Cornerstones will accept a limited number of volunteers performing court-ordered or attorney advised community service for misdemeanor traffic violations only. Individuals must also be 18 years of age or older.
Volunteers who are performing court-ordered or attorney advised community service must disclose the nature of their conviction to Volunteer and Community Engagement staff or any other staff member. Cornerstones reserves the right to decline any volunteer or to limit which days or hours a volunteer can work. All court-ordered or attorney advised volunteers must sign the “Community Service Agreement” prior to beginning assigned tasks (located at the end of this document). Cornerstones may also set certain pre-conditions for a court-ordered or attorney advised volunteer to work. Cornerstones reserves the right to dismiss a volunteer at any time if the participant is unproductive, is disruptive, or in any way negatively impacts the accomplishment of the organization’s mission. Also, please note that current clients of Cornerstones are not eligible to fulfill a court-ordered (or attorney advised) community service requirement with Cornerstones.
Court-Ordered (or attorney advised) Community Service Approval Process
NOTE: Please allow 3-4 business days from the date we receive the signed agreement for the approval process to be completed.
- Complete and return the Community Service Agreement (located at the end of this document).
- Pay a $50 administrative fee. Email the receipt of payment to volunteer@cornerstonesva.org or attach it to the Community Service Agreement.
- Approved applicants must submit the following information via the Community Service Agreement form: paperwork from probation officer, court, or attorney stating the individual’s name, specific offense(s) committed, number of hours required, and the time limit to complete court ordered hours, and the name and contact information of the probation officer or attorney.
- Upon receipt of the appropriate paperwork, an orientation session will be scheduled with staff. The time spent in orientation will count toward community service hours.
- Create a volunteer account on the Cornerstones volunteer management portal, which is called VolunteerHub: www.cornerstonesva.volunteerhub.com
- Read our Volunteer Handbook prior to the start of service.
- Once the required hours have been acquired, the timesheet provided by the court must be turned into Volunteer and Community Engagement staff, who will then provide a validation letter on official letterhead within one week. If only attorney advised, an email will suffice to request such letter.
Court-Ordered (or attorney-advised) Volunteers MUST:
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Pay a $50 administrative fee and email the receipt of payment to volunteer@cornerstonesva.org or attach it to the Community Service Agreement.
- Volunteer at the FREE from Hunger Center (aka Food Hub). Cornerstones staff will not recognize or approve any court-ordered (or attorney advised) community service hours scheduled and performed at a location other than the FREE from Hunger Center (aka Food Hub). The volunteer opportunity is listed as "Food Sorter" in VolunteerHub.
- Submit the Community Service Agreement form along with any other important court documents or guidelines prior to the start of service.
- Create a volunteer account on the Cornerstones volunteer management portal and use it to sign up for service days: www.cornerstonesva.volunteerhub.com
- Read our Volunteer Handbook prior to the start of service.
- Notify the staff and provide any required paperwork that needs to be signed and submitted once service is completed.
In addition to above, as a Cornerstones Community Service Volunteer, you MUST:
- Present yourself on time.
- Dress in appropriate clothing (no clothing advertising alcohol, tobacco, or inappropriate behavior and no open-toed shoes).
- Act at the direction of staff and/or lead volunteers on duty.
As a Cornerstones Community Service Volunteer, you MAY NOT:
- Operate any Cornerstones vehicles or machinery.
- Use your cell phone for non-emergency calls.
- Wear headphones while volunteering.
- Use foul language, gestures, or inappropriate comments.