Christie Hines, ATLAS Vice President shared the purpose of the annual Volunteer Fair, “We want to help facilitate bringing groups in the community to the school to help our students find the opportunities to get their volunteer service hours.”
Bright Spot:
Bright Spot is a local organization that spreads joy through handwritten cards. These uplifting cards are sent to people in the military, children in the hospital, senior citizens in assisted living or anyone who is having a rough time where a card would cheer them up. For every store- bought card a student writes in, they receive ten volunteer minutes.The organization has year long events where cards are sent and students can choose who they send an uplifting message to.
Bright Spot holds monthly gatherings for volunteers and more information can be found on their website.
LINK:
“Our mission is to feed the hungry, so we serve in Herndon and Sterling, [which is] right in our community,” Vice President Cori Sanzano said.
LINK is a non-profit organization based 100% on volunteers and is solely funded by the donations they receive. Students volunteer in the pantry helping sort food or driving and delivering the food directly to families. LINK is available on the weekends, during the day and evenings and does not require a certain number of hours. Volunteers can choose the hours they choose to contribute. To find locations to volunteer at or more information head to their website.
Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers:
Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers is a volunteer program that helps the elderly and the disabled through giving rides to different appointments.Volunteers aren’t expected to contribute a certain number of hours and can volunteer where their schedule permits. Volunteers are expected to use their own vehicles. To learn more or sign up visit their website.
Sterling Foundation:
Sterling Foundation is a non-profit volunteer program focused on the beautification of the Sterling Park neighborhood. For the past 36 years, they have organized trash cleanups, upkeep of the butterfly garden and trees, as well as a stream cleanup in the spring. Volunteers are not required to reach a certain amount of hours. The Sterling Foundation also awards scholarships to student volunteers. Students were able to find their ideal volunteer opportunity at the fair. “I was looking for something hands-on, and I found it right over there with Sterling Foundation,” student Jacob Rigoli said. To sign up and receive more information visit their website.
JustServe:
JustServe is a non-profit website that helps lead volunteers to assist charter organizations and programs that provide different paths for individuals to go on. JustServe promotes a long list of organizations and their upcoming events include Inova Blood Donor Services, American Red Cross, and Food For Neighbors. JustServes app is linked on the Dominion website.
Loudoun Literacy Council:
Loudoun Literacy Council is a non-profit organization that promotes literacy through their two main programs: Family Literacy Program and Adult Literacy program. The goal of Loudoun Literacy Council is to teach communication skills within the community and provide kids with resources to succeed in school. Volunteers can serve a variety of roles as an intern, serving families at various events including the family literacy night, and assembling books and flyers for parents. To learn more go to their website.
Loudoun Youth:
“We empower, lead and connect students or youth of Loudoun,” President Alexa Severo said.
Loudoun Youth is a volunteer organization that sets up projects for the volunteers to take part in. Their many opportunities include: Claude Moore Community Builders, Loudoun Youth Leadership Program, and the Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition. The Claude Moore Community Builders puts teens with volunteer opportunities at local non-profits, where students can be volunteer interns. For a place to sign up and to find more information go to their website.
Vecinos Unidos:
Vecinos Unidos, neighbors united in English, is a volunteer program that works with children who come from non english speaking households and offers them tutoring focusing on writing, math, and reading. Volunteers tutor three days a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after school at 4:30. Volunteers must be 16 or older and have to volunteer for a minimum of 18 hours. Volunteers must complete a form when signing up. There are some requirements such as the volunteer must be 16 or older and you have to volunteer for a minimum of 18 hours, if you choose to sign up then there will also be a form that will need to be filled out. To find more information or to sign up head to their website.
Cascades Public Library:
Cascades Public Library holds a volunteer program for individuals to help maintain the library and assist with the childrens programs the library hosts. There is no requirement for hours; it’s only how much the volunteer wants to give. To find more information and sign up on the website or go in person to the Cascades Public Library.
Food For Neighbors:
Food For Neighbors is a volunteer program that supplies food for students in need who are in middle and high school. Volunteers help sort food and distribute it back to those students. Food For Neighbors holds “sorting events” five times a year with each event being around two hours of work. There is no hour requirement for volunteers. To learn more or sign up go to their website.
