"Works Sunday 2016" Seeks Volunteers to Serve Needy

RESTON, June 23. With 2016, “Works Sunday” enters its third decade as a Northern Virginia tradition of ecumenical cooperation and charitable service. As always, volunteers are needed for a broad array of charitable projects – this year taking place on or about Sunday, August 21st - aimed at helping the hungry, the hurting and the homeless in the Reston/Herndon/Sterling area. Founded in 1995 by Reverend LaVerne Gill of Reston’s United Christian Parish, “Works Sunday” stands as a remarkable example of successful inter-faith cooperation at the grassroots level. Sponsored by over 15 local congregations, “Works Sunday” is both 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 to any congregation – in order to participate. As in years past, “Works Sunday 2016” is distinctly local in its focus. With one exception (near Fairfax Hospital), all 20 projects this year are located in Reston, Herndon or Sterling. “Works Sunday” is low-impact in terms of volunteer time commitment, with most service project shifts lasting only one to two hours. And of course, those projects simply seeking contributions of clothing, baby supplies, toys or other personal items only require the few minutes needed to drop off donations. Projects for 2016 include a number of varied social outreach events for residents of local nursing homes, a blood drive, the collection of diapers, baby wipes and board books for a local “Head Start” center, a food drive for Cornerstones (formerly known as “Reston Interfaith”), support for Ronald McDonald House of Northern Virginia, and light yard and maintenance work for local senior citizens, low-income families, and group homes for the intellectually challenged. Prospective volunteers who have conflicts or will be out-of-town on “Works Sunday” itself - August 21, 2016 – still have opportunities to participate. While most projects are scheduled for August 21st, some projects are slated for other dates. For example, the Food Drive for Cornerstones takes place on Saturday, August 13th, Saturday, August 20th, AND Sunday August 21st. 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 “Works Sunday” Steering Committee Chairperson Christopher Wist at 703-964-6874.