By Marion Brunken, Executive Director, Volunteer Alexandria
Alexandria, VA – There are many events and initiatives for you to support, from creating gift tags and collecting toys, food, and clothing to shoveling snow.
Donate food and clothing. Our food center, managed by ALIVE!, needs food to distribute to families and the food pantries to reach even more people in need. Canned chicken and tuna in oil are among the most needed items. Patrick Henry Elementary School is seeking uniforms for students. We need toys for the holidays. You can find more details and a list of the items needed at www.volunteeralexandria.org/goods.
Get your family involved in service. Saturday, November 19, is Family Volunteer Day when families of all ages and constellations come together to work together. Projects may include creating a kindness wreath, decorating envelopes for gift cards as part of our annual toy drive, creating gift tags for toys, and making placemats. All items will be donated to bring a smile to families, seniors, and children. Volunteering cultivates empathy, encourages kindness and gratitude, and shows even the youngest child how a small positive act can make a significant difference. For more details or to register, visit www.VolunteerAlexandria.org/family or email [email protected].
Collect toys and books, or volunteer. Every year, VolALX implements a community toy drive to support the Fund for Alexandria’s Children’s Holiday Sharing program. The pandemic is not over for many families who need your help. Businesses, congregations, apartment buildings, schools, other groups, and numerous individuals young and older can participate by organizing holiday parties, setting up a toy collection bin, donating money to help put this all together, and getting friends and families involved to volunteer.
Our goal is to serve 400 children this year! Want to participate? Complete the short survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/ToysALX by November 10. Register to volunteer at www.VolunteerAlexandria.org.
Become a Snow Buddy! VolALX is getting ready for the Snow Buddy Program, and we need volunteers to assist us. This program provides snow removal and sidewalk treatment for eligible Alexandria residents each winter. VolALX matches trained volunteers with low-income seniors and the homebound or disabled, who are physically unable to do it themselves, cannot afford to pay for this service or do not have neighbors, family, or friends to assist them.
The Snow Buddy Program is critical to the safety of these residents and the community. For more details or to register, visit www.VolunteerAlexandria.org/snow or email [email protected].
Did you know…that volunteering encourages children to do things they are good at and things they’d like to learn?
