Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed to register families to receive gifts from the Annual Holiday Sharing Program operated by the City of Alexandria’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS). Registration will be held at 2525 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301 on the following dates:

• Saturday, October 10, 17, and 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
• Sunday, October 11 and 18 from Noon to 4 p.m.

Volunteers will take information from the parent of an eligible family and enter it in the wish list database. No computer experience is necessary. Spanish speakers are particularly encouraged to assist. Older high school students are welcome. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes early.

For more information and to sign up, visit Volunteer Alexandria.

Pies & Volunteers for Art on the Avenue

 We are in need of both pies and people to make this weekend's Art on the Avenue Pie Contest a success

Entries can be submitted on October 10 between 10 am and 12 noon at the Pie Booth, on Mt. Vernon between Oxford and Del Ray Avenues. There are two categories: Youth (under 17) and adult.  Judging will begin at 12:15 and following judging slices will be sold for $3 each. For more details, including the rules for entry, visit: http://artontheavenue.org/?page_id=35

Volunteers are needed for all shifts throughout the day, especially for pie sales mid-day. To sign up to volunteer, visit: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0D4AAAAD2FA5FE3-artonthe  

The Pie contest is sponsored by Bobi Bomar of Homes of Alexandria and all proceeds raised will benefit Mary Karstens, a Del Ray friend, neighbor and long-time volunteer who is currently battling cancer. 

If you have further questions don't hesitate to get in touch with coordinator Stacy Biddinger at sbiddinger@gmail.com

New Community Outreach in Alexandria

Dear Neighbors:

About a month or so back, many of you so generously expressed interest in a new community project that would bring new and/or gently used items from our community to the disadvantaged Parker Gray community near the Charles Houston Recreation Center and Sugar Shack Donuts. 

After meeting this morning with the Director of Programs at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, I'm happy to provide more specific details below. Every little bit counts, so thank you in advance for any assistance that you can provide. 

Friday, October 16th: Please drop off any unused or gently used clothing, children's gear, small household items, etc. that you are willing to donate at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, 901 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA to the manager on duty between the hours of 2 p.m and 9 p.m. If you are unable to drop off on this day or during these times, please email me and we can make other arrangements. We are also looking for a handful of volunteers this evening to help sort through and arrange donated items between the hours of 6 and 9 p.m. If you are interested in volunteering your time, please contact me directly.

Saturday, October 17th: Parker Gray community residents will be invited to the Charles Houston Recreation Center between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. to receive any donated items that they may be in need of but unable to afford. We are looking for a small group of volunteers on this day to help facilitate the collection of items between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. We are also looking for a group of volunteers to haul away any uncollected items and drop them off to the Salvation Army. These volunteers will need to be available promptly at noon since there is an afternoon event in the same space that we will be using that morning. (Unfortunately, because this is our first time doing this and because we put the event together rather quickly on the good advice of a neighbor who suggested that the greatest need is before the holidays and cold weather hit, we did not have sufficient time to arrange for uncollected items to be picked up at the distribution site by local non-profits. Should this event be a success, we will better prepare next year). Please contact me directly if you are interested in volunteering on Saturday, October 17th.

Many, many thanks once again in advance for any help that you may be able to provide!!! An item that may seem insignificant and appropriate for trash collection could make a difference in the lives of our neighbors just down the road. More importantly, our donations of time and goods will let them know that we see them, and that we care.

Sincerely,
Jessica Wszalek

Coat Drive for Alexandria Children in Need

The Fund for Alexandria’s Child invites Alexandria residents to help children in foster care or at risk of abuse or neglect keep warm this winter through its annual Fall Coat Drive, running now through November 20, 2015. 

Donations of coats, hats, scarves and gloves help ensure that all Alexandria children are able to stay warm during what promises to be another bitter winter.

Those interested in donating can do so through an Amazon Wish list or by purchasing items elsewhere and delivering them to:

Alexandria DCHSATTN: Community Resources Program2525 Mt. Vernon AvenueAlexandria, VA 22301 

The Fund for Alexandria’s Child is a program within the City of Alexandria’s Department of Community and Human Services, which works to enhance the quality of life of the most vulnerable children in our community. The value of any contributions is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

For more information, call 703.746.5663 or email thefundforalexchild@alexandriava.gov.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, email Maurice Tomdio at maurice.tomdio@alexandriava.gov or call 571.384.5244.