Get Involved! Volunteer Opportunities in the City

Many City programs need volunteer support to provide services to residents. Learn more about how you can get involved in serving your community today!

Featured Volunteer

Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy 

Parent Volunteers Needed for the “Let's Talk” Parent Newsletter
The Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy is seeking parent volunteers to join the editorial board of the “Let's Talk” newsletter to help write and edit content. “Let's Talk” is a quarterly newsletter written by and for parents and caregivers to provide information on talking to children about sex and other related topics. To view the current edition, visit alexgetreal.com and check out the New Features box. For more information, contact Becky Griesse at rebecca.griesse@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5030.

www.alexgetreal.com

Alexandria Library 

Get Involved in A Library! 
Volunteers comprise an important part of the library’s operation and perform a variety of duties. For information on becoming a library volunteer, please call the branch where you wish to volunteer and ask for the volunteer coordinator.

• Beatley Central, 5005 Duke Street - Volunteer Coordinator, Linda Ruiz at 703.519.5900
• Barrett Branch, 717 Queen Street - Volunteer Coordinator, Nick Kerelchuk at 703.838.4555
• Burke Branch, 4701 Seminary Road - Volunteer Coordinator, Nelson Cuellar at 703.519.6000
• Duncan Branch, 2501 Commonwealth Avenue - Volunteer Coordinator, Renee DiPilato at 703.838.4566
• Local History/Special Collections, 717 Queen Street - Volunteer Coordinator, Leslie Anderson at 703.838.4577 ext. 213

www.alexandria.lib.va.us

Alexandria Mentoring Partnership 

Alexandria Mentoring Partnership Seeks Mentors 
Mentor a child, change two lives! Help a child stay on the right track by becoming a mentor. Mentoring helps improve graduation rates, enhance self-esteem, and change behavior. Mentoring also decreases crime and gang involvement, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy. We have the kids, we need the adults! Mentor a child one to two hours a week, and change two lives for a lifetime. Visit alexandriava.gov/mentoring for more information.

iMovie Mentors Program Seeks “A Few Good Men” 
The iMovie Mentors program is looking for male volunteers to serve as mentors. No movie making or mentoring experience is needed. iMovie Mentors pairs boys with men to produce short movies. Mentors make a one-year commitment to the program and attend Tuesday evening workshops, from April to November, to establish a mentoring relationship, learn the fundamentals of filmmaking and help the boys acquire life and technological skills. The workshops include the use of Apple technology and lessons in digital video, storyboarding and film editing. Movies will be presented at a community film festival. To be added to the annual mentor orientation Evite list, send an e-mail to iMovieMentors@alexandriava.gov. For more information, visit alexandriava.gov/imoviementors.

Male Volunteers Needed for Project Manhood
The City’s Office on Women is looking for a male volunteers to lead Project Manhood at Hammond & George Washington Middle Schools. The program is a weekly, hour-long, after school mentoring program for boys. The goal of Project Manhood is to provide a supportive environment to increase young men's awareness and prevent the occurrence of teen pregnancy, sexual assault/harassment, domestic violence and other risky behaviors. The volunteer commitment is once a week for 10 weeks. For more information, contact Kim Hurley at 703.746.5030 or kim.hurley@alexandriava.gov.

SOHO (Space Of Her Own) Program Seeks Mentors
SOHO is an art-based mentoring program that allows local low-income pre-teen girls to attend workshops with mentors; together they participate in team-building activities, develop life skills, and learn about artistic concepts and techniques. Based loosely on popular HDTV programs, SOHO culminates in remodeling of the pre-teen's bedroom. Each mentor is responsible for designing the new room, incorporating her mentee's artwork, and ample lighting and study space, using a shoestring budget of just $250. An art exhibit and reception features a before-and-after bedroom renovation video. Each mentor commits to a year-long relationship with her mentee, to attend 90% of the Thursday evening sessions from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., to spend a weekend on a room renovation, and to complete eight hours of community service with her mentee. For more information on the SOHO program and volunteer opportunities, visit alexandriava.gov/soho. If you are interested in volunteering, please e-mail SOHO@alexandriava.gov.

Community Services Board

The Alexandria Community Services Board Seeks Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to serve in a variety of roles:

• Representative Payees: Payees receive Social Security checks and pay bills for persons with an intellectual disability or mental illness. A separate bank account is opened with automatic deposit and there are few monthly transactions. The duties require two hours per month, per account.
• Guardians: Guardians are court-appointed decision-makers, regarding matters such as personal care, health care, therapeutic care, living conditions, transportation and recreation, who make decisions for a person with disabilities. The duties require two hours per month.
• Friendly Visitors: Friendly Visitors plan one-on-one outings and activities with a resident of an Alexandria group homes for adults with intellectual disabilities. This volunteer activity requires approximately two hours per week.
• Mural Artist: Alexandria Vocational Services is seeking a mural artist to paint a portion of a 30’x 60’ concrete wall in the Sheltered Workshop Program warehouse. This program provides supported and supervised employment opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities. Program participants complete projects such as labeling, envelope stuffing and film recycling. The goal is to make the site more welcoming and cheerful by adding a mural. Some funds are available for supplies.
• Committee Member: The Alexandria Community Services Board is seeking volunteers to serve on the Local Human Rights Committee.  The Committee makes recommendations on procedures that affect the human rights of consumers. Members review policies, complaints, program rules and behavior plans for the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse.  Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m., approximately nine times each year.
• Playgroup Facilitator: The Community Services Board is seeking volunteers to facilitate weekly playgroups for 20-30 infants, toddlers and their caregivers.  Volunteers should be energetic, comfortable giving direction and have experience with small children.  Training will be provided. The Beatley Library playgroup meets on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 5005 Duke Street and the Tower 2000 Apartments playgroup meets on Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m .at 5800 Quantrell Avenue in Alexandria.

For more information about volunteer opportunities, call 703.746.3484, or e-mail jennifer.cohen-cordero@alexandriava.gov.

Health Department

Be Prepared. Be Empowered. Join the Medical Reserve Corps!

Alexandria MRC is seeking volunteers to support public health in an
emergency or disaster. Join the Alexandria Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) to receive free preparedness training and participate in drills and exercises. Seventy- percent of our volunteers are non-medical, so anyone can apply! MRC offers training on a variety of topics, including public health, emergency management, CPR, First Aid, and more! As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to support day-to-day public health activities by working with various Health Department clinics, the environmental health division or the emergency planning department.

The initial time commitment is a two-hour orientation. After that, you to decide how much time to devote. Orientation sessions are held monthly, usually on a weeknight or a Saturday morning. For more information, contact Cyndi Lake, Alexandria MRC Coordinator, at 703.838.4400 ext. 283, e-mail Cyndi.Lake@vdh.virginia.gov, or visit alexandriava.gov/health and click on Medical Reserve Corps.

Human Services

The Fund for Alexandria’s Child

This organization, along with the Department of Human Services, helps children who are in foster care or at risk of abuse or neglect to experience the richness of life through activities such as camping, field trips, sports and dance, art or karate lessons. The Fund of Alexandria’s Child is looking for volunteers who want to make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable children in our community. If you are interested in planning and providing resources and activities for foster children and children at risk of abuse and neglect, please contact Suzanne Kratzok at 703.838.0762 or e-mail suzanne.kratzok@alexandriava.gov.

Office of Historic Alexandria 

Alexandria Archaeology Seek Volunteers for Local Digs
Alexandria Archaeology is seeking volunteers to work with City archaeologists to screen excavated soil for artifacts from real “digs” located on the grounds of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Volunteers should wear comfortable clothes, use sunscreen and bring a water bottle. All necessary equipment will be supplied. A participating adult must accompany children under 16. For more information, call 703.838.4399 or e-mail archaeology@alexandriava.gov.

Alexandria Legacies 
The City of Alexandria’s Oral History Program is seeking volunteers to help collect the oral histories of long-time Alexandria residents. The City has been collecting oral histories since the early 1980s, and there are many more stories to be heard. Responsibilities include conducting an interviews and/or transcribing an interview. Volunteers are also welcome to interview long-time Alexandria residents they know personally. New volunteers are required to attend a training session. This fall's volunteer training session will be held on Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 North Union St., #327, in the Torpedo Factory Art Center. The workshop is free, but space is limited and an RSVP is required by August 31. If you would like to attend, please e-mail Jen Hembree at jen_hembree@hotmail.com, or call the Archaeology Museum at 703.838.4399. For further information about Alexandria Legacies, please visit oha.alexandriava.gov/oha-main/oha-legacieshome.html.

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Needs Volunteer Tour Guides 
Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 North Royal St., is looking for Volunteer Tour Guides who love history and enjoy working with the public. No experience is necessary! Volunteers are required to contribute one morning or afternoon per month. Volunteer benefits include free admission to more than 30 historic house museums, a shop discount, free garage parking (while on duty), discounted admission to museum lectures, a subscription to the museum newsletter, and invitations to annual volunteer parties, field trips and exhibit openings. To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, call 703.838.4242.

Volunteer at the Alexandria Black History Museum
The Alexandria Black History Museum needs volunteers who have an interest in history, and in particular, Alexandria’s African-American history and culture, to staff the reception desk, greet visitors, handle phone calls and help with special projects. Volunteers are asked to commit to one three-hour shift every other week. The museum, located at 902 Wythe Street, is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Lillian Patterson at 703.838.4356 or e-mail lillian.patterson@alexandriava.gov.

oha.alexandriava.gov

Office on Women 

The Alexandria Domestic Violence Program Seeks Shelter Volunteers
As a program that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, volunteers play a key role in providing services to those affected by domestic violence. Volunteers interact directly with individuals in need—an opportunity that many find extremely fulfilling. Shelter Supervisor volunteers at the Battered Women's Shelter are needed. Primary responsibilities include answering the crisis hotline and supporting women and children residing at the safe house. Volunteers are needed weekends, holidays and daytime weekdays. Volunteers must complete 40 hours of training to become a Shelter Supervisor.

The Alexandria Domestic Violence Program is also looking for volunteers to assist with the Children's Support Group on Tuesday evenings and with the children's activities at the Battered Women's Shelter. Volunteers must complete 12 hours of mandatory training focused on the unique needs of children who have witnessed violence in the home.

The Alexandria Domestic Violence Program (DVP) is dedicated to the fair, compassionate and respectful treatment of all survivors of intimate partner violence regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. For more information, please contact Jen Clayton at 703.838.4911 or e-mail jen.clayton@alexandriava.gov.

New Speakers Bureau Volunteers Needed
The Alexandria Office on Women is recruiting new volunteers for the Speakers Bureau, a group of volunteers who present an education program on domestic violence, sexual harassment, sexual assault and teen pregnancy prevention to Alexandria youth. The Speakers Bureau presents to seventh and ninth graders throughout the school year. The expected volunteer commitment is four to six hours per month and volunteers must have the flexibility to present during the school day. There are 10-hour required training sessions offered throughout the year. For more information, please contact Kim Hurley at 703.746.5030 or send an e-mail to kim.hurley@alexandriava.gov.

Sexual Assault Response and Awareness Program Seeks Hotline Volunteers
The Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) program is looking for compassionate listeners, both English speaking and bilingual, who would be comfortable talking to sexual assault survivors and their families. SARA requires volunteers to complete 40 hours of training to become a hotline companion. While the initial training commitment is intensive, volunteers are asked for only two hotline shifts per month. Volunteers take evening or weekend shifts from home or anywhere accessible by phone. If you want the chance to make a difference, contact Stacey Calhoun McCullough at 703.746.5030 or e-mail stacey.mccullough@alexandriava.gov.

The Walk to Fight Breast Cancer Needs Volunteers
Alexandria's Office on Women is seeking volunteers to help set up, cheer participants along the route, distribute food and other items to walkers, and clean up on Saturday, October 24. For more information, contact Angela Johnson at 703.746.3123 or visit www.alexcancerwalk.com.

www.alexandriava.gov/women