resource Center needs Food Recovery Driver volunteers to make routine pick-ups from grocery stores and restaurants.  Shifts are Monday-Friday, 8am-12pm with a commitment of at least one day a week.  This is a long-term commitment of at least six months.  Volunteers must be at least 21 years old with a valid driver’s license.  Must be able to lift up to 50lbs.  Ride along training with experienced volunteer or staff and vehicle provided.  Please email [email protected] for more information.
  

COVID-19 Volunteer Opportunities:

The Community Feeding Taskforce needs volunteers to help break down large deliveries of food into smaller bundles to be redistributed to over 55 local food pantries.  All work is done in their Manassas food warehouse. Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday mornings 8am-12pm and Friday afternoons 12pm-4pm.  If you are healthy, between 18 and 55 and able to lift up to 40lbs, please consider volunteering.  To register, please create an account on our website atwww.volunteerprincewilliam.org, then go into the opportunity to Respond to the opportunity.  Please email[email protected] for more information.

The Community Feeding Taskforce Food Hotline has an urgent need for Spanish speaking volunteers who can assist staff with answering calls to the Hotline on weekday afternoons during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Duties include answering calls from those in need of food, redirecting callers to a food pantry closest to where they live and arranging home deliveries for shut-ins.  Training is provided; however, volunteers will work from home and must have their own computer and Internet access.  Bilingual skills in Spanish required.  To register, please create an account on our website at www.volunteerprincewilliam.org, then go into the opportunity to Respond to the opportunity.  Please email[email protected] to learn more.

Holy Family Food Pantry, a partner of the Community Feeding Taskforce, has an urgent need for Spanish speaking volunteers who can help answer phones and make appointments on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Bilingual skills in Spanish required.  To register, please create an account on our website atwww.volunteerprincewilliam.org, then go into the opportunity to Respond to the opportunity.  Please email[email protected] for more information.

Medical Reserve Corps  Support your local health department and your community during a public health emergency!  Volunteers are needed to support several missions, including public health education and outreach, disease investigation, vaccine clinics, and more!  Medical experience is not required; they have roles for everyone!  Bilingual volunteers are especially needed.  Volunteers must be 18 years of age, complete minimum training, and pass a state background check to serve.  Please fill out an application at vamrc.org.  Questions?  Please email Amy at[email protected] for more information.

• ACTS and the Community Feeding Taskforce (CFT) are in urgent need of Volunteer Delivery Drivers (non-CDL) to deliver food daily from the CFT Warehouse in Manassas to multiple food distribution sites.  Volunteers must be able to maneuver pallets using a pallet jack and assist with loading the truck from the CFT Warehouse and then unloading pallets at the destination.  Volunteers should be able to lift 40 pounds.  Must have a valid driver’s license; non-CDL is okay.  Background Check required.  All ACTS Volunteers must first complete and submit the online volunteer application found at actspwc.org.  Please contact Shirley at [email protected]to learn more.
  
• American Red Cross needs volunteers to be Shelter Service Associates in the event of a disaster during COVID-19.  Volunteers work in person in a Red Cross shelter before, during and/or after a disaster event, completing tasks necessary for shelter operations and providing assistance for disaster clients. Duties include working in reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information or other areas within a shelter.  Please email[email protected] for more information.
  

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.