CALL TO ACTION: Matthew Center seeks summer

Good morning, Prince William. I want to give huge cheers to the Matthew Center for their new summer camp program for kids with autism. It seems like yesterday that this school was merely a vision and now it’s a fabulous thriving center for very special kids.

Volunteers are needed in a host of ways; first and foremost to be 1:1 camp chaperones for boys 6 to 18 years old. This is a fun energetic position where you have the opportunity for the ultimate inspiring link to a kid. Four-hour training will cover strategies and skills needed for the position and certainly afford you a terrific resume-building opportunity as well. This position is suitable for teens17 and older that wants to pursue a career in social work, special education, speech therapy and psychology or if they already have worked with special needs kids. The other volunteer jobs include drivers for their 14-person van to take the kids to various mini field trips in the community two days a week for about 4 hours each trip. Volunteers must be at least 25 years old and have a clean driving record to qualify. Lastly, if you have a little experience with formatting a newsletter in electronic form, you could be a huge help with getting the news of the Matthew Center out to their constituents. For more information, please call Kerry at 571-329-7944.

The wonderful folks at Capital Hospice are looking for male big buddy volunteers for their upcoming camp on Aug. 7-9 at the 4-H Conference Center in Front Royal. This very special Point of Hope Camp offers grieving kids a weekend with fun activities to help them work through the grief process by building trust, self-esteem and skills to cope with their recent loss. As the Big Buddy your job will be to offer one on one support and companionship. There is an application process, background check and half-day training required so you are fully comfortable with this rewarding volunteer experience. Please call Julie at 703-396-6199 on Monday so you can get your application in this week.

The super folks at the Missionaries of Our Lady of Divine Mercy are wrapping up their trip in the Ivory Coast this week and need a volunteer who can speak French to help with upcoming phone conversations with the House of Mercy in the Ivory Coast. This is a wonderful opportunity to sharpen your French skills and help further their work in Africa. Please call Kellie at 703-659-1636 to learn more about this volunteer opportunity and all the neat things done right here in Manassas.

I also have to offer another huge cheers to the Prince William Park Authority for finally receiving Silver Lake Park into their fold it is truly a jewel! Please keep your eyes and ears open so you can be part of the master planning process starting in a couple of months. Please stay tuned or call Dianne for more information at 703-792-4253.

Last but certainly not least, we here at the Voluntary Action Center is gearing up for our big dinner dance event — Christmas in July on July 31. We are so excited to have Courtney Robinson from WJLA Channel 7 with us for the evening. This event supports the Un-Trim-A-Tree Holiday Gift Program for needy kids. We’ll have dinner from the Macaroni Grill, dancing by the St. Thomcats, great raffle items with a live and silent auction. All for just $50 a ticket. Please call Diane at 703-369-5292, Ext. 207, for more information and to purchase your ticket. I promise you will have tons of fun.

If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call my wonderful team at the Voluntary Action Center.

» Diane can help senior volunteers with Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP) opportunities at 703-369-529, Ext. 207.

» Shelley can help with 1-800 volunteer opportunities at 703-369-5292, Ext. 201.

» Sue can help you with the Medical Reserve opportunities available in Disaster Preparedness at 703-369-5292, Ext. 204.

» Bonnie can help you with all other opportunities available in Disaster Preparedness at 703-369-5292, Ext. 202.

Also visit www.volunteerprincewilliam.org.

Mary Foley is executive director at the The Voluntary Action Center in Manassas.