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 SIX SIGNATURE PROGRAMS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FORDIVERSE 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. PRE-PANDEMIC, WE ENGAGED CLOSE TO 14,000 VOLUNTEERS TO 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.AS WAS EXPERIENCED BY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEER CENTERS, LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY, WE SAW DIMINISHED VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT NUMBERS THAT MIRRORED THE EFFECTS OF THE LINGERING PANDEMIC. ACCORDING TO A 2020 STUDY BY FIDELITY CHARITABLE, TWO-THIRDS OF VOLUNTEERS DECREASED THEIR ACTIVITY OR STOPPED VOLUNTEERING ENTIRELY AFTER THE PANDEMIC BEGAN. (WHY AND HOW CHARITIES SHOULD REVIVE A DECLINING BUT VITAL RESOURCE VOLUNTEERS, THE CHRONICLE OF PHILANTHROPY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2022). COMPOUNDING THE DIFFICULTY IN BRINGING VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT BACK TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS IS THAT THE DEMAND SIDE HAS ALSO DIMINISHED. OVER THE PAST YEAR, MANY OF VF'S AGENCY PARTNERS CONTINUED TO CURTAIL THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THEY WERE OFFERING DUE TO SHORT-STAFFING, LIABILITYCONCERNS, AND APPREHENSION ABOUT CONTRIBUTING TO COMMUNITY SPREAD OF COVID THROUGH IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES. WE RECOGNIZE THAT REBUILDING VF'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS WILL BE A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT OF STAFF AND RESOURCES. AS THE EMERGENCE OF COVID-19 VARIANTS CONTINUES TO CAUSE MANY CITIZENS TO HESITATE TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX HAS UNDERTAKEN EXTENSIVE EFFORTS TO PROVIDE MORE VIRTUAL ALTERNATIVES. WHILE TWO SIGNATURE PROGRAMS REMAIN IDLED DUE TO THESE FACTORS, OUR OPERATIONS CONTINUE TO ADAPT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. LAST YEAR, VF'S KEY PANDEMIC INITIATIVES INCLUDED ORGANIZING AND PARTICIPATING IN STUFF THE BUS EVENTS THAT PROVIDED 22 TONS OF PANTRY STAPLES TO LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND COLLECTING 14,345 SMALL MASKS FOR TODDLERS AND THE YOUNGEST SCHOOL CHILDREN. VF LEVERAGED ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH NEW CORPORATE PARTNER PATIENT FIRST TO FACILITATE AN 8,000 SURGICAL MASK DONATION. DONATION BENEFICIARIES INCLUDED THE FAIRFAX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT & SECURITY (DEMS) (6,000 MASKS) AND THE CITY OF FAIRFAX DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (2,000 MASKS). DURING THE MLK, JR. WEEKENDOF SERVICE, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY VOLUNTEERS MADE OVER 6,500 VALENTINES TO BRING MESSAGES OF CHEER AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO TEACHERS AND STAFF IN FAIRFAX COUNTY'S TITLE 1 SCHOOLS.FOLLOWING ARE OUR SIX SIGNATURE PROGRAMS: (1) VOLUNTEERS FOR CHANGE (VFC)-PROVIDES FLEXIBLE, MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE VOLUNTEERS LOOKING FOR A SHORT-TERM COMMITMENT. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC THIS PROGRAM WAS IDLED FOR FY22. IN FY22, 88 VFC VOLUNTEERS GAVE 300 SERVICE HOURS COMPLETING 28 PROJECTS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITIES. (2) THE ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM (ACS)-ASSISTS COURT- AND ATTORNEY-REFERRED CLIENTS IN AVOIDING FINES OR JAIL SENTENCES BY VOLUNTEERING. IN FY22, 91 CLIENTS COMPLETED 2,876 SERVICE HOURS AT 41 AREA AGENCIES. (3) THE RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP)-MANAGED BY VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX SINCE 2013, RSVP IS A PROGRAM OF THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE'S SENIOR CORPS. 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 FY22, 111 RSVP VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 4,780 HOURS TO 32 LOCAL AGENCIES. (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 IN MARCH. IN FY22, WE HELD 31 TRAINING SESSIONS WITH 1,332 PARTICIPANTS. (5) EMERGENCY RESPONSE-VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX IS THE COUNTY'S DESIGNATED LEAD AGENCY FOR VOLUNTEER AND DONATION MANAGEMENT IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY OR DISASTER. COVID-19 HAS NECESSITATED A SHIFT IN OUR OPERATIONS TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE COUNTY AND OTHER NONPROFITS. 251 VOLUNTEERS COMPLETED 980 VOLUNTEER HOURS, INCLUDING JOINT TRAINING EXERCISES WITH THE FAIRFAX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY (DEMS). PROJECTS INCLUDED SORTINED 14,345 SMALL MASKS FOR TODDLERS AND YOUNG CHILDREN IN COLLABORATION WITH FARIFAX COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY SERVICES; FACILITATING AN 8,000 SURGICAL MASK DONATION FROM PATIENT FIRST TO DEMS AND THE CITY OF FAIRFAX DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT; SUPPORTED VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT FOR THE FAIRFAX COUNTY STUFF THE BUS CAMPAIGNS; AND COLLABORATED WITH FAIRFAX COUNTY DEMS, NCS, AND LOCAL REFUGEE SUPPORT AGENCIES IN SUPPORTING AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT EFFORTS. (6) CORPORATE SERVICES-CONNECTS BUSINESSES WITH HIGH IMPACT OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE, INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS BY ADDING CORPORATE SKILLS AND EXPERTISE TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES THROUGH ITS BUSINESSLINK AND SKILLS-BASED VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMS. BUSINESSLINK PROVIDES PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE TO THOSE BUSINESSES SEEKING CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYEE SERVICE ENGAGEMENTS. IN FY22, 5 CORPORATE PARTNERS COMPLETED 37 SERVICE PROJECTS WITH 950 INDIVIDUALS VOLUNTEERING 3,600 HOURS. SKILLS-BASED VOLUNTEERING GIVES COMPANIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO NONPROFITS ON A PRO BONO BASIS IN FUNCTIONAL AREAS SUCH AS LEGAL, ACCOUNTING, AND IT. IN FY22, 38 PROFESSIONALS VOLUNTEERED 889 HOURS OF SERVICE.

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 2021, VF HELD VOLUNTEERFEST IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 TO BE A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND SERVICE. FOR THE 2ND YEAR IN A ROW, VF PROVIDED VIRTUAL, AT-HOME VOLUNTEERS OPTIONS ALONGSIDE SAFE, IN-PERSON OPPORTUNITIES. OVER 1,050 PARTICIPANTS SUPPORTED NINE AGENCY PARTNERS ACROSS 33 PROJECTS. (2) VF'S MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WEEKEND OF SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDES FAMILY-FRIENDLY VOLUNTEER SERVICE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS GIVE TOGETHER AND THE VALENTINE'S CHALLENGE, ENABLE EVEN THE YOUNGEST IN OUR COMMUNITY TO VOLUNTEER, THEREBY PLANTING THE SEED OF SERVICE. THIS YEAR'S EVENT WAS AGAIN COMPLETELY VIRTUAL AND CENTERED ON A GIVE TOGETHER DIGITAL GUIDEBOOK PROMOTING AGE-APPROPRIATE PROJECTS WITH 40 AGENCY PARTNERS ACROSS 6 UNIQUE MISSION AREAS. OVER 1,660 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED ACROSS BOTH SERVICE ACTIVITIES. VALENTINE'S CHALLENGE VOLUNTEERS PRODUCES OVER 6,500 VALENTINES WITH MESSAGES OF CHEER AND ENCOURAGEMENT WHICH WERE DISTRIBUTED TO TEACHERS AND STAFF AT TITLE 1 SCHOOLS ACROSS FAIRFAX COUNTY. (3) ON APRIL 20, 2022, VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX HOSTED THE FAIRFAX COUNTY VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS (VSAS) TO RECOGNIZE INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN THE COUNTY WHO HAVE PROVIDED OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. AT THE 30TH ANNUAL VSAS, GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WERE AWARDED FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE THROUGH A VIRTUAL CELEBRATION BROADCAST ATTENDED BY 400 INDIVIDUALS IN THE MORNING, FOLLOWED BY A RECEPTION FOR 130 GUESTS TO RECOGNIZE AWARDEES, AGENCY PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS