By Marion Brunken, Volunteer Alexandria
Alexandria, VA – Global Volunteer Month is a time to celebrate volunteers and inspire volunteerism around the globe. In Alexandria, we celebrate volunteering in many ways. On Saturday morning, April 27, Volunteer Alexandria will recognize outstanding volunteers nominated by our nonprofit partners as another way to show their appreciation.
“Volunteers are the Heart of Alexandria” is an annual volunteer recognition event to thank and celebrate hundreds of volunteers in our community. All volunteers have donated their time and talents to help someone else.
“Without volunteers, our hard-working nonprofits would not be able to fulfill their missions, and we couldn’t do what we do to serve our most vulnerable residents,” said Mayor Justin Wilson. “The donation of time, talents, and skills of our community’s volunteers makes Alexandria a better place for all of us.”
Thanking volunteers for their service and work is essential and gives them a sense of belonging and appreciation. If you are interested in being part of this event, please email us at [email protected] or donate at secure.givelively.org/donate/volunteer-alexandria.
Thank you to our sponsors: The Jen Walker Team, Dominion Energy, The Zebra Press, and the City of Alexandria.
Events to Support Volunteerism
Join us for Beer Bingo and fun in Del Ray. Piece Out Del Ray and St.Elmo’s are hosting events to support volunteerism during Spring2ACTion. A variety of activities will take place between April 15 and 22. District Biscuits and Lost Boy Cider encourage customers to round up their payments to support volunteerism. Visit volunteeralexandria.org/event-overview for details on all events. Visit spring2action.org/volunteer-alexandria.
Volunteer Opportunities
This month, we are focusing on Board Service.
Every nonprofit organization is governed by a board of directors that loses members each year. You might be surprised to learn that your skills, experiences, network, connections, and passion to serve qualify you as an ideal board member. Board and committee members generally get along well with others and offer financial expertise, personal experience, professional skills, and access to a variety of resources. Serving on a board requires strong leadership, commitment to the organization’s mission, and time. Boards of Directors can expect to provide fiscal oversight, fundraising, strategic planning, and personnel actions in addition to regularly showing up.
When you consider joining a board:
- Learn more about the organization’s mission and vision, programs, services, challenges, and financial health
- Talk with current board members to learn about the culture and environment
- Evaluate the need for your skills and experiences
- Serve on a committee first to learn more about the culture of the NPO, supporters, and staff
- Support the organization’s initiatives
- Refresh your resume and prepare for an interview
Visit VolunteerAlexandria.org to register and get involved. Nonprofits currently seeking new board members:
Arts on the Horizon | Social Services Advisory Board | Ten Thousand Villages Alexandria | The Child and Family Network Centers | The Spitfire Club | Volunteer Alexandria
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