Good Shepherd Alliance Seeks Volunteers

By Terri Lightle

Good Shepherd Alliance, Inc.

Ashburn Village

703-724-1555

Volunteer Activities

The Good Shepherd Alliance (GSA) thanks the community for its interest and outstanding support for our homeless and indigent programs and services. It is an encouragement and a blessing that you want to give back to the community.

The GSA manages three shelters in Loudoun; a 10 bed family shelter near Arcola, a 20 bed women’s and children’s shelter near Lucketts and a 6 bed pregnant women and toddlers shelter in Purcellville. Many homeless individuals and families will benefit from your efforts. These acts of kindness exhibited from the community are exceptional and gratefully received by the GSA Board of Directors, staff and homeless residents. Without your support Good Shepherd Alliance would not be able to provide the shelter or bare essentials that we have the privilege of serving to those in need.

Listed below are some volunteer opportunities currently available.

Substitute Monitor Program - We are developing a Substitute Monitor Program to train individuals who may be interested in being a substitute monitor during times that our full-time monitors are on vacation, this is only available for women at this time. This program would require having a group that would go through some training including crisis management. They would be contacted when the monitor at our Hebron Women and Children's shelter goes on vacation to sign up for either overnights or just evening or morning checks. If you are interested in being a part of this program, please let me know. Once I have a small group, we will have the training scheduled. If you know anyone who may also be interested, please have them contact us as well.

Campfire Program - On Tuesday nights at the women and children's shelter home located near Lucketts, VA. If you or a group would be interested, you would be entertaining the children by providing a game or craft and if possible providing and serving a meal for the shelter. On an average we have about 8 to 10 women and 10 to 12 children. Campfire is a great time to meet the guests at the shelter and you could also bring your own children to share in the experience. The time of camp fire starts at 5:30 or 6:00 pm for dinner and the activity usually starts around 6:30 and ends at about 7:30 or 8:00 pm. Please call the GSA office to set up a time.

Thrift store in Sterling, VA and our store in Ashburn - We always need help sorting clothes and donated items at our 5,800 square foot thrift store in Sterling, VA and our new 3,000 square foot store appropriately named Hopes Treasures in Ashburn, VA. Our thrift stores are a wonderful blessing to us in two ways: All of our guests and outreach clients can receive free vouchers to shop for the required necessities or if items are sold then the proceeds directly support the shelter facilities and programs.

Office - Light office duties are available at our home office in Ashburn, VA, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Volunteers must be 18 years old or a responsible mature 16 or 17 year old.

Yard work and handyman services - Work is needed on a periodic basis. Please inquire at the GSA Office.

Hosting a BBQ, Bake Sale, and Rummage Sale - To promote awareness and the proceeds are donated directly to support the shelters.

Set up a table at church or event - To promote awareness and the proceeds are donated directly to support the shelters.

Food or Supply Drive – GSA needs dry laundry soap, large size 4, 5 and 6 diapers. Also GSA needs canned foods, fruits, vegetables, stews and pastas and juices. Please deliver to Good Shepherd Alliance Office at 20684 Ashburn Rd., Ashburn, VA 20147. 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Mon – Sat. Shelter Wish List can be provided at the GSA office.

5th Annual Walk for Shelter – End of September, 2009 the walk for the homeless in Northern Virginia. The 1.2 mile walk will start at the Douglass Community Center and proceed through the historic section of Leesburg. Sign up 10 days before the walk to receive a homeless t-shirt and obtain as many sponsors as you are able. Sign-up next September, as forms will be available at www.loudonhomeless.org in July of 2009.

Please let us know if you are led to serve in another way. We are always ready to listen.