Volunteer needed for community feeding taskforce

By Volunteer Prince William

Good Morning Prince William – For the latest information on the continuing Coronavirus pandemic, please visit cdc.gov/covid19 , coronavirus.gov, vdh.virginia.gov and coronavirus.pwcgov.org/

* If you are facing food insecurity, or someone you know needs food assistance during COVID-19, the Community Feeding Taskforce Food Helpline is open! This resource is available to anyone living in Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County. Hours for the helpline are Monday-Friday, 9a.m.-4 p.m. Please call 703.794.4668 during operating hours to request food assistance. Callers over 65 will be redirected to ACTS/NVFS (SERVE) food assistance programs to register for direct delivery to their home. Please help spread the word on this important resource! Se habla Español.

* The Community Feeding Taskforce, a network of local food banks providing assistance to local residents facing food insecurity, is open. Volunteers are urgently needed at several food banks throughout the community to help assemble food packages, deliver food to smaller food pantries, answer a food assistance helpline, and provide administrative support. Volunteers may need to lift containers weighing up to 50 pounds, while other opportunities prefer volunteers with bilingual skills in Spanish. Please visit www.volunteerprincewilliam.org to view the opportunities. To register, you must create an account on our website, then go into the opportunity to Respond to the opportunity. Please email [email protected] to learn more.

* Medical Reserve Corps has an urgent need for volunteers to help in the fight against the coronavirus. Many volunteers are needed across the state and locally to provide support for the expected surge in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Volunteers with healthcare experience are especially needed, but they will accept non-medical volunteers in a variety of other skill sets as well. Please fill out an online application at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/mrc/. Questions? Please email [email protected] for more information.

* ACTS Senior Link program has a big need for volunteers who can make simple five-ten minute calls to homebound seniors to check in on their welfare, offer services, or simply to be a friendly voice. It requires very little training to make these types of calls since these are not crisis calls. Calls can be made from either their Manassas or Dumfries offices. Since staff is cut back, social distancing will be easy to accommodate. Contact Kate Long, Helpline Director, at [email protected] for more information.

* ACTS also needs volunteers in their Hunger Prevention Center weekdays for morning (9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.) and afternoon shifts (12:30 p.m.-3 p.m.) to prep grocery bags and distribute groceries. Volunteers must complete and submit the online volunteer application found at www.actspwc.org prior to volunteering. Please contact Shirley at [email protected] or call 703.441.8606 ext. 212 for more information.

* House of Mercy is now seeing a marked increase in clients seeking food assistance. They are in urgent need of donations of nonperishable items for their food pantry so they can continue food assistance during the coronavirus. Please email [email protected] to learn more. The staff is also working hard to collect and donate 5,000 face masks to local agencies. Many volunteers have jumped in, but they can always use more help! Please email [email protected] to learn how you can get involved.

* Calling all artists! Novant Health UVA Health System invites artists and budding artists to submit artwork for an upcoming exhibit at the Prince William Medical Center/Haymarket Medical Center titled “COVID 19: How We Became Stronger Together”. Paintings, photographs, and drawings will all be considered. Your artwork can be any favorite subject that inspires you at this difficult time. Artwork should be framed using wire hanger. We will accept artwork until June 30, 2020. For more detailed information contact Liz at [email protected] or call 703-369-8173.

* Prince William Food Rescue has a great opportunity for those who are healthy and want to get out of the house while still practicing social distancing. Become a Food Rescue Hero! Have the kids ride along, slap on some gloves and rescue some food. Pick-up and drop-off with minimal interaction. Search Prince William Food Rescue on your smartphone’s app store, download the app, and create a profile. You can start rescuing food right away! Please visit https://pwfoodrescue.org/ 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, Lake Ridge 22192. Please email Angela at [email protected] or call 202.345.2238 to learn more.

* SERVE thanks the many individuals who have stepped forward to volunteer in their Hunger Resource Center during the coronavirus! Currently, volunteer slots are full, however, donations of pasta sauce and noodles, canned vegetables,  canned tomatoes, canned and dry beans, rice, soup, applesauce, mac & cheese, cooking oil or spray, easy-make single-serve meals, and canned meats are urgently needed. Donations will help accommodate the rising number of requests for food assistance. Please email [email protected] for more information.

* StreetLight Community Ministries has re-opened their Food Pantry, but donations of nonperishable food are desperately needed so they can continue giving aid to our homeless and impoverished neighbors during this pandemic. Donations will be accepted every Tuesday, 9:30a.m.-11:30a.m. Please email [email protected] to learn more.

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 volunteerprincewilliam.org. Thanks so much for all you do in our community.