National Volunteer Week takes place during the third week in April, which runs April 20–26 in 2025. It was created to highlight the critical role volunteers play in addressing social issues, building stronger communities, creating kinships, and transforming the world. It’s also a reminder that even small acts of kindness and service can make a big difference.
According to Points of Light, one of the organizations in the United States that plays a key role in organizing and promoting National Volunteer Week, the event was established in 1974 and has grown exponentially each year, with thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week.
Volunteers Make A Big Difference
At Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), volunteers play a major role in creating a future in which every person in our community has the access, support, and resources to reach their full potential. In fact, last year alone saw nearly 2,300 volunteers come through NVFS’ doors, donating more than 36,000 hours of service.
“We would never be able to help the number of people we do with the high quality of services we offer without the dedication of our volunteers,” says Karen Horowitz, Director of Community & Volunteer Engagement for NVFS. “Whether they volunteer for a day or for a decade, they have positively impacted countless lives, in so many different ways.”
Pitching In
Apple Federal Credit Union (Apple FCU) is one organization that regularly volunteers with NVFS. In the past, they have sent up to four volunteers each month to spend three hours in the Hunger Resource Center warehouse, stocking shelves and helping with anything else that needs to be done. At least once a month, they pack lunches for the NVFS SERVE Family Shelter, with one department or branch of the credit union packing 40 lunches and bottled water for shelter guests. Apple FCU hosts an annual Holiday Food Drive/Food Collection event at their branches in Prince William County and Manassas where they put out donation boxes so credit union members and the public can drop off food, and at the Annual NVFS Holiday Party, three to four Apple FCU staff members dress up as Santa’s helpers and take pictures of party guests with Santa.
“I love how NVFS has an outlet for just about every need you can think of and continues to uncover new needs,” says long-time volunteer Crystal Brown of Apple Federal Credit Union. “NVFS is careful to keep the people in our community at the focus point of every decision made. I love how NVFS opens their doors to volunteers and allows us to have the opportunity to give back to our community and to those in need. When I am onsite, I look forward to what I am doing. I also look at the opportunity as if this was me on the receiving end. I hope there are others who put as much care and concern when they volunteer and donate in whatever capacity. For the rest of my coworkers at Apple FCU, they also believe the same and remember that our organization was founded on the act of service and giving, and this is a way for them to continue that cycle.”
Opportunities Abound
There are numerous ways that individuals and organizations can get involved by volunteering. In addition to some of the opportunities mentioned above that Apple FCU assists with, there are a variety of tasks available that can appeal to almost any skill level.
Those undertakings encompass everything from receptionists and food recovery drivers to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and executive-level talents. As an example, those who are skilled at supporting the professional development of others should look into NVFS’ Training Futures program, which is an innovative, professional job-training program that teaches marketable job skills to economically disadvantaged, unemployed, or under-employed adults. This provides business professionals with an opportunity to lead a 90-minute workshop on their favorite business skill or topic to help trainees prepare for new careers.
Waves Of Hope
Every task performed by volunteers provides a ripple effect that benefits beyond the walls of NVFS. For the volunteer who has a desire to make a difference, a belief in a cause, a need to connect with others, and/or a wish to contribute to the community, they can make a difference and feel good about helping others. But on a larger scale, what might seem like a simple task of serving a meal or cleaning up a local playground has a profound effect on the person eating that meal or the kids utilizing that playground. When you make a difference in one person’s life, they can pay that forward and make a difference in someone else’s life.
As an example, if someone volunteers to sort donations at our Clock Tower Thrift Store, it might seem like a menial task, but it’s much more than that. It means that NVFS has nicer, higher-quality merchandise for people to put on display. Some of the people shopping at the thrift store might be people needing to make the dollars in their budgets go further. Others may simply appreciate a good deal on something they need or want. Either way, the profit goes to NVFS so we can use that money in the programs that need it most. Putting that into perspective, a person giving up a few hours to sort through Clock Tower donations not only directly benefits the volunteer because they can feel good in making a difference to their community, it also makes a difference to the people buying those items, and it provides NVFS with the additional funds to use wherever they are needed the most.
Come Join Us
For those interested in volunteering, contact NVFS at voluteer@nvfs.org so we can match your interests with our needs and create an impactful experience for everyone. To view a list of some of the current roles we need to fill, visit our Volunteer Opportunities page.