December 2021
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION OPENS THIS MONTH!
Congratulations to the 2021 Honorees of the
Virginia Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards!
Governor Ralph Northam has announced the winners of the 2021 Governor’s Volunteerism and Community Service Awards. The annual awards program spotlights the outstanding efforts that individual volunteers and organizations contribute on behalf of citizens throughout the Commonwealth. This year's honorees included (pictured above left to right):

  • SENIOR VOLUNTEER: Betty L. Robinette (Wytheville)
  • EDUCATION ORGANIZATION: Codefy (McLean)
  • FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION: Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church and Church of the Incarnation (Charlottesville)
  • COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION: CrossOver Healthcare Ministry (Richmond)
  • ADULT VOLUNTEER: Mechele Hairston (Chesapeake)
  • VOLUNTEER FAMILY: George and Kim Melnyk, Jr. (Virginia Beach)
  • CORPORATION: Capital One Coders (Richmond)
  • YOUNG ADULT VOLUNTEER: Lucy Cummins (Richmond)
  • SMALL BUSINESS: Doswell Limited Partnership (Ashland)
  • YOUTH VOLUNTEER:  TJ Kim (McLean)
Apply for a MLK Day of Service
Mini Grant
Is your organization planning on honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with a volunteer project? The Virginia Service Foundation is offering MLK Day of Service Mini Grants of $250 for organizations needing financial assistance with supplies, etc. The application process is now open! It only takes a few minutes to apply. The deadline for applications is December 17, 2021.

Nominations Are Open for
2022 National Service Awards
Individuals serving in AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Seniors, and AmeriCorps Alums in Virginia who have performed outstanding service to their communities are honored annually through Virginia National Service Awards. Honorees this year will be celebrated during AmeriCorps Week, March 7-13, 2022. Nominations are now open and will be accepted until January 4, 2022. If you have questions about the nomination process or have issues with the nomination form, please contact Leanne Costantinidis, leanne.costantinidis@dss.virginia.gov.

AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteers Honor Veterans with Ninth Annual Hugs and Buds for Veterans
AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers created and delivered 70 flower arrangements to veterans residing in Montgomery County and Radford in honor of Veterans Day. RSVP volunteers Beverly Bridges, Rosemary Jones, Sarah Carter, and Annette Calhoun received a flower arrangement demonstration from Erlene Barber of Gates Florist prior to creating the arrangements for the project. After that, Rosemary, along with RSVP Volunteers Ronald “Chub” Flanary, Raymond Lyons, Jr., and Shirley Mullins delivered the arrangements on November 10 -- just in time for Veterans Day!
Nonprofit Toolbox
If you would like to share additional resources with us, please pass them along to us via email at VirginiaServiceInfo@dss.virginia.gov.



  • The Annual Kids Safe Online Poster Contest is now accepting entries. The Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) hosts the contest as a way to engage young people in creating posters to encourage their peers to use the internet safely and securely.



  • Hillshire Farms Allowance Grants awards 4th-6th graders grants for having the potential to come up with amazing ideas that could create change in their neighborhood, school, or even the country and the world. Deadline: January 2

  • Google Ad Grants may be available to your organization. These grants will allow you to market your organization in new and exciting ways. Take the Eligibility Quiz.
Upcoming Opportunities
Events & Training Opportunities
Workshops and events are virtual unless otherwise noted.
More Volunteer Opportunities
Virginia Office on Volunteerism & Community Services