Taking Time to Enrich Lives

By David & Beverly Brumbaugh, Whitefield Commons Community Resource Center Volunteers from Mt. Olivet UMC in Arlington

The door flies open and in sprint several exuberant elementary school students. As the dust settles and hands are washed, 10 to 15 first- through fifth-graders are having snacks. Very few seem to have any homework. Then, as one-on-one reading progresses with the less accomplished readers, homework assignments begin to appear from large, heavy backpacks. [If you don’t have any homework, why do you carry all this stuff around?] Such admissions begin when students realize that games and computer access will not happen until homework is completed. We enjoy the energy and enthusiasm of the beginning students. We also recognize some added challenges they face: English may not be their first language; they may live in a single-parent home; both parents may hold low-income jobs and need to work many hours to support the family; or some combination of these. In some cases, siblings live with relatives in another country and much of the family income must go to support them.

Despite their challenges, the kids at Whitefield Commons CRC have boundless enthusiasm and are a joy to mentor.  The young students enrich our lives with a few hugs and thank you’s as they sprint out the door, toting their unbelievably heavy backpacks. Hopefully, nothing really important has been left behind.

back to top
The Craft of Volunteering

The residents of Wesley Housing’s Quarry Station Seniors Apartments affectionately call her “the craft lady.”  Every Monday for over a year, Carol Cartmill has led a weekly craft project at Wesley Housing’s newest community for low- and moderate-income seniors. Crafts span the gamut—from refrigerator magnets to holiday presents to greeting cards to picture frames.  Carol, who has been volunteering for various causes most of her life, believes Quarry’s residents benefit from engaging in crafts, including cultivating friendships, having fun, and simply exploring the world outside of their apartments.

Carol welcomes any resident to join in these stimulating activities, although most of the participants are women. Residents don’t even have to do a craft—they can just “enjoy the chit-chat."  "The best part of working at Quarry Station is being with the residents. They all have big hearts and a wonderful story to tell,” says Carol.

For the past 20 years, Carol has volunteered at the Northern Virginia Training Center, a state-run facility for the mentally and physically challenged. There she keeps patients stimulated with games and art projects. Another one of Carol’s favorite activities is her involvement with the Red Hat Society, an organization established in California in 1998 by a group of fifty-something friends. Members wear red hats and purple outfits when they go out to lunch, inspired by a famous poem encouraging women over 50 to embrace and celebrate life’s “second act.” Through her volunteer work at Quarry Station, Carol Cartmill helps residents do the same.

back to top
Wesley Housing Honors its Volunteers

The theme of the dinner—We Couldn’t Do It Without YOU!—was a salute to the time and effort Wesley Housing volunteers contribute to making our three Community Resource Centers (CRCs) a safe, fun environment in which youth and adults can learn and socialize. The majority of guests were volunteers from community partners Mt. Olivet UMC and St. Stephen’s UMC. Wesley Housing’s Faith Community Liaison, Rev. Joanne Maughlin, delivered an inspiring keynote about the value of volunteerism. “You are the power that makes the engine run,” she said in describing the incredible asset Wesley Housing has in its volunteers. [See page five for volunteer opportunities.]

The 2004 Volunteer Leadership Award, which recognizes a person or group who has demonstrated sustained commitment to volunteer service, was presented to Mt. Olivet UMC for its dedication to Whitefield Commons CRC in Buckingham/Arlington.

Community Spirit Award, which recognizes an individual’s extraordinary talent, creativity, and dedication to a CRC program or service, was presented to Nancy Tingle, 4-H Volunteer at Whitefield Commons CRC, and Linda Philpott, 4-H Partner at Lincolnia CRC.

back to top
EDS Employees Lend Time and Elbow Grease

Special thanks to our newest community challenge partners!

back to top
Freddie Mac and Volunteer Fairfax Team Up to Prepare Donated Property for Sale

Vienna, VA

Employees of Freddie Mac, a leader in the secondary mortgage market, recently marked National Volunteer Day at a Wesley Housing property. In a team effort at the Vienna property recently donated posthumously by Mary Kay Rumph, volunteers worked to clean and empty the property to prepare it for sale.

Ms. Rumph was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, in Vienna. Although Wesley Housing never knew of Ms. Rumph's interest during her lifetime, it is clear that some contact with Wesley Housing had a significant impact on her.

Freddie Mac volunteers conducted a preliminary site visit, provided cleaning supplies and arranged for the donation of useful items to a local charity. The property proved to be so attractive that a Freddie Mac staffer actually purchased it!

Volunteer Fairfax was the conduit for Freddie Mac and Wesley Housing to join forces. Freddie Mac selected this particular project out of several possibilities because it relates closely to the mission to expand opportunities for homeownership and affordable rental housing.

"This project is a wonderful illustration of the way in which partners from very different arenas—the faith and corporate communities—work together to solve social problems," explained Judy Pirozzi, Wesley Housing's Director of Resource Development.

back to top
Venable Attorneys at Law Winterize Springdale House

In celebration of their 100th anniversary, members of the Venable Law Firm chose to participate in volunteer projects as a means of contributing to our community.

Wesley Housing was contacted by Volunteer Fairfax, and suggested a "clean-up" at Springdale House.

Twenty members of the firm clean both indoors and out. They cleared dead plants, weeded, edged and mulched flowerbeds and cleaned gutters. Workers also re-stained and re-attached the front porch benches.

Inside volunteers cleaned the kitchen thoroughly, washed windows and floors, and repaired a drafty door.

"The Venable volunteers did valuable seasonal work on Springdale House," noted Wesley Housing President and CEO Alvin Smuzynski. "This sort of volunteerism is appreciated by Wesley Housing, residents and neighbors alike."

back to top