If we could serenade you with this classic song by Andrew Gold, we would! Thank you, thank you, to our wonderful volunteers! To those who are serving faithfully with a volunteer station, those who join us for Welcome Wednesday events, and those who participate in our group service projects out in the community, we would not be here without you and your faithful service.   

In June, nine of our volunteers jumped in to support the English Empowerment Center during their volunteer recognition ceremony. Supporting our partner organizations by allowing their volunteers to take a night off to be recognized is one way that we assist with our Volunteer Stations, and you all made this happen! 

In July, eight volunteers worked on sensory bins for CRi in an effort to help them reach their goal of having a sensory bin for each of their clients. Fifteen volunteers gathered at our Welcome Wednesday to pack care packages for PRS, Inc. to distribute to their front-line workers. And, ten volunteers have committed to helping United Community distribute food on Saturday, July 29! 



You all are making a difference every day in your communities, and we are honored to be a part of this process. Keep your eyes open for upcoming Monday Memos with project dates and details for August and September!  

Who says you have to wait for the holiday season to start swapping cookies? Grab your buddies, bake some cookies, and join us for our summer cookie exchange! This is an opportunity for you to invite friends or family members who may be interested in joining the ranks of RSVP to see what we are all about.



We will have an informal presentation explaining the RSVP program, fellowship with each other, and, of course, cookies! This event will take place during our Welcome Wednesday time on August 16 from 1-3 p.m.  

If you need some summer cookie inspiration, check out this link!  

Some of you may remember the Providence Rec Center beautification project we did in May of this year. Well, our friends at Fairfax County Park Authority are asking for our help again! 

National Public Lands Day is on Saturday, September 23. A group of RSVP volunteers is needed at Providence Rec Center, and if response is good, an additional group will be coordinated for a project at Cub Run Rec Center as well.

We need a commitment of at least ten volunteers at each project to be successful. Projects would take place in the morning for 2-3 hours.

Please email Karen at kcoon@volunteerfairfax.org by August 1 to indicate your interest in serving on National Public Lands Day, and please specify which location you are able to serve.  

Registration for the 2023 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics has opened online at www.nvso.us. Check out Volunteers - NVSO to volunteer!  

Over 70 events from track and field to croquet and bocce, to swimming and pickleball are on the two-week schedule beginning Saturday, September 9 and closing Sunday, September 24. “There are also more than 10 indoor events such as ten-pin bowling, canasta, crossword puzzles, Mexican train dominoes and more.,” said Herb Levitan, NVSO chair. 



“We encourage folks 50 years of age and older who live in one of our sponsoring jurisdictions to check out the full list of events on our website,” said Levitan. “There are also great photos, rules for each event, results from last year and the place to register to participate in this year’s events."

After each event, gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded. Most events are played in five- or ten-year age groups and by gender. The registration fee is $20 for unlimited events. There are five events that require an additional fee: ten-pin bowling, disc golf, cycling, 9-hole 3-par golf, and orienteering. Members of the general public are welcome to observe those participating. For more information, email, nvso1982@gmail.com. 

VolunteerFest, a Volunteer Fairfax signature event, brings Fairfax County residents of all ages together for a county-wide day-of-service event. On Saturday, October 21, Volunteer Fairfax will host approximately 20 service activities with nonprofit partners and government agencies throughout Fairfax County, in mission areas ranging from emergency preparedness to hunger mitigation, school garden and grounds clean-up, animal welfare, and supporting community-led fall festival and Halloween activities. 

With so much happening in one day at various locations, we need support from volunteers who are willing to serve as leaders alongside project staff in the field. Interested in learning more about this opportunity? Email Karen at kcoon@volunteerfairfax.org.

Did you know that there are four key actions that you and your neighbors can take to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies, including natural and human-caused disasters?

Thanks to an informative ‘Bee’ Better presentation on July 17 by Access and Functional Needs Planning Specialist, Carly Mullinax, from Fairfax County’s Department of Emergency Management and Security, RSVP volunteers are more prepared and empowered to take care of themselves during a local emergency.

Ready Fairfax asks you and your neighbors to take four actions: 1) stay informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses; 2) make an emergency plan; 3) build an emergency kit; and 4) get involved in your community by taking action to prepare for emergencies.  

Fairfax County offers a variety of resources to help all of us to be as prepared as possible and support local efforts – see links below to some important resources. Be ready and resilient!  

Community Emergency Response Guide

Fairfax Alerts

Fairfax County Community Connect

OEM Volunteer Corps

The Society of Happy People (It’s a real thing!) is celebrating the 23rd Happiness Happens Month in August. According to the Society’s website, “Practical happiness principle one is happiness is personal, and there’s nothing more personal than the places in your hometown that make you happy.” The Society encourages everyone to take at least one hometown adventure to celebrate happiness, social connections, and community.  

Since 1938, the Harvard Study on Adult Development has been investigating what makes human beings flourish. The Harvard Study has found a strong association between happiness and close relationships like spouses, family, friends, and social connections. “Personal connection creates mental and emotional stimulation, which are mood boosters, while isolation is a mood buster,” says Robert Waldinger, Ph.D., the study’s current director. The study suggests that if you need to broaden your social life, try volunteering because the odds are you will meet other like-minded people, create a sense of purpose, boost your own happiness, and decrease feelings of loneliness.

Did you know that one of the focus areas of our RSVP AmeriCorps grant prioritizes providing companionship to older adult neighbors in our community so that those we serve might be better equipped to experience increased feelings of happiness and decreased feelings of loneliness? Imagine what it would look like if RSVP volunteers extended their volunteer service and committed to increasing their own happiness while also impacting the happiness of more neighbors – win, win for everyone!  

The more we give the happier we feel and during August and September, be sure to watch your Monday Memos from Karen to find ways that you can participate in some hometown adventures through RSVP to be a smile starter and spread more cheer to others.