VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR “WORKS SUNDAY”

For the 18th year in a row, the call has gone out for volunteers for “Works Sunday” – a cornucopia of charitable projects taking place on or about Sunday, August 18, 2013 - aimed at helping the hungry, the hurting and the homeless in the Reston/Herndon area.   

A remarkable example of successful inter-faith cooperation at the grassroots level, “Works Sunday 2013” is sponsored by some 20 local congregations - Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist – as a celebration of shared ethical values, and a demonstration of their  strong commitment to community service and social justice.   A reflection of that welcoming spirit is that “Works Sunday” is open to all – volunteers need not belong to a sponsoring congregation – or any congregation – in order to participate. 

As in years past, “Works Sunday 2013” is distinctly local in its focus.  With one exception (near Fairfax Hospital), all 21 projects are located in Reston or Herndon.  It is similarly low-impact in terms of volunteer time commitment, with most service project shifts lasting only one to two hours.  Those projects requesting contributions of clothing or personal items will, of course, only require the few minutes needed to drop off donated items.     

Projects for 2013 include a number of varied social outreach events for residents of local nursing homes, a Blood Drive, the collection of clothing and personal items for the homeless, a Food Drive on Saturday, August 17th for Reston Interfaith (now known as "Cornerstones"), support for Ronald McDonald House of Northern Virginia, and light yard and maintenance work at “Gabriel Homes” - local group homes for the intellectually challenged.   

While most projects are scheduled for “Works Sunday” itself - August 18, 2013 – other dates are available as well.  For example, the Blood Drive is on Saturday, August 10th, and the “Gabriel Homes” project extends over a number of weekends in both August and September.    

For more information about “Works Sunday” (including guidelines on the participation of children ages 12 and under, and teens unaccompanied by an adult) - or to volunteer for specific projects – visit www.workssunday.org, or call Christopher Wist at 703-964-6874.