Volunteer Alexandria Recognizes People Who Make a Difference at 45th Annual Reception
'No organization could do what they do without volunteers,' Marion Brunken said
Alexandria, VA -The theme was red. It symbolized a heart because volunteers are so integral to this city. Close to 200 guests filled the social hall of Beth El Hebrew Congregation Monday night (April 28) for the Volunteers are the Heart of Alexandria reception and awards ceremony. The synagogue was decorated with red hearts, confetti, and balloons. Attendees sported splashes of red in their dresses, shawls, and lapels. Volunteer Alexandria Executive Director Marion Brunken even wore shoes with a red design.
“Volunteers are vital to any organization because they save us all a lot of money,” Brunken said in her opening remarks. “No organization would be able to do what they do without volunteers because they couldn’t hire that much staff.”
Held during Global Volunteer Month, this signature event brought together top public and civic leaders to honor the outstanding contributions of Alexandria’s volunteers.
Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins assured the crowd that their invaluable contributions do not go unnoticed.
“Whether you teach young people to read, whether you make sure our trails are a little bit cleaner or a little bit safer, whether you are volunteering to ensure that a senior has food or that you’re there to shovel the snow after a big winter storm,” she said, “I hope tonight is a reminder that there is no act too small, no act that just goes unnoticed.”
Laurie Flynn won the prestigious Marian Van Landingham Lifetime Achievement Award. For 16 years, she was executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Health. Currently, she advocates for teens and their mental health.
“We need to look very carefully at how stress-filled these young people’s lives are,” she told The Zebra. “Some school districts around the country have started to move the start time later. Some have decided to lighten up on the homework stuff and have begun to recognize that that’s part of maintaining balance and stability for these young people.”
Michael Menchel took home the Grassroots Volunteer Service Award. Menchel puts in many hours a week volunteering with the Alexandria chapter of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, something he has done for 15 years. He is an avid bicyclist and takes the kids there on bike rides via the Bike Club.
He recalled his first day there. “I took the kids to the Wilson Bridge,” he said, mentioning that Velocity Bikes helped restore 17 bikes. “We take them everywhere. And it’s not just the bike rides. Yes, these kids need exercise and fresh air. But we’ll stop and ask, what is the Woodrow Wilson Bridge named after? We go to the cemetery. Everything is a lesson for the kids.”
Bibi B., an ACHS student, received the Youth Volunteer Service Award. Born in Afghanistan, she is determined to help other Afghan refugees. She is a student leader with The Northern Virginia Resettling Afghan Families Together, who excels in math and tutors struggling students in Algebra.
“I thought it would just be something small,” Burhani shared. “When I saw my students shaking their heads with angry faces, and saying, ‘Bibi, this is too hard, why do we even need algebra?’, I knew it was more than a class.” Teaching became a responsibility and a mission for her. “I thought that maybe the next time when we sat together, they would just smile and say Algebra is actually a little bit fun.”
This report has been updated.
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