Alternative House
Alternative House is a housing service with programs like Assisting Young Mothers and, in cooperation with Fairfax County Public Schools, the Homeless Youth Initiative, which provides safe transitional housing to homeless students. Volunteer opportunities include positions in child care, outreach and the Emergency Teen Shelter. 703-506-9191 or https://thealternativehouse.org/
The Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna SCOV is a volunteer-based nonprofit dedicated to providing opportunities for adults (50+) to seek rewarding lives and to live independently in their homes for as long as possible. The concept of “Seniors Helping Seniors” defines the spirit and purpose of the Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna. Their personal enrichment and volunteer opportunities touched the lives of more than 3,000 older adults (50+) in the region. Each year more than 250 volunteers at SCOV serve as medical drivers, companion drivers, friendly callers and visitors, health and wellness educators, office assistants, fundraisers, and grant writers. Volunteers also run programs such as SCOV’s Lunch n’ Life, Adventures in Learning, trips and outings, special events, and the caregivers’ support group. www.scov.org
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
The Vienna Branch of AAUW represent a diverse cross-section of Vienna and Oakton area women working together to promote equity and education for women. The organizations holds educational talks, monthly meetings and does work on projects to contribute to the community. http://aauw-va.aauw.net/branches/vienna/ or ViennaAAUW@yahoo.com
Rotary Club of Vienna
The Rotary Foundation, Vienna Chapter was founded in 1965. The chapter works to support local efforts like festival ViVa! Vienna!, through which it has raised over $180,000, and holds programs like the “New Generations” program, Interact, which focuses on helping youth ages 12-18 develop good character. http://viennarotary.org/ or 703-981-4911.
Optimist Club of Greater Vienna
The Optimist Club of Greater Vienna is an all volunteer, community service organization. Members work with the youth of the greater Vienna community including students at James Madison High School George Marshall High School and Oakton High School, and members of local Scout Troops, sports teams and youth groups. Their website provides an overview of the Optimists’ many activities. www.optimistclubofgreatervienna.org.
The Vienna Host Lions Club
The 42 members of the local chapter of the world’s largest service club do service projects in the spirit of their motto, “We Serve.” They collect eyeglasses and hearing aids and prepare them for those who need them, fundraise with “White Cane Days” to donate to 13 organizations which help the blind and they sell Christmas trees and participate in holiday bazaars to raise funds for hearing, youth, welfare, and safety and civic organizations. See where the money goes and how you can help online. 630-571-5466, http://e-clubhouse.org/sites/viennahostlionsva/index.php or sandcs89@yahoo.com
The Vienna Arts Society
The Vienna Arts Society is a non-profit, volunteer organization for the promotion and exhibit of fine arts. Throughout the year original art is on display at the Vienna Art Center, 115 Pleasant St. NE, Vienna VA 22180. The art is created by nearly 200 members from Northern Virginia and beyond. The Art Center has become a community gathering space, where adults and children can watch free art demonstrations, take painting classes, and enjoy free monthly acoustic bluegrass jam sessions. It’s available to rent for meetings, workshops and special occasions. Vienna Arts Society members also exhibit their works at several locations around town, to include the Gallery in the Village Green and Patrick Henry Library. Membership is open to artists and those interested in supporting the fine arts.
www.ViennaArtsSociety.org 703-319-3971
More Area Nonprofits
The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area
The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area LWVFA is a volunteer organization composed of passionate men and women who are dedicated to making democracy work. It encourages active participation by citizens, but it does not support or endorse candidates. It conducts studies of important community issues, has monthly meetings during which members discuss these issues, and uses education and advocacy to influence public policy, at the local level, in the interest of the public. It conducts candidate forums so that citizens can ask the candidates questions, candidates can answer those questions and also interact directly with the public. LWVFA also registers voters and provides them with unbiased information about the voting process, issues of interest, and elections. To learn more about this organization or to join please go to its website, www.lwv-fairfax.org.
Affordable Housing Corporation AHC
AHC Inc., a nonprofit developer of affordable housing, operates throughout northern Virginia and the Baltimore area to provide quality homes for families and individuals making between 30 and 60 percent of the middle income for their area. AHC also offers services for residents and homeownership opportunities. 703-486-0626 or www.ahcinc.org/index.html.
Committee for Helping Others CHO
CHO is an organization committed to providing “simple, loving charity” to those in need in Vienna, Dunn Loring, and Merrifield. CHO is currently seeking volunteer drivers for their furniture and transportation programs. 703-281-7614 or www.cho-va.com.
Family PASS
Family PASS strives to step in before families lose their housing and to help homeless families regain housing and become self-sufficient by providing rental subsidies assistance, extensive case management and other aid including access to education, job training, child care, food, transportation, health care, help with children’s issues and counseling. Volunteer opportunities include positions as drivers, food drive organizers and tutors. 703-242-6474 or http://familypassfairfax.org/.
So Others Might Eat
SOME is a 46-year-old organization based in the Washington D.C. with church partnerships throughout Northern Virginia. SOME works to meet the immediate daily needs of needy adults and children with food, clothing and health care, with the goal of breaking the cycle of homelessness by offering services such as affordable housing, job training, addiction treatment and counseling to the poor, the elderly and individuals with mental illness. 202.797.8806 or www.some.org/.
AFCEA Educational Foundation
AFCEA provides educational scholarships and continuing education and training programs for people in the hard sciences disciplines related to the defense, homeland security and intelligence communities. Call 703-631-6100 or visit www.afcea.org/education/scholarships/.
Kurdish Human Rights Watch
KHRW began in 1989 with the mission of helping Internally Displaced Persons [IDPs], refugees, asylee newcomers and homeless individuals gain autonomy and economic independence through programs in areas including education, nutrition and employment skills. Volunteers and advocates can adopt a refugee or refugee family, sponsor medical care for a critically ill child from Iraq, participate in Capitol Hill advocacy and donate to the scholarship fund for refugee youth. 703-385-3806, admin@khrw.org, or www.khrw.org.
Friends of Guest House
Friends of Guest House offers structure, supervision, support and assistance to female ex-offenders who sincerely want to improve their lives and break the cycle of incarceration. Friends of Guest House offers the only program for women of its kind in Northern Virginia. Volunteers provide services including computer training, planning field trips for clients, assisting with writing resumes, grocery shopping, leading exercise classes, legal assistance, GED tutoring, office work, yard work and researching and coordinating external resources like job and housing opportunities. info@friendsofguesthouse.org, http://friendsofguesthouse.org/ or 703-549-8072.
Pathway Homes
Established in 1980, Pathway Homes focuses on providing housing and support services to individuals with serious mental illnesses, aiming to help these individuals reach their full potential and lead stable lives. They offer both in-home programs, semi-independent houses and assisted living facilities. Volunteer opportunities include one on one interaction, group work and more. info@pathwayhomes.org, 703-876-0390, www.pathwayhomes.org.
Volunteers of America-Chesapeake
One of the nation's largest and most comprehensive human services organizations with a history covering more than a century, VOAC assists thousands of individuals in Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. by providing medical care, counseling, education and training programs. Volunteer opportunities vary by location; more information can be found on the website. 301-459-2020, info@VOAches.org, www.voaches.org.