Volunteer Prince William has opened up several new opportunities through the holiday season. Make sure to check out some below.

Greetings, Prince William: Although we’re in the holiday season, Martin Luther King Day isn’t too far off, and the MLK Youth Community Choir is seeking students in grades K-12 to join the choir and make a joyful noise!  Participants will rehearse for a pre-event concert at Chinn Park Regional Library on Jan. 4 at 1:30 p.m. in the Community Room followed by a special performance at the Prince William Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta (PWCAC- DST) 40th Annual Dr. King Youth Oratorical Competition and Program being held Jan. 18.  Rehearsals have begun, but more participants are welcome – no tryout is needed!

• If you love helping others learn, we have a wonderful opportunity for you!  The winter semester for BEACON for English Language and Literacy is currently underway!  They’re still urgently recruiting for a few in-person and online evening volunteer teachers for this semester.  One-day-a-week and two-day-a-week evening options are available at various class levels.  Evening classes meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Manassas, Manassas Park or on Zoom. No teaching or foreign language experience is required and training is provided.  To learn more, please sign up for a virtual information session or contact Seth Mazzaro at 571-428-2524.
• The “Power of A Knock” can help a homebound senior get nutritious meals!  Meals on Wheels urgently needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound senior citizens on weekday mornings.  Volunteers must pass a criminal and driving record background check.  Routes take about 1.5 hours to complete, training is provided.  You’ll feel great when you find out how inspiring it is to serve this vulnerable population and make their day!
• The holidays may be here, but hunger never takes a holiday!  The SERVE campus of Northern Virginia Family Service has an ongoing need for Food Recovery Driver volunteers age 21+ to make routine pick-ups to rescue food from grocery stores and restaurants to help food insecure families.  Shifts are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon; their greatest need is for Monday drivers.  Volunteers are asked to commit to at least one shift per week for at least six months or longer.  Volunteers must have a valid driver’s license and should be prepared to lift up to 50 lbs.  Ride-along training with experienced volunteers or staff and vehicle provided.  Just one day a week can make a life-long impact on a family in need!
• The hard-working staff at Northern Virginia Food Rescue is looking for volunteers who are available to be On-Call to help with offloading large truckloads of food deliveries when they arrive at their warehouse located at 10535 Battleview Parkway, Manassas 20109. This role is vital in ensuring that they can quickly rescue and distribute food to families in need.  Volunteers would be on call from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. with varying delivery times.  Communication is done via text message when a delivery is on the way and help is needed.  Volunteers should be prepared to lift heavy items.  A brief mandatory training will be held for those volunteers selected for this position.  You’ll feel great knowing you’re doing your part to help food-insecure families in our local community!  Please text 571-370-3073 to let them know you’re interested.
• Your office, group or club can provide the comfort of a hot meal during the winter months!  Streetlight Community Outreach Ministries’ hypothermia shelter located at 14716 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge has an ongoing need for groups to prepare and drop off meals for 30 adult residents through March 30, 2025.  Meals are needed each night and should be prepared off-site and dropped off at the shelter between 6:30 and 7 p.m.  There are many openings in January, and you’ll feel great providing a hot, nourishing meal for the homeless to enjoy!

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) will start accepting Christmas trees and greens starting Thursday through Jan. 12 in Gainesville.

According to a press release, NOVEC will be accepting both trees and greens without any decorations, ornaments, hooks, wires or light strings starting the day after Christmas. Drop-off will be available at its Gainesville Technical Center at 5399 Wellington Branch Road.

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Prince William County Schools (PWCS) and Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) are partnering with Varsity Tutors, an online 24/7 tutoring service. Within the last month, both PWCS and MCPS have announced their partnership with the company. Administrators in the school districts have expressed excitement over the new service they're able to offer students at all levels. "We are pleased to add these services to the many supports we are providing in MCPS to meet the learning needs of students and ensure their success in school and life," Ed Stephenson, Ph.D., MCPS' director of instruction, said. Varsity Tutors is in 500 schools nationwide, and will now provide students in two local districts. The service has 24/7 online tutoring services from a human in multiple languages and in multiple subjects, including reading, writing, math, biology, computer science and many more. Varsity Tutors employs tutors that can teach at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Stephanie Soliven, Ed.D., associate superintendent for teaching and learning at PWCS, said in the Dec. 4 School Board meeting that it'll be a helpful tool for students and parents alike.

"Through our approaches at making more tools available for students, further connection with parents and continuing the professional learning journey of our teachers and our staff, we are targeting every available option to support our student learning needs," she said. Soliven said students can also take additional courses through Varsity Tutors, either to advance in a subject or to discover new courses that may not be offered in PWCS. "You may have that fifth grader that is super excited about advanced math in sixth grade, but a little nervous about some of the skills and content — but they know they want to be on that advanced trajectory — they can do some additional coursework," she said. "[There's] a huge range of really cool high interest classes. I think this is so important because it fills some of that need at home for some of our students that maybe are missing out on some key skills, want to do some additional enrichment opportunities and can't do it in the school day." Soliven also emphasized that this service pairs students with human tutors. Students will be able to log into the platform, discuss the problem and then get paired with a person who can help them tackle it. "The live tutor is sharing a whiteboard with the student and literally mapping out the questions and the problems with them. It is not [artificial intelligence]," she said. "It is a human being on the other end guiding the students through the steps." Varsity Tutors also offers on-demand essay review, live group classes, self-study, college and career readiness and celebrity-led classes. PWCS School Board At-Large Chair Dr. Babur Lateef echoed the positives about the new service. "I can be a personal advocate on the fact that Varsity Tutors does a terrific job," Lateef said during the meeting on Dec. 4. "My kids have used them for many years. They are incredible and really work well." MCPS School Board Chair Suzanne Seaberg said she's excited for Varsity Tutors to make an impact in the district. "We are excited to partner with Varsity Tutors. This opportunity enables us to provide extra services for students so they can reach higher academic goals," Seaberg said in an email.

On Jan. 18, the Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (PWCAC-DST) will host its 40th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Oratorical Competition.

DST is one of the Divine Nine organizations, a group of historically African American fraternities and sororities that the National Pan-Hellenic Council governs. PWCAC-DST has been hosting this oratorical event for 40 years, which predates the first national celebration of the holiday in 1986.

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Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) may partner with University Instructors (UI), a Virginia-based company that provides tutoring and programming, to close achievement gaps and support middle and high school students.

At its Dec. 10 meeting, the Manassas City School Board heard from Craig Gfeller, deputy superintendent, about the potential partnership and what it means for the district.

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At its Dec. 10 meeting, the Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) Board approved the school year calendars for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, opting for earlier starts to the year.

In a 4-2 vote with one abstention, the School Board voted to start on Aug. 12 in the upcoming two school years. The Board members who voted in favor of earlier start dates, or Option A, said they did so to remain in line with the survey results.

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At its Dec. 10 meeting, the Manassas City School Board approved the fiscal year 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which outlines significant facility and resource investments to improve the district's educational environment.

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On Monday, leaders from Prince William County gathered to celebrate the start of improvements to two of the soccer fields at George Hellwig Memorial Park in Manassas.

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In this Potomac Local News Podcast episode, Manassas is shaping its future while honoring its past. Host Uriah Kiser sits down with Manassas City Councilwoman Theresa Coates Ellis to discuss the North Star Branding Study findings, tackling challenges like preserving history, fostering economic growth, and addressing community concerns. Stay tuned for local news highlights, including a shocking insurance scam and updates on the City Council’s new term.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction: Host Uriah Kiser sets the stage for a discussion of the North Star Branding Study’s findings and their implications for Manassas’ future. The podcast also teases other local stories, including an insurance scam and City Council updates.
• Conversation with Theresa Coates Ellis:
  • North Star Branding Study: Theresa discusses the study’s insights, including the city’s brand awareness and challenges in balancing its historical identity with modern growth.
  • Balancing History and Growth: Discussion on preserving Manassas’ Civil War legacy while fostering tech and business opportunities.
  • Community Concerns: Addressing high taxes, overdevelopment, and the need for workforce readiness in tech industries.
  • Future Vision for Manassas: Theresa shares her vision for redeveloping key areas and fostering investment to make Manassas a thriving community.
• Local News Highlights:
  • Insurance Scam Story: A troubling case of predatory towing in Prince William County, with police investigation updates and tips for residents to avoid similar scams.
  • City Council Swearing-In Ceremony: Details about the January 2025 ceremony, reflections on a contentious election season, and hopes for a collaborative future.
• Closing Thoughts: Uriah reflects on the power of local journalism, encourages community engagement, and invites listeners to share their thoughts on the podcast and local news stories.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn about the North Star Branding Study results and its role in shaping Manassas’ identity.
• Understand how Manassas balances historic preservation with modern economic development.
• Discover actionable insights for preventing predatory towing scams.
• Gain perspective on the recent City Council election and what it means for Manassas residents.

What to Listen For:

• Insights from Theresa Coates Ellis about preserving Manassas’ historic charm while embracing its future.
• Shocking details about the insurance scam and police response.
• Reflections on the heated City Council election and the swearing-in ceremony.

Listen to the full episode for these stories and more, and subscribe for updates on what’s shaping Northern Virginia communities!