Volunteer

Bring the comfort and warmth of home-cooked meals to people experiencing homelessness by volunteering as a shelter meals provider. This is a great opportunity for individuals, families or small groups. small group (5-7 people) opportunity. Volunteers provide, prepare and deliver nutritious meals for about 60 guests at the SERVE Family Shelter on weekends and holidays. Volunteers have the option to prepare the meal offsite and do a drive-by drop-off delivery of the meal to the shelter or to prepare and serve onsite in the shelter kitchen.

Available December 2024 Dates:

• Sunday, December 29 – Dinner
• Tuesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve) – Dinner

Available January 2025 Dates:

• Wednesday, January 1 (New Year’s Day) – Dinner
• Sunday, January 5 – Brunch
• Monday, January 20th (MLK Day) – Dinner

Available February 2025 Dates:

• Sunday, February 2 – Brunch
• Sunday, February 9 – Brunch
• Monday, February 17 (President’s Day) – Brunch

Available March 2025 Dates:

• Saturday, March 1 – Dinner
• Sunday, March 2 – Brunch
• Sunday, March 9 – Brunch & Dinner
• Sunday, March 23 – Brunch & Dinner
• Saturday, March 29 – Brunch & Dinner
• Sunday, March 30 – Brunch & Dinner

Contact Vicky Bonilla, vbonilla@nvfs.org, 571.748.2716

If you’re bilingual in Spanish and English and a people person, the Food Assistance Client Intake Specialist is the role for you!

Spanish speaking volunteers are needed at NVFS’s Hunger Resource Center to help get food to families in need. Volunteers will answer questions, in person and via phone, translate for staff who are speaking to families, and help families access to nutritious food. Volunteers must be fluent in both Spanish and English, able to commit to at least one shift per week for six months or more. Shifts are:

• Tuesdays, 9am-12pm
• Tuesdays, 12:45-3:30pm
• Wednesdays, 4-7pm
• Thursdays, 9am-12pm
• Thursdays, 12:45-3:30pm
• Fridays, 9am-12pm

Are you passionate about hunger relief? Each month our Hunger Resource Center provides food assistance to over 600 families in the greater Prince William area. Volunteers are needed to prepare food packages, welcome and assist clients in the self-serve shopping area, check clients out before they leave, stock shelves and more. You’ll join a small team of mighty volunteers relieving hunger in the community. Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds. Spanish speaking is a plus. Volunteer shifts are:

• Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
• Tuesdays, 12:45-3:30 p.m.
• Wednesdays, 4:00-7:00 p.m.
• Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
• Thursdays, 12:45-3:30 p.m.
• Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Click here to view the schedule and register for shifts.

The Shelter Kitchen Assistant helps to ensure efficient kitchen operations by assisting the shelter cook with daily kitchen operations. The volunteer will partner with shelter cook to:

• Inspect the refrigerator and pantry and dispose of expired items.
• Maintain quality standards of kitchen appliances including stove, oven, refrigerators, ice machine, etc.
• Maintain overall cleanliness of kitchen including countertops, dishes, sinks, floors, etc.
• Assist with the organizational system in the kitchen by sorting and storing items in their proper place when they arrive and rotating stock based on expiration dates.
• Assist with meal preparation by gathering ingredients, cutting vegetables, and other preparatory tasks.
• Serve lunch to shelter guests and assist with clean up after the meal.
• Restock kitchen supplies and paper products.

Weekdays 11am – 2pm. Contact Vicky Bonilla, vbonilla@nvfs.org.

Support our littlest learners by becoming an Early Childhood Classroom Volunteer! In this role, volunteers will gain experience caring for and engaging with babies and toddlers in a classroom setting, experience the rewards of bringing delight to a child, and see children grow & progress developmentally. Volunteers are needed on weekdays from about 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. 

Duties include:

• Assist classroom teachers with children’s activities.
• Work with babies and toddlers to help them advance developmentally (ages 0-3).
• Assist in caring for infants and babies during free play and circle time.
• Assist with set-up and clean-up for breakfast and lunch.
• Share a special skill, hobby or talent with the children! Ideas include: Music group, arts and crafts, yoga, etc.

Qualifications:

• Experience with very young children preferred
• Successful completion of Child Protective Services and criminal background checks
• Proof of negative TB test
• Willingness to volunteer once per week

Two Location and Age-Group Options:

• EHS @ Georgetown South (9444 Taney Road, Manassas 20110) – 0-3 year olds
• Head Start @ SERVE Campus (10056 Dean Drive, Manassas 20110) – 3-5 year olds

Thrift shop volunteer’s tasks range from helping to sort and organize donations, tagging items for sale, replenishing items on the sales floor, accepting and processing donations, and greeting customers, and other duties. The tasks vary so volunteer should be prepared to take on any of these tasks. Volunteer should be prepared for extended periods of standing, bending, reaching and light/moderate lifting. We are currently taking volunteers every day except Mondays. You must sign up for the volunteer shift in advance (no walk-in volunteers accepted). Please cancel your shift if you are sick or have cold-like symptoms.

Age Restrictions. Youth cannot volunteer until their parent/guardian signs and submits the volunteer waiver. Must be at least 16 years old to volunteer independently. Youth 12-15 may volunteer with a parent/guardian; the child and parent/guardian must register separately. Dress is casual. Must wear sensible closed-toed shoes (no sandals, flip-flops or high heels). Please refrain from using your cell phone during your shift.

Click here to register, view and sign up for shifts.

The NVFS Clock Tower thrift shop provides an affordable shopping experience to the community while generating revenue to support NVFS programs and services.

Are you organized? Do you have a great smile and a passion for working with people? Do you speak Spanish?  If so, this role is for you! 

Receptionist volunteers help run the front office at our Multicultural Center, which manages client check-in for our programs and INOVA clinics and supports daily office operations. Volunteers ensure that all clients are properly greeted, signed in and directed to appropriate staff, and field phone calls from those seeking assistance. Kindness and support at the front desk are essential so that all visitors have a positive and efficient experience.

Duties:

• Greet all clients and visitors in a busy waiting room
• Answer questions, ensure that visitors sign in and are directed to the appropriate department for their appointment
• Data entry and administrative support
• Answer phone calls and provide referrals
• Other projects, as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bilingual in Spanish and English
• Strong verbal communication skills, good people skills and sound judgment
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment
• Successful completion of a background check

Location:

6400 Arlington Blvd., Suite 110
Falls Church, VA 22042

Contact:

Samara Weinstein
571.748.2876
sweinstein@nvfs.org

Do you enjoy meeting people and spending time around others? Do you have a passion for supporting people experiencing crisis? Volunteers are needed weekdays to support daily operations of a homeless shelter for families. Volunteers welcome guests and visitors, answer calls, answer guest questions and fill their supply requests, provide administrative support when needed including organizing donations and supplies. Volunteers must commit to a set weekly schedule. This is a great introduction to homeless services.

Volunteers are most needed weekdays:

• 8-11 a.m.
• 12-3 p.m.
• 4-7 p.m.

Contact Vicky Bonilla, 571.748.2716, vbonilla@nvfs.org.

Support our littlest learners by becoming an Early Head Start Classroom Volunteer! In this role, volunteers will gain experience caring for and engaging with babies and toddlers in a classroom setting, experience the rewards of bringing delight to a child, and see children grow & progress developmentally. Volunteers are needed on weekdays from about 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. 

Duties include:

• Assist classroom teachers with children’s activities.
• Work with babies and toddlers to help them advance developmentally (ages 0-3).
• Assist in caring for infants and babies during free play and circle time.
• Assist with set-up and clean-up for breakfast and lunch.
• Share a special skill, hobby or talent with the children! Ideas include: Music group, arts and crafts, yoga, etc.

Qualifications:

• Experience with very young children preferred
• Successful completion of Child Protective Services and criminal background checks
• Proof of negative TB test
• Willingness to volunteer once per week

Locations:

• Arlington Mill – 919 S. Dinwiddie Street, Arlington, VA 22204
• Vermont Street – 601 N. Vermont Street, Arlington, VA 22203

Do you ENJOY working with people? If so, this role is for you! 

NVFS is seeking volunteers to help provide coverage at our main office front desk.  Volunteers ensure that all visitors are properly greeted and directed to appropriate staff, answer phones and provide referrals, and support ongoing office operations.  Customer service skills at the front desk are essential so that all visitors and callers have a positive and efficient experience.

Duties:

• Greet all visitors.
• Answer phone calls and provide referrals.
• Accept package reception/deliveries and sort mail.

Qualifications:

• Strong verbal communication skills, good people skills and sound judgment.
• Comfortable in a front-office environment.
• Successful completion of a background check.

Commitment:

One 3-4 hour shift per week for at least 3 months

NVFS Administrative Office
3110 Fairview Park Drive, Suite 500

Falls Church, VA 22042
571.748.2500

Contact:

Samara Weinstein
571.748.2876
sweinstein@nvfs.org

Classroom volunteers help teachers with daily activities for 3-5 year olds at our Head Start Center. Prepare, lead and support learn-through-play activities; read to students; supervise them on the playground, and help serve breakfast and lunch.

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 16 years old
• Successful completion of Child Protective Services and criminal background checks, including fingerprints
• Proof of negative TB test within the last two (2) months
• Able to commit to volunteer a 3-hour shift at least once per week for at least six (6) months

Volunteers must attest that they are fully vaccinated from COVID (booster not required) in order to participate in-person. Protective face coverings are required for everyone entering the building.

Many families are forced to choose between putting food on the table or paying their household bills. The Hunger Resource Center helps over 650 families avoid this difficult choice each month — and stave off the perils of homelessness.  Food Recovery Driver volunteers make routine pick-ups to rescue food from grocery stores and restaurants to help those families.

Volunteers must be at least 21 years old with a valid driver’s license. Must be able to lift up to 50lbs. Ride along training with experience volunteer or staff is provided. Volunteers drive agency vehicles, not their own.  Sign up to be a Food Recover Driver today! One day a week can make a life-long impact on a family in need.

P.S. You don’t have to do it alone – the vans seat 2 people – bring a partner to help you out. It’s a great workout, too!