Volunteer Center Of Fairfax County Inc

VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX LEADS, CONNECTS, AND MOBILIZES PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS THROUGH TARGETED VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT OF DIVERSE POPULATIONS TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES. WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC AGENCIES, NONPROFITS, VOLUNTEERS, AND CORPORATIONS WE ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS THROUGH TARGETED VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT BY AMPLIFYING COMMUNITY IMPACT THROUGH INTENTIONAL VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT RANGING FROM INDIVIDUAL TO ORGANIZED GROUP PROJECTS.

VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX'S FIVE SIGNATURE PROGRAMS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE POPULATIONS TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES IN WAYS THAT SUIT THEIR LIFESTYLES, SKILLS, AND INTERESTS. OUR VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT ALL VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, CHILDREN, OLDER ADULTS, THOSE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY AND/OR HOMELESSNESS, AND IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES. OUR VOLUNTEERS PERFORM A WIDE ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SUPPORTING THE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES THAT FEED, CLOTHE, AND HOUSE THOSE WHO ARE LIVING IN POVERTY, AND ASSISTING DURING TIMES OF CRISIS.FOLLOWING ARE OUR FIVE SIGNATURE PROGRAMS: (1) THE ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM (ACS)-ASSISTS COURT- AND ATTORNEY-REFERRED CLIENTS IN AVOIDING FINES OR JAIL SENTENCES BY VOLUNTEERING. IN FY24, 109 CLIENTS CONTRIBUTED 5,405 SERVICE HOURS, SUPPORTING 27 AREA AGENCIES. (2) THE RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP)-MANAGED BY VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX SINCE 2012, RSVP IS A PROGRAM OF AMERICORPS SENIORS. RSVP MATCHES THOSE OVER 55 WITH NONPROFIT PROGRAMS THAT NEED THEIR EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS. RSVP VOLUNTEERS FOCUS ON HEALTHY FUTURES, AGING IN PLACE, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. IN FY24, 187 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 9,883HOURS TO 39 AREA AGENCIES WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF $329,985 TO THE COMMUNITY. (4) NONPROFIT VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM-THIS PROGRAM OFFERS BASIC TO ADVANCED TRAINING TO TEACH NONPROFITS HOW TO UTILIZE THEIR VOLUNTEERS AND PROVIDE A POSITIVE VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE. TO SUPPORT AGENCIES WITH CRITICAL TRAINING DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS, WE PIVOTED FROM A FEE-BASED TO AN ONLINE, FREE MODEL WHICH HAS CONTINUED TO THE PRESENT. IN FY24, WE PRESENTED 37 WEBINARS TO 2,720 PARTICIPANTS. (5) EMERGENCY RESPONSE-VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX IS THE COUNTY'S DESIGNATED LEAD AGENCY FOR VOLUNTEER AND DONATION MANAGEMENT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY OR DISASTER. WHILE VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX'S FULL-TIME MANAGER FOR THE PROGRAM WAS DEPLOYED FOR MUCH OF THE YEAR, VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN UPDATING THE VOLUNTEER RECEPTION CENTER PLAN IN COLLABORATION WITH FAIRFAX COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY (DEMS). STAFF PARTICIPATED IN A TABLETOP EXERCISE IN THE WINTER OF 2023, AND HAVE ACCRUED MORE THAN 225 HOURS IN FEMA/DEMS TRAINING RELATED TO VF'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESPONSIBILITIES. (5) CORPORATE VOLUNTEER SERVICES - CONNECTS BUSINESSES WITH HIGH IMPACT OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE, INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS BY ADDING CORPORATE SKILLS, EXPERTISE, AND RESOURCES THROUGH ITS BUSINESSLINK VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMS. BUSINESSLINK PROVIDES PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE TO THOSE BUSINESSES SEEKING CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYEE SERVICE ENGAGEMENTS. IN FY24, 6 CORPORATE PARTNERS COMPLETED 19 SERVICE PROJECTS WITH 592 INDIVIDUALS VOLUNTEERING 2,015 HOURS.

VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX HOSTS THREE SIGNATURE EVENTS ANNUALLY. THE FIRST TWO ARE REGION-WIDE DAYS OF SERVICE. (1) VOLUNTEERFEST, HELD EVERY FALL, OFFERS VOLUNTEERS OPPORTUNITIES WITH DOZENS OF LOCAL NONPROFITS AND PUBLIC AGENCIES, ENABLING THEM TO COMPLETE SINGLE-DAY SERVICE PROJECTS. IN FY24, VOLUNTEERFEST PROVIDED BOTH IN-PERSON AND HYBRID OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT 24 NONPROFITS AND AGENCIES. 400 VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED 26 PROJECTS, CONTRIBUTING 1,200 HOURS OF SERVICE TO AREA AGENCIES. (2) VF'S MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WEEKEND OF SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDES FAMILY-FRIENDLY VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS GIVE TOGETHER AND THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WEBINAR FOCUSED ON RACIAL EQUITY. THIS YEAR'S EVENT RESULTED IN ALMOST 600 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDING: 400 PACKED STUDENT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KITS FOR FAIRFAX COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE, 400 VALENTINE CUPCAKES (MADE WITH WARM SOCKS) THAT WERE GIVEN TO SEVERAL AREA NONPROFITS TO SUPPORT ELDER CARE, 300 POWER PACKS FOR FOOD FOR OTHERS PLUS AN ADDITION 1,370 LBS OF DONATED FOOD, 60 NO SEW FLEECE BLANKETS FOR CAPITAL CARING HEALTH, BIRDFEEDERS TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL BIRD POPULATION, TREAT BAGS/SNUFFLE MATTS/BLANKETS TO SUPPORT FAIRFAX COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTERS, CARING KITS TO SUPPORT THE POZEZ JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER'S HORIZON PROGRAM (SUPPORTS KIDS WITH CANCER) AND 600 VALENTINES FOR MEALS ON WHEELS RECIPIENTS. (3) IN MAY OF 2024, VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX HOSTED THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS (VSAS) HONORING 17 INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN THE COUNTY WHO HAVE PROVIDED OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. 200 GUESTS ENJOYED THE AFTERNOON AWARDS RECEPTION, WHERE 10 COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS WERE ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.