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Volunteer
Opportunities
An Invitation....
A-SPAN invites all individuals and groups to help guide people
from the streets to health, homes and jobs. Anyone who is concerned
about homeless people in Arlington is welcome, including those who
are or have been homeless themselves.
Call our Volunteer Coordinator at 703-820-4357, ext.
17,
for more information about any of the following volunteer
opportunities, or
click here to complete the Volunteer Profile form and return it
by mail or fax.
Emergency
Winter Shelter (EWS)
2049 N. 15th Street, Arlington, VA
Evening Volunteer
Hours of operation: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm, November 1, 2009 – March 31, 2010
A-SPAN is really excited to be operating Arlington County’s Emergency Winter
Shelter this year and we hope to make it a successful season with the help of
volunteers like you. Come join our team of dedicated staff and become an EWS
Evening Volunteer. Four to five volunteers, 18 years of age or older, are
needed per shift at the Shelter each evening from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Sign up
either as an individual or with a group and share the evening tasks. Volunteers
will assist staff members by either serving the evening meal, distributing
bedding, monitoring the clothing room, watching the front door or completing a
variety of other tasks to help the Shelter run smoothly. Volunteers must sign
in at the beginning of their shift and wear a volunteer badge during their time
at the Shelter, and volunteers are expected to take their responsibilities
seriously and treat every client with respect.
Another great way to help out at the Shelter is to donate items or food used
daily. Our Shelter "Wish List" includes the following:
-Hot
meals or bagged lunches
-Blankets
-Twin
fitted sheets
-Any
size flat sheets
-Personal sized toiletries and hygiene supplies (shampoo, soap, razors,
deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc)
-Flip-flops or similar shower shoes
-Cereal
-Good
books, including those written in Spanish
There
is no minimum requirement for volunteering at the Shelter--you may volunteer as
often or as sporadically as you like. Click on the following link to view the
online EWS Volunteer Schedule:
http://tiny.cc/aspanshelter. A-SPAN really depends on the generosity
and willing spirit of volunteers like you to make the Shelter a success.
For
more information or to sign up as an EWS volunteer, contact Volunteer
Coordinator Sarah Morse at
smorse@a-span.org or call (703) 820-4357, x217.
Opportunity Place (OP)
2708 S. Nelson Street, Arlington, VA
Assistant Front
Desk Monitor
Time commitment: 1-2
afternoons per week
Hours of
operation: 12:30pm-5:00pm, Monday – Thursday
Volunteers are needed to staff the front desk at our
drop-in program location: greeting clients, answering the phone, sorting mail,
assisting in the distribution of hygiene supply items and clothing, coordinating
use of shower and laundry facilities, receiving donations, and replenishing and
organizing the clothing room. This is a direct service position; ability to
multi-task is essential. Volunteers are trained and supported by the Director
of Opportunity Place.
Administrative Assistant
Time commitment:
4-6 hours per week
Hours of
operation: 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday – Friday
As we grow, we need
organizational and administrative support in our main office located at
Opportunity Place Walk-In center.
Volunteers are needed to assist with clerical duties such as filing, computer
data entry, telephones, copying and periodic mailings.
Volunteers must be comfortable working in a non-traditional office setting
within Opportunity Place where our Outreach and Case management staff provides
direct services to the homeless.
Homeless Bagged Meal Program (HBMP)
Preparation
Volunteers
Time commitment:
1-2 afternoons per month
Hours of
operation: 4:00pm-6:00pm, 365 days a year
Volunteer groups prepare 75 bagged meals and deliver
them to a location in North Arlington to be served. Bagged meals include: 2
sandwiches, 1 fruit, 1 salty snack, 1 sweet snack (no chocolate, please), and 1 beverage. Food is
purchased by the volunteer group, which then meets in a central location to
prepare the meals. This is a great activity for children and teenagers!
Serving
Volunteers
Time commitment:
1-2 evenings per month
Hours of
operation: 5:45pm-7:15pm, 365 days a year
Individuals or groups of volunteers distribute hot
food and bagged meals to homeless individuals at two outdoor locations in North
Arlington. A minimum of two volunteers are needed for this activity.
Individuals can be paired with other volunteers. This is a direct service
position for adult volunteers only.
Click here for further details and instructions on
the Homeless Bagged Meal Program.
Click here to view the
volunteer schedule for the Homeless Bagged Meal Program.
Permanent Supportive Housing
Volunteer Companion
Depending on need, A-SPAN matches volunteers with
clients who request help in running daily errands, including trips to the
grocery and to medical appointments. This is a direct service position for
adults only, and involves considerable one-on-one contact with clients. Contact
the Volunteer Coordinator at 703-820-4357 ext.17 or
OPayton@a-span.org for more information.
Resource Development
Grant
Writers
Partner
with our Director of Resource Development in seeking out grant opportunities and
writing proposals. The work can be done at A-SPAN office and also remotely;
hours are flexible. We are looking for volunteers who have demonstrated
successful human services grant writing experience.
Special
Events
Help plan events large &
small. Make a difference join a dedicated group to plan and execute fundraising
events
and campaigns such
as our Fall Gala and Fannie Mae National Walk-a-thon To End Homelessness.
Opportunities for both those with prior event planning experience and newbies
who have time and energy to learn.
Youth Education and
Outreach
Join A-SPAN as we reach
out to Arlington County children and youth again this year as part of the
Fannie Mae's “Help the Homeless
Mini- Walk” Program. Schools, community-based organizations, and faith-based
organizations in Arlington County host mini-walks to raise awareness and dollars
that support A-SPAN’s efforts to end homelessness in our community. These walks
primarily engage young people, but teachers, staff, parents, and other adults
connected to the schools are
encouraged to participate
fully. This year we are increasing our youth education aspect of this campaign
and encourage volunteers seeking to make real impact to join our team.
Donation Drives
Individuals or groups hold drives in their places of
worship, schools, businesses, or community groups for various items needed by
A-SPAN’s homeless clients. Please note that A-SPAN has specific needs and
cannot accept all donations; contact the Volunteer Coordinator for a list of
items before beginning a drive. This is a great opportunity for young people to
take on leadership roles in their schools and community organizations!
Click here to see
A-SPAN's Wish List for needed items.
You Can
Help
You can become a part of the solution to end homelessness by
volunteering at one of A-SPAN'S programs. For more information on becoming an
A-SPAN Volunteer, please contact us at 703-820-4357 ext. 17.
Summary of Volunteer
Opportunities
For a complete list and description of A-SPAN volunteer opportunities:
1.Visit us at Arlington County Volunteer Office at:
www.arlingtonva.us/volunteer,
-- or --
2. Click here to go to our page at the Volunteermatch.org site,
-- or --
3. Click here to go to our page at www.helping.org.
Your help does make a difference.
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