Community Volunteer Network Monthly Meetup

Hope to see you out at Community Volunteer Network's September meetup which will be held this coming Tuesday at Yaku in Courthouse. Community Volunteer Network is an Arlington group of 20 and 30 somethings that volunteer on evenings and weekends. They've got lots of volunteer events coming up in September and will have sign up sheets and more information at the meetup.

Yaku was recently named one of the best new restaurants by Northern Virginia Magazine and it is located on the corner of Clarendon Blvd and N. Scott Street. The closest metro stop is Court House, on the orange line.

For more information about Yaku and to view their Happy Hour specials, please visit: http://www.latinconcepts.com/yaku

Volunteer Donors Needed for Look Cool for School Program

There's one week left to help outfit a low income student for the new school year!

The Look Cool for School program, now in its 6th year, has helped hundreds of families give their children that special, new back to school outfit. This school year Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless, with the help of volunteers, would like to provide our students with the opportunity to receive something new. They especially need gift cards for places like Target so the kids can get what they need.

If you are interested in participating please contact Brenda Orr at 703-525-7177x35 or borr@aachhomeless.org as soon as possible. A formal participation form will then be emailed to you. All donations are due to AACH by Friday, August 28.

Don't Let Taxes Get You Down

Nobody likes taxes and if you are a young person trying to get by in this area you probably don't have a lot of money to throw at the problem. There are many free tax prep clinics available to low income residents. I was involved with one in my area last year and I can vouch for the high quality volunteer tax preparers and the personal attention you get by attending a tax prep clinic.

If you are comfortable filing electronically on your own, use the IRS Free File program. They will give you step by step instructions if you are low income (under $56,000 in 2008) or you can just use the efiling without instructions if you are over income.

Not scared of Tax Prep? Why don't you consider volunteering to staff one of these clinics! They are recruiting volunteers now to be tax preparers.

Make MLK Day A Day ON

UPDATE: Opportunities are filling up quick. As one person pointed out, almost all of the inside opportunities are full. If you are looking for an inside opportunity you may call your local nursing home, hospital, or animal shelter because they will remain open on the holiday and are always looking for volunteers on an ongoing basis. You can search for particular agencies here.


Since 1994, MLK Jr Day (which has been observed as a holiday since 1986) has been a National Day of Service. Over the last 15 years it has been slowly growing in participation and interest, but this year with it coinciding with the inauguration of the first black President it is going to be a big deal.

DC has got tons of celebrations as well as ways to volunteer on Monday. Arlington is not getting as much attention but still has plenty of opportunities:

SATURDAY

Arlington Mill Highway Cleanup

Sponsor: Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment | Location: Arlington, VA 22204 Help Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment pick up trash from neighborhood streets in honor of Martin Luther King Day of Service. Meet at Arlington Mill Community Center, 4975 Columbia Pike, Arlington VA. more

Stream Clean-Up: Spout and Pimmit Runs Confluence

Saturday, January 17 at 10:00 AM

Small parking lot above the junction of Glebe and Chain Bridge Roads next to Chain Bridge on the Arlington side (Arlington, VA)

Join us at 10:00 am, Saturday the 17th, to help clean up the area around the ends of Spout Run and Pimmit Run where they... View Event Details

SUNDAY

Honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sponsor: Arlington Co. Parks, Recreation And Cultural Resources | Location: Arlington, VA 22204

Help us as we honor Dr. King at Arlington's 39th annual tribute to him and his legacy on Sunday, January 18th at the Thomas Jefferson Middle School Theatre. Entertainment will include a gospel group, a liturgical dance troupe, a. . . more

Wakefield High School Field Cleanup

Sunday, January 18 at 12:00 PM

Wakefield High School (Arlington, VA)

Meet at Wakefield High School stadium field behind the tennis courts to help us pick up trash from along the fences and under the bleachers... View Event Details

Welcome Visitors To Arlington During The Inauguration

Sponsor: Arlington Convention & Visitors Service | Location: Arlington, VA 22202
Volunteers will have the opportunity to provide visitors with maps of Arlington and to assist them with shopping and dining questions. We will need at least 2 volunteers posted at each location listed below (total of 6 volunteers required). Dates. . . more

MONDAY
Remove Invasives from Arlington's Nature Center

Monday, January 19 at 1:00 PM

Long Branch Nature Center (Arlington, VA)

Here's your chance to help remove non-native, invasive plants from Arlington, Virginia's Long Branch Nature Center. This beautiful natural area and education center is only... View Event Details

Paint/decorate the foster care visitation room -FULL (STILL NEEDS DONATIONS)

Monday, January 19 at 10:00 AM

Arlington DHS (Arlington, VA)

I am a DHS foster care worker who would like to request volunteers to paint/decorate a small room in a local DHS building. This... View Event Details

Trail Litter Cleanup-Theodore Roosevelt Island

Monday, January 19 at 10:00 AM

Theodore Roosevelt Island (Arlington, VA)

Come help clean up a local hiking trail with views of the Potomac River and DC! Monday Jan 19, 10am-12pm The Potomac Heritage Trail starts at Theodore... View Event Details

Oath of All of US (Day of Service - January 19)

Monday, January 19 at 12:00 AM

Youth Venture (Arlington, VA)

People of all ages and from all walks of life, LED BY YOUTH, will gather to share their own personal versions of the Oath of... View Event Details

Arlington Academy Hope truck packing event

Monday, January 19 at 8:00 AM

Wanda residence (Arlington, VA)

Arlington Academy of Hope, a grassroots non-profit located in Arlington, VA is shipping a container of books and supplies to our school and clinics in... View Event Details

AFAC Food Drive (FULL FOR VOLUNTEERS - NEED DONATIONS)

Monday, January 19 at 9:00 AM

Arlington Food Assistance Center (Arlington, VA)

Food Drive in support of the Arlington Food Assistance Center whch provides groceries to Arlington residents in need. We need all the non-perishable food item you... View Event Details

Dyke Marsh Clean-Up
Monday, January 19 9am-noon
Dyke Marsh and Belle Haven Mearina
Join groups from Arlington in cleaning up this strech of GW Memorial Pkwy in Alexandria. This will be a large intergenerational event.

For more information on opportunities in their area check out this Volunteer Arlington Spotlight.

Please let me know if there are opportunities I missed!

Looking for some history of Martin Luther King, Jr including interesting video and photos? Visit the Arlington Library's site.

New Study on Volunteerism

Arlington and the DC metro area deserve a pat on the back! According to the new Volunteering in America study just released by the Corporation for National and Community Service, we are volunteering at a greater rate than the national average, ranked 14th among the 50 largest cities. The metro area is doing much better than the state of Virginia as a whole. Virginia’s volunteer rate is 29th in the nation.

Don’t think you have time to volunteer? The biggest difference in time use between volunteers and non-volunteers is how much TV they watch. So turn off the tube and get up, get out, and get involved!!


Where do you think is the best place to volunteer in Arlington?