Call to Action for July 26

Good morning Prince William. Those fabulous folks at Transitional Housing BARN are gearing up for their big event in November called Festival of Trees. Volunteers are needed now to help with all the fun organizational tasks and securing auction items. The evening of course supports BARN’s program of helping homeless women and children become self-sufficient and have a bright future. This formal gala includes cocktails, gaming tables, dinner, dancing and of course auction items. Please call Becky at 703-369-1325 to be part of this fun event.

Those folks at Securing Emergency Resources Through Volunteer Efforts Inc. are busy collecting school supplies for their kids to give them the tools needed to start the school year off with a bang. As you start shopping for your kids please pick up an extra item here and there for another kid. Volunteers are also needed beginning Aug. 17 to start sorting and handing out supplies to the families. Before you know it the big yellow busses will be on the road again. Please visit SERVE’s Web site at: www.serveinc.org for more information on needed supplies and also give Jan a call at 703-367-6742 for volunteer times.

Here’s a huge cheers to the Week of Hope teens who have been building accessibility ramps, painting houses, cleaning up yards for several of Project Mend-A-House families. Volunteers continue to be needed throughout the year on lots of different projects so if you like getting your hands a little dirty please call Penny at 703-792-7663 to sign up for the next project.

The Pet Assistance League (PAL) has an urgent need for Purina brand dog and cat food for their “foster babies.” These super folks are at the Dale City PetSmart every Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. This store is right behind Potomac Mills mall off Worth Avenue. Also if you feed your pet Purina Brand foods, please save the weight circles located on the side of the bag for PAL so they can receive incentives from Purina. This sounds like a win-win all the way around. For more information, e-mail pal at: petleague@yahoo.com

How is your summer honey-do listing coming along? The super folks at the Habitat ReStore in Manassas have lots of new stuff including fireplace mantels, bath tubs, used furniture, air handlers, A/C units, furnaces and lawn mowers. The store is open Monday-Saturday and it is definitely worth the trip.

Please mark your calendar for this Wednesday from 1 to 4 p.m. to have your car seat checked by our super, nationally certified public safety professionals. This week’s Car Seat check is at the Bristow Fire Station 25, 9405 Devlins Grove Place in Bristow.

Don’t forget, we here at the Voluntary Action Center are gearing up for our big dinner dance event — Christmas in July on this Friday. We still have some tickets available so please call Diane at 703-369-5292, Ext. 207, to join in the fun. 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.

And last but certainly not least, the super folks with the Manassas and Bull Run Rotary Clubs are planning their next event. Please mark your calendars for Sept. 16 for their 16th Annual Golf Tournament at Evergreen Country Club. This is the perfect opportunity to play a little hooky and have fun. The teams consist of four players — Captain’s Choice. They will also have par 3 contests, skills contest, mulligan sales, closet to the pin, raffle, silent auction and of course a lovely dinner. Tickets are $165 for the benefit of SERVE and Louis Maroon Memorial Scholarship. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, call 703-963-0313.

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.volunteerprincewilliam.org.

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