Welcome to Caring Community Updates 2022 news and articles about our volunteers in action!
Holiday Project 2022- Partners were Pivotal
(Posted December 2022)
Volunteer Solutions (VS) coordinated the 2022 Fairfax Area Agency on Aging Holiday Project. This endeavor was largely supported by the highly generous donation from the Rotary Club of Bailey’s Crossroads. The Rotary Club provided new kitchen towels, hand warmers, hand lotions and sanitizers, socks, and activity books, which VS staff sorted and placed into gift bags. The Vienna Quilters Unlimited group donated lovely handmade quilts. The Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild contributed charming ornaments and Elaine Throm provided tissue packs in handmade holders. Fairfax Pets on Wheels contributed dog and cat toys for the clients with pets.
We greatly appreciate our compassionate, dedicated community partners who help us remind isolated older adults that others care.
Introducing Emily Swenson, Volunteer Solutions Supervisor
(Posted December 2022)
We are pleased to introduce Emily Swenson, who joined the Department of Family Services Adult and Aging Division as Volunteer Solutions’ supervisor on November 19, 2022. Emily brings a deep knowledge of the volunteer management field and enjoys helping others find their unique gifts, and ways to serve their community. She had a long career at Volunteer Fairfax, a local volunteer center where she managed and created volunteer engagement programs for individuals, groups, and companies in our community. She also helped to build capacity in local nonprofit and public agencies through volunteerism. While at Volunteer Fairfax she oversaw the RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) grant and supervised several program staff. She also worked on developing partnerships promoting access to volunteering at all ages. Emily has mobilized volunteers supporting several missions, including those that support our aging, disability, and caregiver population. Learn more here.
2022 Thanksgiving Project
(Posted November 2022)
A big “thank you” to the 50 volunteers who delivered boxes of shelf-stable food items to 548 clients from November 15-17, 2022! The following community-based organizations partnered with us (in Area Agency on Aging) and donated the food: Cornerstones, Food for Others, Lorton Community Action Center, United Community and Western Fairfax Christian Ministries. Food was collected and distributed from Jeffrey's Catering in Alexandria. We appreciate their role in the coordination as well. It was a meaningful collaboration between AAA staff, groups, and volunteers. The older adult recipients were very grateful!
Volunteer Spotlight – Kay Croll
(Posted November 2022)
Community event requests continue to roll in and Volunteer Solutions (VS) has participated in many fairs during 2022. The events often last several hours (sometimes split into shifts) and it’s helpful to have the assistance of our community outreach volunteers. This year, one such volunteer, Kay Croll, has been actively involved in several of these, including two of the October fairs- Healthy Together Fairfax at Lee District Center and the Beacon 50+ Expo at Springfield Town Center. We appreciate that Kay is friendly and enjoys engaging with the public. We decided to learn more about who she is and how she arrived here. Learn more about Kay.
Special Event in October! Learn About Community Volunteering
(Posted September 2022)
You are invited to a special, 3-day, virtual event, on October 12, 13, and 14, 2022, with welcoming remarks by Chairman Jeff McKay. Twenty-seven non-profit organizations and Fairfax County agencies will share how they incorporate volunteers into service, and all will be available to answer questions. The volunteer fair will be held via Zoom from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. You can join at any time, during any 30-minute presentation. Learn more!
Fairfax Pets on Wheels Proclamation
(Posted September 2022)
On Tuesday, September 13, 2022, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors proclaimed the month of September 2022, "Fairfax Pets on Wheels Month" in honor of their 35-year anniversary! Several FPOW volunteers were present for this proclamation, with their darling, furry companions. FPOW president, Paula Singleton, accepted it, and delivered moving remarks.
Congratulations and "thank you" to all FPOW volunteers who bring joy to residents of long-term care! If you'd like to learn more about the good they do in our community, or wish to volunteer, go to FPOW.org.
Volunteer Spotlight - Maria Romain Inspires Others
(Posted August 2022)
“I love doing what I do,” shared Volunteer Solutions volunteer Maria Romain, referring to the Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) fitness program she teaches weekly at Wakefield Senior Center in Annandale, and as a substitute at another center. She first heard about this volunteer opportunity to lead SAIL classes through her neighbor, Diane Ditzler, who was a volunteer instructor. Inspired, Maria registered with Volunteer Solutions in October 2021. She took the SAIL course – covered by Fairfax County for those who commit to teaching it at senior centers - and completed the certification. Learn more about Maria.
Connection Corner Meetings are in Full Swing
(posted 2022 August)
The virtual Connection Corner meetings, which began in April 2022, are well underway. Volunteer Solutions staff and active, vetted volunteers meet monthly to network and discuss topics identified by volunteers and staff as being of importance. If you’re interested in joining these virtual gatherings, please look for the relevant registration details in the monthly invitation, emailed prior to the meetings. If you are in the South County region, you may sign up here. If you are in the Northwestern or Central region, sign up here. If you are in the Northeastern region, sign up here.
Some of the discussion topics covered have included: the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging programming and services offered, The Fairfax County Strategic Plan and SHAPE plan, Adult & Aging Services’ mission, who we serve, group norms, Office of Risk Management changes, Mental Health First Aid training, Robotic Companion Pets, I.T. changes and how they’ve impacted clients’ use of technology, Mandated Reporter status, and whether Connection Corner meetings should also be held in-person.
We hope our volunteers will join their fellow caring community members and staff for informal, social, and informational meetings. Volunteer Solutions welcomes suggestions for future topics.
Community Fairs Have Resumed
(posted 2022 June)
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Community events are an important way to disseminate information on services available to older adults, adults with disabilities, and their family caregivers. The pandemic impacted community gatherings taking place in person, and requests have been increasing. Volunteer Solutions continues to participate in Town Halls, fairs, and other in-person community events. Pictured here is veteran outreach volunteer, Ligia Ramirez, in the white mask, at Supervisor Storck’s Town Hall. She is next to another active volunteer, Diane Watson, and VS staff member, Jeannine Purdy. We are grateful to all our volunteers who help us share information and are looking for additional volunteers to assist us.
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Our Community Outreach volunteers staff events and distribute Adult & Aging Services resource materials and information regarding volunteer opportunities. They may also help distribute flyers as needed at events or to organizations. If you are interested in connecting with our community in this way, please email VolunteerSolutionsRecruitment@FairfaxCounty.gov. This is a flexible role and training is provided.
Helping Hands in 2022
(Posted 2022 May)
Meet Susan Crandall, one of our compassionate and caring volunteers, who has devoted many hours to weeding and cleaning out a grateful older adult’s yard. Every May, Volunteer Solutions honors Older Americans Month by taking on Helping Hands clients, referred by DFS case managers. We are grateful to Susan for beautifying this homeowner’s garden in more ways than shown here, and for her involvement in other VS roles, too. Thank you to all VS volunteers who help improve community members’ well-being by cleaning their indoor and outdoor spaces, and more!
Meet Our 2022 Star Volunteer Award Recipients
(Posted 2022 April)
April is National Volunteer Month and Volunteer Solutions is thankful for and proud of all our volunteers! Every year we award 4 Star Awards to individual volunteers and one Star Partner award. Here are the 2022 award recipients.
Mujeeb Chowdhry has been actively helping the community in numerous roles over the years, including as a Volunteer Solutions medical transportation driver and grocery shopper. He was featured on the cover of April's Golden Gazette! Learn more about the difference Mujeeb makes in others’ lives, here.
Learn about other Star Award winners and the Star Partner Award winner.
Robotic Pets Help Address Loneliness and Social Isolation
(posted March 2022)
Volunteer Solutions (VS) is embarking on a new and exciting initiative, the Companion Pets program. Thanks to grant funding from the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging has purchased battery-operated dogs and cats from the company, Joy for All.
Clients from Adult and Aging Services, and participants at adult day healthcare and senior centers, are eligible to receive a robotic pet. The goal is to address loneliness and social isolation. VS staff presented the program guidelines to case managers and staff who have already started making client referrals. Learn more about the robotic pets program.
Connection Corner Begins in April
(posted 2022 March)
Volunteer Solutions (VS) volunteers are invited to meet monthly to connect and network with VS staff and other VS volunteers on MSTeams. Meetings will provide an informal and welcoming virtual space for volunteers to share ideas and tips, as well as learn and receive relevant information from VS staff regarding the population we serve. Agendas will be provided by VS staff at each one and will take into account any volunteer input from the previous meetings. Volunteers are asked to attend the one that pertains to their region unless there’s a conflict for them with that timeframe. We look forward to seeing you there.
IT-On Call – Ready to Serve
(posted 2022 February)
Technology plays a vital role in helping people stay connected and can make lives easier in a multitude of ways. Volunteer Solutions (VS) recruits and manages tech-savvy volunteers for the IT On-Call program, which VS established in 2014. IT On-Call volunteers, like Ragesh Ramesh Govind, provide free technology assistance to adults aged 60 or older, and adults 18 and over with a disability. These volunteers assist individuals (at home or in senior centers) by answering questions and helping them utilize their tech devices in more efficient ways. IT On-Call is a valuable service, which is possible due to our dedicated volunteers.
Learn more about IT On-Call and Ragesh Ramesh Govind in the February edition of the Golden Gazette.
New Year, New Opportunities for Socialization
(posted 2022 January)
To help address the issue of social isolation, Volunteer Solutions is offering opportunities for volunteers to provide additional socialization. This includes mealtime visiting for Meals on Wheels recipients. Learn more about this role and other opportunities in the Golden Gazette article: New Year, New Opportunities for Socialization.