RSVP volunteers will be assisting Volunteer Fairfax for its annual Give Together event in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day by  serving as event leaders. Volunteers will perform an assortment of tasks that include but are not limited to: event set up/take down, registration, project station support, and greeters. We still need volunteers for the afternoon shift. If you are interested in participating,  please go here to sign up.  

 

When: Monday, January 15,  Shift B: 12:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Where: Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, 

     8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031

Volunteer Arlington

Join Volunteer Arlington for their MLK Day of Service where you will help strengthen and empower the community. With local nonprofit and county partners, they will have hands-on service projects for all ages as well as on-site training opportunities for those looking for long-term volunteering. For more information and to sign up, click here.

When: Monday, January 15 from 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Where: Arlington Career Center,  816 S. Walter Reed Drive,  Arlington, VA 22204

Junior Achievement, an organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy, needs more volunteers for a few dates in January at Finance Park.  The total time commitment is 5 hours, including a 1-hour training the morning of your scheduled volunteer day.  You will use your training knowledge to guide students through different phases of the day that simulate real-world budgeting decisions, spending research, and bill payment.  As you guide students through the digital simulation, you'll share your own life experiences and help them walk a day in your shoes. You bring the program to life.  No financial experience necessary!  Contact RSVP Volunteer Specialist, Carly Hubicki, at [email protected] or 703-403-5360 to sign up!

When:  Wednesday, January 3 from 7:50 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.

    Thursday, January 4 from 7:50 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.

    Friday, January 5 from 7:50 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.

    Thursday, January 11 from 8:40 a.m. - 1:40 p.m.

    Friday, January 12 from 8:40 a.m. - 1:40 p.m.

    Tuesday, January 16 from 8:40 a.m. - 1:40 p.m.

    Thursday, January 18 from 8:40 a.m. - 1:40 p.m.

Where: 4099 Pickett Road, Fairfax, VA 22032

2018 Volunteer Service Awards Webinar

Established in 1993, the Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards serve as a community-wide celebration of volunteerism. The Awards honor individuals, groups and organizations that have given outstanding volunteer service through a broad range of activities and programs.  This online webinar offers insight into how to submit a stellar nomination to give your volunteer the appreciation they deserve.  This workshop is presented as a webinar using the "GotoMeeting" website, you can attend the webinar from anywhere on any device.  Space is limited. Register today by clicking on the day you can participate!

When:  Tuesday, January 9 from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

    Thursday, January 11 from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Shepherd's Center of Western Fairfax in Search of Leaders

Shepherd's Center of Western Fairfax County is in search of new and dynamic volunteer leaders to coordinate a volunteer council and client activities in Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton and across western Fairfax County.

 

Shepherd's Centers are a network of faith communities, civic groups, businesses, local government, and individuals who partner to provide volunteer services to help older adults continue to live independently with meaning and purpose to their lives. Opportunities are available for a host of activities including leadership roles within the center to develop new services, volunteer drivers, office staff, and marketing support.

 

Please call Mark Fitzpatrick at 703-246-5920 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.

RSVP Northern Virginia Volunteer Denise (Dee) Mackie-Smith of Alexandria, has been selected as a Daily Point of Light honoree by the Points of Light Foundation! The announcement came on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017.

Dee has played a major role as a volunteer to help those seeking affordable housing and employment in the City of Alexandria and along the Route 1 Corridor in Fairfax County.  She is a volunteer with and sits on the board of RSVP partner New Hope Housing, a Fairfax County-based nonprofit whose mission is "to provide homeless families and individuals shelter and the tools to build a better life." Check out the RSVP Podcast featuring Dee here.

The Points of Light Foundation was created in 1990 as a nonprofit to promote the spirit of volunteerism as described by President George H.W. Bush in his inaugural address. "I have spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good," Bush said in 1989.

Points of Light's affiliate network consists of more than 200 volunteer-mobilizing organizations (including Volunteer Fairfax of which RSVP Northern Virginia is a program of) that share a common mission, goals and approach, according to the foundation.  In 1989, President Bush created the Daily Points of Light (DPOL) Award to recognize those who are taking direct voluntary action to solve serious social problems, locally and globally.

Dee also serves on the board of the Alexandria Commission on Aging. In 2012, she founded the Northern Virginia chapter of Les Gemmes and served two years as the group's national vice president. Les Gemmes is a nonprofit whose members support various community causes.

Since 1989, over 6,000 people have been honored with this award. Dee is the 6,164 person to receive the honor, according to the foundation.

In addition to her work with the homeless in the Alexandria area, she supports the RSVP program each week with her administrative skills at RSVP's headquarters at Volunteer Fairfax. Dee has been with RSVP Northern Virginia for two years.  "Dee is one of the most dedicated volunteers I have had the pleasure of working with," said Nadia Hoonan, program manager of RSVP Northern Virginia. As part of the Daily Point of Light honor, Dee will receive a certificate signed by President Bush.

 

"Whether it is helping at our office or helping those in need of affordable housing, Dee is always busy serving her community," Hoonan says. "She is truly deserving of this award. She is a real difference maker and her record of service speaks for itself!"

 

The Daily Point   of Light award is one in a string of honors Dee has garnered for her volunteer work since completing a 37 year career in the federal government in 2011.  Dee received the 2017 RSVP Northern Virginia Award from Volunteer Alexandria in October. She received a similar honor from Volunteer Fairfax at its annual Volunteer Service Awards breakfast in April.

"Denise has been one of our most proactive volunteers turned advocates. Not only does she serve, she has opened up her network to serving, inviting other members to tours and to serve New Hope Housing's clients," wrote Sami Smyth, volunteer coordinator for New Hope Housing in the nomination that led to Dee getting the Volunteer Fairfax-RSVP honor in 2017.

"Denise is the type of volunteer you look for as a non-profit. Denise contributes in so many ways. She is a wonderful ambassador for New Hope Housing," said Pam Michell, executive director at New Hope Housing. "She has volunteered with individual residents and in the administrative office. She has connected us to other groups she works with - RSVP, Les Gemmes, and the Alexandria Council on Aging and she serves on our board. What more could we ask from a volunteer!"

RSVP Northern Virginia is proud to present its very first podcast series! Go to our youtube website to check them out!   The podcasts include information about the program, interviews with volunteer coordinators at our partnering workstations, and interviews with our wonderful volunteers!  Every Tuesday there will be a new RSVP Podcast. Do you have a suggestion for an upcoming podcast? Do you have a question about volunteering that you would like to hear answered during a podcast? Please be sure to email all of your podcast suggestions and questions to RSVP Outreach Assistant, Rob Paine, at [email protected] .