ALIVE!

(ALexandrians InVolved Ecumenically)

ALIVE! (ALexandrians InVolved Ecumenically) is a nonprofit organization of volunteers from nearly 40 religious congregations, including Christ Church, and the community, working together to help those in need in Alexandria, VA.

ALIVE! programs serve over 10,000 Alexandrians annually with shelter; low-cost early childhood education and childcare; financial help for rent, utilities, medical care and other critical needs. More than 700 volunteers a year help ALIVE! fulfill the mission to put faith and love into action.

ALIVE! programs staffed by Christ Church volunteers include:

ALIVE! Family Emergency Program

ALIVE! Emergency Food Delivery

ALIVE! House-wares Committee

ALIVE! Grant Writer

ALIVE! Furniture Warehouse Coordinator

ALIVE! Furniture Delivery Program

ALIVE! House Shelter

ALIVE! Child Development Center

ALIVE! Last Saturday Food Distribution

Ministry needs:

All ALIVE! programs welcome Christ Church volunteers. Christ Church parishioners are particularly needed for ALIVE! Family Emergency Program and the ALIVE! Emergency Food Delivery Program.

ALIVE! Family Emergency Program, volunteers answer phone calls from social service agencies, clergy, and individuals in need of emergency assistance food, financial assistance for rent, utilities, medical treatment, prescriptions, and work-related equipment. For the Emergency Food Delivery program, volunteers pick up pre-packed bags of food from the ALIVE! Family Emergency Office at First Christian Church and deliver it according to referral cards completed by the ALIVE! Family Emergency Worker.

ALIVE! Furniture Delivery Program, volunteers are needed one Saturday in April and one Saturday in June to pick up donated furniture items and deliver them to families in need who are moving into permanent housing.

ALIVE! Last Saturday Food Distribution, volunteers are needed at all three distribution centers, Church of the Resurrection, Cora Kelly Recreation Center, and Ladrey Senior High Rise. The last Friday night of the month volunteers are needed from 6:30 to 8:00 PM to off load food into the distribution centers. The last Saturday morning of the month volunteers are also needed to help distribute the food items to those in need from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Training provided:

Yes. Appropriate training is provided for each program. New volunteers are often paired with experienced ones for several days to provide confidence in handling the broad variety of situations that workers experience.

Meetings and time required:

That depends on the program. There are a wide range of volunteer opportunities, so the meetings and time requirements differ depending on the program.

Benefits:

The experience of assuring that services are provided to those in need and a better understanding of the needs of low income Alexandrians.

Who can I contact to find out more or to get involved?