David Kline’s day job in our community is as a Traffic Engineer with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. But, he is so much more…he is a Doer! At the 2015 Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards, an event where over 400 people gathered to celebrate the Doers Who Do, David was recognized with the Fairfax County Volunteer Award for his impactful and dedicated work with the Juvenile Domestic Relations Court.
Since 2007, David has volunteered as a Visitation Monitor at the Stronger Together and Safe Haven Supervised Visitation and Supervised Exchange Program. What is supervised visitation and exchange? It is the county program that ensures the safety of family members during visitation and custodial changes where there has been a history or concern of domestic violence.
Volunteer Monitors are trained in basic tenants of the program, but David went above and beyond the basics. Demonstrating his commitment to healthy families, David participated in extra training and added hours to his volunteer schedule so he could become a mentor to a young father of a toddler who was court ordered into the program. David taught this 16-year-old dad many practical skills such as changing diapers and safety hazard awareness. He also emphasized the importance of reading and playing together. But most importantly, David has inspired the young man to take responsibility for his child.
Through his service, David has positively changed the dynamics of this family, he was commended by the judge, and he was nominated for the Fairfax County Volunteer Service Award by Lori Wymore-Kirkland with the Juvenile Domestic Relations Court.
David was surprised with an extra-special honor at the Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards. Upon being named the Fairfax County Volunteer Award winner, it was announced that David would receive a special prize of an all-expense paid Caribbean cruise for two on Cabot’s True Celebrities tour in November. This special award was made possible through a partnership between Fairfax County Office of Public Private Partnerships and Cabot Creamery/Samaritan Technologies.
Inspired? Please join David in positively changing lives by volunteering where your heart leads you. Find an opportunity today at www.volunteerfairfax.org.