(Posted 2021 Fall)
We’re excited to announce several volunteers joining Volunteer & Partner Services or taking on new roles within our organization! This realignment has allowed us to be more responsive to changes in the needs of the families we serve and more efficient in the operations of the work we do. We could not serve children and families without volunteer support.
Originally from Indiana, Mary Lou Withem graduated from Indiana University Southeast with a B.A. in Business Management. She had a long career in retail management, and retired after 28 years. In 2015 Mary Lou joined the Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption Program as a volunteer administrative assistant. She enjoys applying her skills in management and administration to assist these important programs. Currently, Mary Lou is supporting the Volunteer & Partner Services Program as a remote volunteer administrative assistant.
“I am so thrilled to be back working with Krissa and her staff.” Mary Lou recently stated. “The programs that are offered through VPS are so important to the children, especially during the pandemic and remote learning. I enjoy being a part of the support system for these kids.”
Isha Melige recently joined the Department of Family Services’ Volunteer & Partner Services team as the Assistant VPS Program Coordinator, and she has previously volunteered with DFS through the Study Buddy program.
She is currently a neuroscience major at Johns Hopkins University pursuing a pre-medical track. Before that, she spent several years as a shift manager for Inova Fairfax Hospital’s Patient Support Service. Isha also spent time tutoring in different capacities, as she is passionate about contributing to educational equity. She is interested in studying the relationship between preventive social work and preventive medicine, as well as its implications for the community. Isha is eager to explore how working with DFS can help her understand this intersection better.
Volunteer & Partner Services is also happy to announce the onboarding of one of our newest Assistant VPS Program Coordinators, Marie Conteh. She is an honors student in her junior year at George Mason University studying Criminology and Forensic Psychology.
Marie currently works for Prince William County as a camp counselor and an administrative assistant at the GMU Writing Center. She is looking forward to spending time in the VPS program learning new things, getting to know the staff, and working with her fellow volunteers!
