Department of Family Services Alert:
Rhonda Mayfield is this year’s inaugural 50+ Community Ambassador Awardee.
Rhonda has a joyful energy and is dedicated to learning about county services for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers. She then shares the resources with those she serves in her volunteer roles and in the places she is active as a community member. Rhonda arrives to the learning sessions with updates on benefits and programs that would be beneficial for older adults and community members, helping all our volunteers learn.
Rhonda is also a Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman where she advocates for long-term care residents’ rights and quality of life.
When asked what she enjoys about volunteering, Rhonda replied, “I get genuine joy moving the needle, even a little bit, to make someone's day brighter.”
Hajjar Ahmed has served as a consistent volunteer social visitor to an older adult for over 2 years. She began visiting this client in-person in 2020 and transitioned to visits by phone during the pandemic. She has been a patient, compassionate and steady presence, nurturing connection and socialization during an unsettling and challenging time.
Hajjar shared, “I enjoy connecting with seniors in my local community as a virtual volunteer. Volunteering with Volunteer Solutions has expanded my generational horizons as I learn from my clients' diverse life experiences while giving back to seniors. I have gained a sense of fulfillment while volunteering that cannot be attained in other ways.”
William “Bud” Pridgen has been a dedicated volunteer with Volunteer Solutions for the past four years, primarily providing transportation for medical appointments, grocery shopping, and errands. He generously gives of his time and is often available on short notice, rarely declining requests for rides. He also volunteers with the Shepherd’s Center.
Bud expressed gratitude for the positive impact volunteering makes on his life and the lives of others. He shared that volunteering is a helpful way to use his spare time and said, “I appreciate learning from others about their life experiences.”
2022 Star Partner Award Recipient
The Young Men's Service League of Vienna-Oakton (YMSL-VO) members are mothers and sons who volunteer together to serve their local communities during the sons’ four years of high school. Their community service projects help these teens develop leadership skills and foster increased connection in the mother-son relationships. YMSL-VO members have been volunteering with Volunteer Solutions since 2016, when they began assisting with annual yardwork clean-up in our Helping Hands program. They’ve helped in several other ways over the years, and remained flexible and committed to volunteering throughout the covid-19 pandemic, even with the shift to virtual volunteering. Here’s a 2021 Golden Gazette article highlighting some of their many community contributions, bit.ly/YMSLVOinGG.