Week of Hope has arrived!

One hundred Week of Hope youth were working hard in the City of Manassas last week.  Another group of 102 arrives Sunday.

This is the fifth year the city has teamed with Group Cares of Colorado to bring youth and their adult leaders to Manassas on mission trips to help revitalize our community throughout the summer.

Last week’s work crews came from as far as Chicago and St. Petersburg, Florida.  They mowed lawns for the disabled, replaced a broken fence and cleaned homes of two residents with compulsive hoarding disorder.  They also took the time to sit down and visit with the elderly.  Any local residents are welcome and encouraged to work along with these volunteers or lend them tools (will be returned!).  Wave at them when you see their orange vests or hand their leader a donation – all will be used to help the residents they are serving, and in this economy, the needs are great!

The work week is Monday-Thursday.  Many groups end their week with sightseeing around Prince William and the Washington, D.C. area.

The group arriving June 26 will be helping to clean the parade route prior to the 4^th of July parade along Dale Boulevard in Woodbridge.  Future groups will be working with youth at the Boys & Girls Club and helping in the SERVE food closet.

As always, the goal of the City’s Week of Hope program is to match these caring out-of-towners with residents willing to lend a hand to make our community better.  If you'd like to help, here are some specific needs:

Volunteers are needed to help wash 20 loads of usable clothes that have been sorted at the home of an elderly man with compulsive hoarding disorder.

Volunteers are needed to bring meals to an elderly woman who recently fell.

Donations of bottled water, energy snacks, work gloves, trash bags and yardwaste bags are welcome.

The one-day loan of lawn mowers, gas powered weedeaters, rakes, brooms and other yard tools are welcome (will be returned at the end of the day).

Volunteers are needed to cook Sunday “Welcome to Manassas” meals for July 3 (for 92 people), July 10 (105 people), July 24 (59 volunteers) and July 31 (111 volunteers) at Manassas Baptist Church’s “The Rock.” There is a commercial kitchen in the former elementary school, but you can choose to prepare the meal offsite.  Sunday meals are at 5:15 p.m.; if dropping off, bring by 4:30 p.m. Cooks are asked to provide a meat entrée (and a small portion of vegetarian), vegetables, fruits, dessert and drink.  Paper products and utensils will be provided.  Check with Neighborhood Services to sign up at 703-257-8240. 

Many thanks to Greater Manassas Way of Life Ministries for signing up to cook the July 17 meal.

In addition, the city’s Neighborhood Services is looking for work projects for Week of Hope crews to do. With the Sesquicentennial events of July 21-24 less than a month away, and so many visitors coming to the city, the city is asking residents to take a second look at their curb appeal.  If you or someone you know needs help cleaning up a yard, planting a tree, fixing shutters, spreading mulch or putting up bunting or installing an American flag, the Week of Hope volunteers can help.  If you know of any service project that someone in your neighborhood needs knocked out this summer, please contact City of Manassas Neighborhood Services Manager Kisha Wilson-Sogunro at 703-257-8240.

Be a part of this award-winning neighborhood program!