Virginia Service

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Ebenezer United Methodist Church Men’s Group
Area Served: Westmoreland County
The Ebenezer United Methodist Church Men's Group have seen a dire need in their community to assist low income individuals, especially the elderly, with home repairs. As a small, rural county with limited resources, Westmoreland County has numerous unmet needs. Taking time off from their jobs and their families, the volunteers tackle small- to mid-sized repairs before they grow into overwhelming problems. The Men's Group works to replace windows, doors, floors, railings and stairs. Major problems such as plumbing and heating are addressed, as well. These acts of kindness have not only greatly alleviated the concerns of the homeowners, but assure the safety and health of the entire community. Find your passion and volunteer today.
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Diane Joyner
Area Served: James City County
For at risk children in James City County (JCC), Diane Joyner is a beacon of hope. For 14 years, Ms. Joyner has been a volunteer and an advocate for children and education -- helping disadvantaged, disabled, abused and troubled youth and their families. She has contributed more than 1,500 volunteer hours to the James City County community. Diane began her work as a mentor and resource parent to young mothers whose children were at high risk of abuse and neglect. She eagerly accepted the challenge, providing one-on-one guidance to parents and their children.  She later decided that she could further help the community's at risk children and families by serving as a Volunteer Emergency Family for Children (VEFC) and as a foster parent in her community.  For six years, Diane volunteered to provide 24-hour emergency respite care to abused and neglected children and families in crisis up to a maximum of 21 days.  When she realized that some families were unable to rectify their situations within the allotted time, she asked to be dually certified as a foster family to reduce trauma to the children.  For six years, Diane's volunteer service insured the well being, safety and protection of the community's most vulnerable children while also nurturing the self esteem of the parents.  She also worked to establish partnerships with leaders within the community in the areas of social services, public education and early education programs, behavioral health partners and churches. Most recently Diane was selected to serves as the volunteer Chair of the Williamsburg James City County Multi-Agency Alternative Education Task Force and has helped define a future Community Liaison and Resource Coordinator with a goal of fostering alliances and partnerships to leverage community resources and encourage new collaborations.  Diane Joyner truly embodies the true "spirit of volunteerism." As a volunteer she has advocated, mentored, served, given, collaborated and inspired others through her service to the community. Find your passion and volunteer today.
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Kristen Kaplan
Area Served: Richmond
Kristen Kaplan has taken having a sense of community to a whole new level. As an integral part of transforming the small grassroots organization, Activate Richmond, into Hands On Greater Richmond, Kristen's "go to" attitude has served as an inspiration for others. Her work has created a vehicle for others to become involved in their community. Not just involved in programmatic efforts, Kristen has rolled up her sleeves doing everything from painting houses to making volunteer treats and walking dogs. One of her major successes was to partner with the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce's HYPE (Helping Young People Engage) program. At just one of their networking events, 170 individuals signed up to volunteer. Kristen is also an active member of Junior League of Richmond. There she has played a critical role in the start up of the Community Response Committee, a program which partners skilled volunteers with a pro bono nonprofit consultant to assist a selected nonprofit program for three years. The team determines the areas of greatest need and works with the organization to achieve their goals, ultimately leaving the agency much stronger and having a higher level of sustainability. Kristen is also an inaugural member of the Greater Richmond Giving Circle which has raised $30,000 to be distributed to local nonprofits, and has volunteered with at least 10 other nonprofits in the past two years. Kristen has shown that when you get involved in your community, there's no end to what you can accomplish. Find your passion and get started volunteering today.
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Embrace Richmond
Area Served: Richmond
Richmond's homeless individuals and families have found hope through the work of Embrace Richmond. In partnership with other area organizations like CARITAS and the Salvation Army, Embrace Richmond is helping at-risk families to establish a home for themselves, increase their self-sufficiency and become agents of blessing in their own communities. Embrace's Home Starter Packages provide basic furniture, linens, dishes and other household needs to families exiting local shelters. This eases the economic stress on the families moving into a new home and allows them to focus on getting their lives back on track. Individuals can also earn vouchers for additional household items, acquire job skills and receive job placement assistance. Local congregations and organizations collect the furniture and household items while communicating the issues facing homeless families. Not only do individuals receive the help they need to start a new chapter in their lives, but often they go onto volunteer at Embrace. More than 80 percent of those who volunteer at Embrace, were once a part of the homeless population - a testament to the difference the organization has made on so many lives. Discover how you can give hope to others by volunteering in your community.Pictured: Wendy McCaig, Executive Director, Embrace Richmond
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Medical Care for Children Partnership Advisory Council
Area Served: Fairfax County
The Medical Care for Children Partnership (MCCP) Advisory Council is a visionary organization that believes that no child should be denied access to quality health care. Through innovative public-private partnerships, the creation of a safety net and asset mapping, the MCCP is making a difference to uninsured children and families. Since its creation 20 years ago, it has provided healthcare for 75,000 Fairfax County children. These services were provided to the families who could not qualify for government-sponsored insurance such as Virginia's FAMIS or Medicaid, but could not afford private insurance. Through the MCCP's networking and advocacy, council members have leveraged business resources in the community to strengthen the safety net for vulnerable kids in Northern Virginia. As the federal government looks for strategies to care for America's uninsured, the MCCP is providing ideas that are working today. Find your passion and start making a difference in your community.
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