Call to Action: Volunteer for spring

Good morning Prince William. Spring is definitely right around the corner because things are hopping all over the community and it's daylight when we get home.

The wonderful folks at Matthew's Center for Visual Learning in Manassas need a couple of volunteers to help them at the front desk. Duties include answering phones, greeting visitors, light office tasks and other easy, fun things. Help is especially needed on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the mornings. This is the perfect job to help a wonderful organizations just a couple of hours a week. Please call Krysta at 703-369-2976, Ext. 100, to learn more.

The folks at Inova VNA Home Health care are looking for volunteers to be friendly visitors by providing companionship to homebound patients. You only need to visit an hour or so a week and can be done anytime based on your availability. I encourage you to find a new friend by calling Adele at 703-916-2882 to see who lives close to you.

The Dominion Women's Club has a wonderful partnership with Westgate Elementary School in Manassas where they go in and read to the kids for about two hours at a time. Volun-teers are needed to fill-in the spring schedule on March 27, April 2, April 23, May 7, May 2, May 28, June 4 and June 12 from 1:40 to 3:30 p.m. This sounds like great fun and easy to help so please e-mail them at arbemears@hotmail.com for more information. And also send a huge cheers to the Dominion Women's Club for winning the Shelley Krasnow Community Service Award this year.

I've mentioned many times the power of one volunteer and the folks at WestRash Charities exemplify the concept. The WestRash family raises money to give local charities by hosting a golf tournament on April 25 at Bristow Manor Golf Club. This year's beneficiary is the American Cancer Society and the Prince William Relay for Life; Reach for Recovery, Look Good … Feel Better and Road to Recovery programs. You can register online at www.westrashcharities.org or call Chris Rash at 703-393-4840 to support these wonderful families doing great stuff for others. The cost is just $100 for cart, green fees and lunch and there are lots of sponsor opportuni-ties as well.

And speaking of bang for your buck -- it's time for the Alan Shawn Feinstein Challenge again. As you recall, this philanthropist will match your donation dollar for dollar to either Action in the Community Through Service or Securing Emergency Resources Through Volunteer Efforts Inc. to fight hunger in America. These donations can include cash and/or food items you donate to either of our agencies from now until April 30. Just think everything you do is matched by them. In these tough times, it doesn't get any better -- it's a double, double!

The Habitat for Humanity folks are in full swing these days and need a couple of special volun-teers to help with the Brush with Kindness Program. As you recall this program rehabs existing homes in our community. Volunteers are needed to be construction helpers with mid week prep work and either Friday or Saturday at the construction site. The other need is for a youth coordi-nator to work with a super bunch of teens working on various projects. This is a neat opportunity to see and appreciate good kids working hard for our neighbors. Please call Joanne at 703-369-6708 to learn more about these opportunities and all the other cool stuff happening at Habitat for Humanity.

If you are looking for other opportunities, please don't forget to call my wonderful team.

» 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.volunteerprince william.org.

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