Boxes of Basics needs donations, BEACON for Adult Literacy needs volunteers

BEACON for Adult Literacy

BEACON for Adult Literacy is recruiting teachers and subs for its spring session, which begins March 18. Current needs are for in-person morning and evening volunteers, as well as substitutes for both online and in person morning and evening classes.

No experience necessary; they will train you! Please visit https://bit.ly/4bOEUxw to sign up for an information session. Please email smazzaro@osbva.org for more information.

Boxes of Basics

The staff at Boxes of Basics reports they have a critical shortage of boys’ pants in sizes 6 and 12, girls’ tops in sizes 14 and 16, and girls’ size 8 pants. If you’re clearing out closets and have clean, gently used kids’ clothing in these sizes, they would welcome your donation.

You can also purchase clothing from their Amazon Wish List or make an online donation, and they’ll do the shopping. You’ll feel great knowing you’re helping disadvantaged children in the local community get the clothing they desperately need! Please email sally@boxesofbasics.org to learn more.

Brain Injury Services

Do you love going fishing? Brain Injury Services is searching for a volunteer to be a PALS (Providing a Link for Survivors) for a brain injury client who would like to go on occasional fishing trips.

PALS is a one-to-one friendship program for brain injury survivors; the program connects BIS clients with volunteers who can help them socialize in the community and rebuild social skills through friendship. You’ll feel great as you enjoy a day at your favorite fishing hole while helping a client get their life back on track following such a traumatic occurrence! Please visit www.braininjurysvcs.org/volunteer/. For more information, email mthyen@braininjurysvcs.org to learn how you can help.

CASA Children’s Intervention Services

You can make a difference in the life of a child! CASA Children’s Intervention Services needs volunteers age 21-plus who care about children growing up in a safe, permanent and loving home.

The staff will hold their next virtual information sessions on March 13 and again on March 27, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. each session. Learn how you can help protect abused and neglected children in your community by becoming a volunteer advocate. Please email jpolen@casacis.org or call 703-330-8145 to receive the link to the meeting or to inquire about alternate dates.

Town of Dumfries

If you need service hours for school, church, etc., the Town of Dumfries is holding its Dumfries Spring Clean-Up on April 6, beginning at 9 a.m. Everyone’s welcome.

Volunteers will meet at 17757 Main St. in Dumfries for check-in. Fresh air, volunteering with friends and family, cleaning up the community — what a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning. Please call 703-221-3400, ext. 119 or email rnickerson@dumfriesva.gov or learn more.

Haymarket Regional Food Pantry

Play bingo, fight hunger: Haymarket Regional Food Pantry is holding its Soup-er Bingo Fundraiser on Saturday, March 16, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Piney Branch Elementary School, 8301 Linton Hall Road in Bristow.

You can’t beat the price — $1 per Bingo card or one non-perishable food donation for each card. It’s a great fundraiser and will help to feed food-insecure families in our community. Visit https://bit.ly/49fPzzP for more information and to purchase your cards.

Keep Prince William Beautiful

Keep Prince William Beautiful is holding a March Cleanup on March 23, 10 a.m. to noon. They’ll be picking up litter in an area along Sudley Road and Battleview Parkway. Volunteers should meet in the rear parking lot of Cracker Barrel, 10801 Battleview Parkway, Manassas. Supplies provided; please bring a water bottle.

Here’s another way to get those service hours and clean up litter in our community! Please visit https://bit.ly/49tRBMP to sign up; email abrown@kpwb.org or call 571-285-3772 to learn more.

Leopold’s Preserve

Nature lovers: Leopold’s Preserve is holding its next monthly Saturday Volunteer Day March 16, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers age 13-plus are welcome; volunteers age 13 to 17 must volunteer with a parent/guardian.

Rotating activities include trail maintenance, invasive plant management and brush clearing. It’s great for the whole family, and you’ll learn about the natural wonders of this facility. Visit https://bit.ly/47E4u5n for more details; register at www.leopoldspreserve.com/calendar. Email info@whfarmfoundation.org or call 571-358-2098 to learn more.

Prince William County Solid Waste Division

Save the date and get a jump on spring cleaning: Prince William County Solid Waste Division will hold a free document shredding event on Saturday, March 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or until trucks reach capacity.

The event is located at Pfitzner Stadium parking lot, 7 County Complex Court in Woodbridge. This is for residents only,

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.6: By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy.
   • Indicator: The recruitment of teachers and subs for the BEACON for Adult Literacy program can contribute to achieving this target.

2. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
   • Indicator: The critical shortage of boys’ pants and girls’ clothing sizes mentioned by Boxes of Basics highlights the need to address poverty and provide clothing for disadvantaged children.

3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • Indicator: The need for volunteers to support brain injury clients in the PALS program by going on occasional fishing trips can contribute to promoting mental health and well-being.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • Indicator: The need for volunteers in CASA Children’s Intervention Services to advocate for abused and neglected children in the community aligns with this target.

5. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • Indicator: The March Cleanup organized by Keep Prince William Beautiful, which involves picking up litter in the community, contributes to improving waste management and environmental impact.

6. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular, the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
   • Indicator: The Soup-er Bingo Fundraiser organized by Haymarket Regional Food Pantry aims to raise funds to feed food-insecure families in the community, contributing to the goal of zero hunger.

7. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
   • Indicator: The free document shredding event organized by Prince William County Solid Waste Division encourages responsible consumption and production by promoting the proper disposal and recycling of documents.

8. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • Indicator: The collaboration between Volunteer Prince William and various organizations mentioned in the article demonstrates the importance of partnerships in achieving the SDGs.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators