By Emily Bee, ACE Program and Administrative Assistant
Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE), a community nonprofit promoting sustainable lifestyles, is engaging students across the county to be more involved in conserving the environment. Students who get involved in ACE are able to learn about the importance of stewardship to the planet starting close to home!
Culpepper Garden celebrates their partnership with E*TRADE, a publicly traded company with one of their corporate offices based in Ballston. What started as one weekly volunteer from E*TRADE has grown into a team of 13 employees volunteering in pairs twice a week to solve residents’ computer and technology problems in either our computer lab or in their apartments. One resident serves as logistics manager, coordinating resident requests with volunteers so that every minute is put to good use.
By Sandy Burkholder
What motivates a person to commit to a long-term, often undefined volunteer opportunity? For Volunteer Guardian Brad Niesen, “my daughter, an elder care attorney, approached me with the concept of becoming a volunteer guardian. She knew that I had been providing full care for an aging neighborhood couple, so she thought I should apply those lessons-learned to Arlington County’s volunteer guardianship program.”
Hurricanes in the Atlantic, wildfires in the west – the destruction left in the wake of these disasters wreaked havoc as they passed, but you can help! In addition to registering for Disaster Volunteer Registry or the Arlington Network for Community Registry (ANChoR ), take a look at some of the ways to contribute to response and recovery efforts:
A-SPAN Volunteer Heather Pritchett has been teaching jewelry making to A-SPAN clients for about a year and a half. Heather’s class started because she wanted to share her hobby that she enjoyed doing with those in need in the community. Heather became familiar with A-SPAN when she was going through the Leadership Arlington program (Class of 2016) and took a tour of the Homeless Services Center.
By Lucinda Robb
My three kids and I love volunteering together. For me it is a chance to model my values in front of my children, while for them helping others makes them feel useful and grown up.
Did you know one in three women and one in four men experience violence in their relationship? In support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) this October, Doorways wants to highlight our team of Domestic Violence Safehouse Hotline/Coverage Volunteers who inspire us every day with their passion, energy, and commitment to creating real change in our community and creating a safe space for survivors.
By Beth Wenger, Program Director for KEEN Greater DC-Baltimore
You’re busy. I get it. Time is our most precious commodity, and it’s fleeting. That’s scary. The thought of volunteering some—or more--of that time can seem even scarier. It conjures up a whole bunch of “what ifs,” such as: What if I lose all my me time? What if I don’t like it? What if what I do doesn’t make a difference? What if I miss some other opportunity?
Kim Gantt has dedicated her time and enthusiasm to the mission of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS) for over a decade. She began her volunteer journey as the captain of her company’s Light the Night team, leading her colleagues in their fight against blood cancers. After taking part in her first event, Kim was moved by her experience and inspired by the dedication of her community to the service of others. Now, over 14 years later, Kim continues to inspire those around her by volunteering her time and expertise to LLS events and campaigns throughout the year.