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Could VISTA Help Your VDSS Program?
Is your program in need of some capacity building support? Could VDSS-VISTA be a solution? The VDSS Office on Volunteerism and Community Services (OVCS) follows the Virginia Department of Social Services mission to design and deliver high-quality human services that help Virginians achieve safety, independence and overall well-being. OVCS serves as the intermediary to support … Read more
Building a Generation of Volunteers
“Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” Martin Luther King, Jr. Volunteer Fairfax was pleased to combine two … Read more
Hunger Resources During Pandemic
Virginia’s food banks are currently taking collective action — including requesting local, state, and federal support to address food security challenges — amidst the current public health crisis. It is expected that COVID-19, already a global pandemic, will continue to spread widely throughout Virginia. The impact on hunger in the Commonwealth is likely to be … Read more
$13M in Virginia AmeriCorps Funding
Governor McAuliffe today announced nearly $13 million in FY17 funding for Virginia through the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). These federal funds will support more than 5,700 people of all ages and backgrounds as they help to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and increase civic engagement through national service in Virginia. National service … Read more
2010 Governor’s Award Winners
Volunteer: Inesha Premaratne (Richmond) Inesha Premaratne is a 16-year-old student at Henrico High School and founder of the club, “Roots Before Branches.” The summer between her freshman and sophomore years, Inesha saw an unused piece of land on the school campus and created a service opportunity by planting a garden to support a nationwide effort … Read more
2011 Governor’s Award Winners
Youth Volunteers: Emily Claire Lodge (Herndon) When Emily Lodge was nine years old, she heard Sister Genevieve of the Little Sisters of the Poor speak at church about caring for the elderly poor and how they relied on charitable donations to carry out that mission. Emily told her parents that she wanted to help, but … Read more
2012 Governor’s Award Winners
Youth Volunteer: Katherine “Katie” R. Goodman (Ashland) For a twelve-year-old, Katie Goodman has been described as a “little dynamo.” Despite the fact that she was only ten-years-old when she started her mission, she is doing more to feed the hungry than many adults. After seeing television commercials about hunger and its consequences, Katie was inspired … Read more
2013 Governor’s Award Winners
Faith Based Volunteer Group: New Life for Youth, Inc. (Richmond) For thousands of young men and women struggling with addiction, the road to recovery leads to New Life for Youth, Inc. For more than forty years, New Life for Youth has successfully assisted broken families by providing spiritual, educational and job training for Virginians with … Read more
2014 Governor’s Award Winners
Youth Volunteer: Unity Bowling (Henrico) For as long as anyone can remember, Unity Bowling has been passionate about her beliefs and a powerhouse of ideas to make positive changes in the world. When she was just nine years old she began spearheading a book drive for Read Aloud Virginia. This began a crusade which continues … Read more