Written by Shayda Windle / Fairfax County Times
Last Friday, Volunteer Fairfax brought together hundreds of volunteers and community members at the PARC at Tysons for its 29th annual VolunteerFest. The event, traditionally held across multiple locations, was co-located for the first time this year, allowing more than 500 attendees to participate in a variety of service activities,including emergency preparedness, hunger relief, environmental conservation, animal welfare, and more, while enjoying a community fair in one central area. Organized by Volunteer Fairfax, a nonprofit marking its 50th anniversary this year, VolunteerFest continues to support regional organizations and community needs in Northern Virginia.
The day’s lineup offered diverse service projects tackling pressing local issues. Attendees were invited to kick off the festival with a food drive to benefit the Pozez Jewish Community Center (JCC), gathering donations to stock area food pantries. With a focus on hunger relief, Educate Fairfax, a nonprofit supporting Fairfax County Public Schools, led a snack-packing event. Volunteers assembled 200 snack bags for Bryant High School in Alexandria and Justice High School in Falls Church, delivering them on Monday to ensure that students had essential nutrition.
Adding an educational twist, the WEBS Training Center, a nonprofit dedicated to empowerment through education and financial literacy, hosted a “Salsa Sprout: Indoor Gardening Adventure” demonstration, offering volunteers an opportunity to participate in creating gardening kits. Through this project, families learn about indoor gardening, with volunteers preparing 60 kits containing tomatoes, parsley, and green onions, helping families grow fresh ingredients for salsa while discovering more about food sustainability.
Animal welfare also took the spotlight at VolunteerFest, with the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation of Falls Church gathering volunteers to stuff KONG toys for animals in their care. Volunteers at the event crafted dozens of enrichment items delivered to local shelters to provide comfort and stimulation for shelter animals. One puppy, adopted from the Lost Dog’s rescue program, found a forever home at the event.
In response to homelessness, volunteers assembled 100 hygiene kits containing shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, lotion, and washcloths for New Hope Housing.
“New Hope Housing reached out with a need for hygiene kits,” said Tammy Deem, director of Marketing and Communications for Volunteer Fairfax, emphasizing the critical role of community support for such resources.
Another essential project focused on emergency preparedness for children. Participants packed an astounding 1200 emergency response kits for the Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management and Security’s STEP (Student Tools for Emergency Preparedness) program. Each kit contained a STEP booklet and a whistle/flashlight combo device to equip young students with tools and knowledge to handle emergencies.
Local leaders, including Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, Providence DistrictSupervisor Dalia Palchik, and Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, attended the event and expressed their support for community service. Alcorn’s office organized 35 volunteers to take part in a Tysons Forest litter cleanup across the street from the main event site.
The community fair featured family-friendly activities, including live music from School of Rock teens, giant Connect 4 and Jenga games, face painting, and festival-style food from Kaziville’s food truck. With 22 nonprofit organizations present, the fair allowed these groups to recruit volunteers and connect with potential supporters for future projects.
In previous years, VolunteerFest’s service projects were scattered across various locations. This year’s centralized format brought a festival atmosphere to the event, enabling nonprofits and community members to work and celebrate together in one place. As Volunteer Fairfax enters its next 50 years, officials say the organization remains committed to mobilizing resources and volunteers to meet the region’s evolving needs.
Find out more about how you can get involved or donate here https://www.volunteerfairfax.org/.