April is National Volunteer Month and April 23-29 is National Volunteer Week. National Volunteer Month and Week honors people who selflessly dedicate their time and resources to make the world a better place and encourages others to get involved. During his tenure, President Nixon established National Volunteer Week in 1974. Each year, the current president issues a special proclamation in honor of volunteers. A number of awards are presented for outstanding service including the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the Points of Light Tribute Awards.

The City of Newport News is encouraging citizens to volunteer and get active in the community during this month. There are many causes and organizations who can benefit from dedicated volunteers. To get started, gather neighbors and friends to participate in the city’s Clean and Green Newport News clean up event happening April 21-23. Consider applying to serve on one of the City’s nearly 45 different boards, commissions, or committees. Those boards provide a wide variety of valuable technical, advisory, administrative, and judicial services to the city and its residents. The City’s Department of Human Services also utilizes volunteers and is always looking for support. Other city departments and nonprofit organizations work to recruit volunteers for some of their special events.

Finally, the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula has a database of organizations who are looking for volunteers. Many organizations partner with the United Way to find volunteers for various projects and needs. To learn more about how to get connected with the United Way visit www.uwvp.org.