Fairfax County volunteer opportunities

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter needs volunteer foster care providers, ages 18 and older. No experience is required. A background check and a home visit are required. Training, supplies and medical care for the animals are provided. Attend an orientation session, 7 p.m. March 18, at the shelter, 4500 West Ox. Rd., Fairfax. asdvolunteer@http://fairfaxhttp://county.gov, 703-830-1100.

The Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services Senior Services Division is sponsoring a 50Fit Instructor Training Program for volunteers 50 and older who are interested in teaching exercise classes. No teaching experience is necessary. All equipment and supplies are provided. The seven-week training course is free. Interviews for the program are March 22-26 at the Groveton Senior Center, 8350 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria. 703-704-6216.

UMFS Northern Virginia Regional Center will hold a training program for people interested in becoming foster and adoptive parents, 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays, April 6 to May 11. Participants must attend an orientation session. 703-941-9008, Ext. 308.

The International Student Exchange needs host families for exchange students, ages 15-18, from around the world for the 2010-11 academic year. Students are screened, insured, speak English and have spending money. Host families provide room and board and guidance. Students expect to share the household responsibilities and be included in typical family activities. Couples, single parents and families without children are encouraged to apply. Louise Hackman, 540-286-2529, LouiseNVA@http://cox.net.

The Access Committee of the Fairfax Long Term Care Coordinating Council needs bilingual volunteers to review articles and informational materials and translate it into Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean. A commitment of at least two hours per week is required. Amy Trang, 703-324-3745, amy.http://trang@http://fairfaxhttp://county.gov.

The Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates will hold an information session for people interested in becoming advocates for abused or neglected children. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, Good shepherd Catholic Church, 8710 Mount Vernon Hwy., Alexandria. 703-273-3526, Ext. 22; ekosarin@casafairfax.org.

The Assistance League, which promotes literacy and the well-being of women and children in Northern Virginia, is recruiting members. 10 a.m. Monday, Sully Government Center, 4900 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly. Darlene, 703-848-0623, alnorthernva@yahoo.com; http://www.northernvirginia.assistanceleague.org.

The Ignation Volunteer Corps needs people 50 and older to assist the poor with goods and services, including employment assistance, life-skills training, grant writing, elder care, early childhood education and care, crisis intervention, shelter and transitional housing. Jim Kelley, 703-533-7322, jkelley@http://ivcusa.org; http://www.ivcusa.org.

Inova VNA Home Health needs volunteers to act as friendly visitors, providing companionship to lonely, homebound patients. Volunteers spend one to two hours a week talking with a patient, running errands or doing odd jos. Training is provided. Office volunteers are needed at the Springfield location for a variety tasks, including filing, mass mailings, copying and telephoning. Two or three hour weekday shifts are needed. Marion Hart or Adele Jenney, 703-916-2885.

The Wendt Center for Loss and Healing needs volunteers for Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC on June 11-13 in Millersville, Md. Campers ages 6-16, who have experienced a death, will be paired with an adult buddy for the weekend. Volunteer buddies are trained to serve as role models in the grief process and provide companionship and support to the campers. Volunteers are also needed to assist clinicians with groups and to provide administrative assistance. Kecia Hill, 202-624-0010, khill@http://rwendtcenter.org

-- Compiled by Jean Mack

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