Volunteer opportunities

Volunteering is a big part of life in the county, from local government and social agencies to libraries, schools, churches, youth groups, hospitals and service organizations.

The Voluntary Action Center, a private non-profit agency, has matched prospective volunteers with agencies that need someone to help out. For information on volunteer opportunities, call 703-369-5292, visit the center at 9248 Center St., Manassas, or at volunteer princewilliam.org.

The center offers a searchable Web data base that provides prospective volunteers with information on where they can volunteer. Call 703-369-5292 for more information.

Other organizations in the county that often need volunteers include:

AGENCY ON AGING
  For information or to volunteer, call 703-792-6400 or go to volunteermatch.com.

BEACON
  To volunteer, call 703-368-7491, or for Spanish or bilingual services, call 703-331-5513.

CASA
  Court Appointed Special Advocates of Greater Prince William is a non-profit volunteer agency dedicated to serving abused, neglected or abandoned children in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park.

For information, call 703-330-8145 or visit casaofpw.org.

OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM
  The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, funded by Area Agencies on Aging, recruits volunteers to investigate complaints made about community-based long-term care service providers. Training is provided. Call 703-324-5861 or 703-324-5435 for additional information or to apply.

CHARITIES
  Securing Emergency Resources Through Volunteer Efforts Inc. in Manassas is a non-profit agency that assists families and individuals facing temporary emergency situations. SERVE provides shelter to homeless people, emergency food to those in need, transitional housing and support services and emergency payments for rent, utilities, medicine and fuel. For information on volunteering, call 703-367-6741.

Action in the Community Through Service in Dumfries is a non-profit agency that provides temporary emergency housing, the Turning Points Safe House, long-term transitional housing and one daycare center.
  To volunteer, call 703-441-8606.

HOSPICE
  Capital Hospice Inpatient Center offers comprehensive in-patient and at-home care for terminally-ill patients and those who love them. Its volunteer network covers a wide area from home care, bereavement and grief support to office and office duties.

Call Hospice Volunteer Services at 703-525-7070. Training is conducted on an as-needed basis.

There is also a Hospice office in Manassas, the Prince William location, at 703-392-6707.

LIBRARIES
  The Prince William Library System relies on its volunteers to help the libraries run smoothly. Volunteers reshelve books, man the check-out counter and do a variety of other jobs. Positions are available at all libraries and volunteers may work at the branch closest to home. To volunteer, call 703-792-6201.

LITERACY
  The Literacy Volunteers of America-Prince William conduct workshops for those interested in helping adults to learn or improve their basic reading skills. After training, volunteers are matched with an appropriate adult student. Call 703-670-5702.

LITTER CONTROL
  The Prince William Clean Community Council relies on volunteers to maintain its Adopt-a-Spot and Adopt-a-Highway programs as well as help in educating the public to the effectiveness of recycling.

For information, call the PWCCC at 703-792-6272.

MUSEUMS
  The Manassas Museum uses volunteers to staff its store, Echoes. Volunteers answer visitor inquiries and conduct periodic visitor surveys, among other duties. Tour guides are needed for school groups. They work about 3 1/2 hours a month. Training is provided for all positions.

Historic Manassas Inc. also needs volunteers to greet and answer questions of visitors coming into the city.
  For information, call the museum at 703-368-1873.

REFUGEES
  The Refugee Resettlement Program often needs volunteers to teach English as a Second Language. Training and materials are provided.

Call 703-369-6101 for information.

SAVAS
  The Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocacy Service provides crisis intervention, court companionship, hospital companionship and support groups for survivors (and their families) of sexual assault. Anyone who has a few hours a week and would like to help survivors on their road to recovery, please call 703-497-1192.

SHELTER
  Transitional Housing BARN Inc. is a shelter for battered wives and their children. Call 703-392-5415.

RED CROSS
  The Prince William Chapter of the American Red Cross needs assistance in disaster education and service. Call 703-368-4511.