Caring and Commitment

In 2010, Anne Reed ran across an ad in the Washington Post seeking volunteers for the Fairfax County Meals on Wheels program. She recalled that, several years before, her father had volunteered as a driver for Meals on Wheels in Maryland, her home state. She was impressed by her father’s efforts to support vulnerable older adults. Inspired by his example, she signed up with Volunteer Solutions and became a group coordinator for Meals on Wheels in Fairfax City and surrounding areas.

Volunteering was not a new endeavor for Anne. In her teens, she assisted stable owners with feeding, grooming, exercising their horses and managing the barn. Many years later, she volunteered for the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program, which provides equine-assisted activities that benefit people with disabilities.

Anne has a son in high school and daughter in college and has also volunteered in Fairfax County Public Schools for the past 17 years. Her volunteer roles have spanned from being a room parent to supporting band activities by coordinating large fund-raising projects through various committees. Currently, she assists the band director in event planning for holiday concert performances. As the committee chairperson, the duties include coordinating the popular Tunes for Tots holiday concerts, where up to a hundred band students perform in front of large audiences. Anne and her children all have a love of music and play various instruments. In addition to the band volunteer role, Anne generously gives her time to a high school career center where she assists the career center specialist and conducts scholarship research for material to include in the weekly newsletter.

After receiving a degree in Business Administration from Widener University in Pennsylvania, Anne worked for 12 years as an accountant for the Department of the Treasury. With her combined work and volunteer experience, she has refined her strong organizing, planning, and scheduling skills. Today, she continues to apply those skills to coordinate Meals on Wheels in Centreville and Chantilly. Anne is responsible for ensuring that client information is accurate and updated. She works closely with Fairfax County social workers to determine client needs, works with the caterer to provide weekly meal counts, and updates driver route books on a weekly basis. She prepares monthly reports for the social worker, case manager, and Nutrition Unit supervisors.

With her pleasant demeanor and dedication to community causes, Anne enjoys helping older adults and those with disabilities on a weekly basis. She is delighted to lessen the burdens on county employees. Anne has provided this valued service for nearly a decade. County staff and meal recipients are very grateful for her support!