Volunteer Handbook

Thank you for choosing to volunteer at Cornerstones! Our volunteers are wonderful people who commit their time and talents to helping neighbors in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. We’re so happy to count you as a member of this great group of people.

As the volunteer program grows and evolves, we want to hear from you. Tell us your thoughts and share any ideas you may have; your involvement and insight can help shape the future of Cornerstones. You can reach us at volunteer@cornerstonesva.org.

Thank you for giving us your time. We hope you find your volunteer experience wonderful and fulfilling!

Sincerely,
The Volunteer and Community Engagement Team

                            

Rebecca Jewell                                     Milagros (Millie) Harris
Strategy Director, Volunteer &               Manager, Volunteer &
Community Engagement                       Community Engagement 

 

Created May 2024

 Table of Contents

Intro	Welcome Statement
Page 1	Table of Contents
Page 2	Explanation of Handbook, Contact Information, Main Office
	About Cornerstones
Page 3	Mission, Vision, Values, What We Do, Who We Serve
Page 4	Cornerstones History, Cornerstones Timeline
Pages 5 - 7	Programs and Initiatives
	About the Volunteer Program
Page 8	Goals of the Volunteer Program, Code of Conduct and Policies, Elevator Speech
Page 9	Age Requirements, Onboarding, Non-acceptance
Page 10	Scheduling (VolunteerHub), Scheduling FAQ
Page 11	Volunteer Opportunities
Page 12	Community Service
Pages 13 - 14	Important Information
Page 15	Safety, Injuries
Page 16	Frequently Used Acronyms
Page 17	Donations, On-site Group Volunteer Opportunities, Off-site Volunteer Opportunities for Individuals and Groups

 

Page 1

 

Explanation of Handbook

This handbook was created to share information with you about our organization, including its mission, practices, and policies, to prepare you for volunteer activities. The goal of this handbook is to help you feel comfortable with our organization and your volunteer duties. Please read it carefully before you start your volunteer activities so you will be familiar with our organization and the volunteer program in general. Reference the handbook as often as you need while you are volunteering. Also, do not hesitate to ask questions of staff members. If you enjoy your experience with us, please refer others to our volunteer program. Through growth and your involvement, we can do more to help neighbors in our community.

Contact Information

Rebecca Jewell, Strategy Director, Volunteer and Community Engagement
Rebecca.Jewell@cornerstonesva.org 
571-323-1423

Millie Harris, Manager, Volunteer and Community Engagement
Milagros.Harris@cornerstonesva.org
571-323-1395 

Volunteer Email: volunteer@cornerstonesva.org
Volunteer Page on Website: cornerstonesva.org/volunteerops

Main Office

11150 Sunset Hills Road, Suite 210, Reston, VA 20190
571-323-9555
cornerstonesva.org

Page 2

About Cornerstones

Mission, Vision, Values

Mission: Together with our community, Cornerstones promotes stability, empowerment and hope through support, advocacy and community-building for individuals and families in need.

Vision: Cornerstones envisions an equitable, connected community where all individuals and families thrive.

Values

• Serve and Lead with Passion for Mission Excellence
• Act with Integrity
• Champion Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
• Collaborate and Innovate for Impact
• Equip and Empower for Success

What We Do

Housing	Community Resource Centers
Community & Family Strengthening	Child Care & Youth Services
Food, Financial, or Urgent Assistance	Seasonal Drives

Who We Serve

We serve people living in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties.

Page 3 

Cornerstones History

In 1970, Cornerstones was established by area religious organizations as a vehicle for people of faith and the community at large to improve the well-being of the area’s low to moderate-income individuals and families. In the decades since, Cornerstones has grown into a recognized leader known for its proven expertise and perseverance to connect vulnerable people with comprehensive resources that ensure stability, empowerment, and hope for the future. In our 50+ year history, we have worked with faith partners, government agencies, corporations, businesses, community groups, schools, families, and individuals to expand our services, and this community of support continues to grow as we look to the future.

Cornerstones Timeline

Cornerstones was founded as Reston Interfaith Housing Corporation by six Sponsoring Religious Organizations who envisioned a community that values all people and shares resources and services to empower those in need to make positive life changes.

1971	Partnered with a for-profit developer to build Laurel Glade Apartment’s 200 affordable units of rental housing for the growing workforce – the first in the Dulles Corridor.
1975	Reston Interfaith and congregations began food collection drives to support families at Laurel Glade Apartments and throughout the growing community of Reston.
1977	Laurel Learning Center began in a community room at Laurel Glade Apartments. Officially opened in 1977 as a licensed facility (photo above).
1981	Outreach services began at Stonegate Village Apartments and the former Laurel Glade Apartments in South Reston.
1983	Reston Interfaith established its own food pantry.
1989	Fairfax County Board of Supervisors renamed the shelter to the Embry Rucker Community Shelter after Embry Rucker, an Episcopal priest, community activist, and leading figure in Reston since 1969.
1990	Reston Interfaith Housing Corporation acquired its first three scattered-site townhomes through donation.
2000	Reston Interfaith offered academic enrichment programs for elementary school-age children and expanded emergency assistance programs at the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center.
2013	Our name changed to Cornerstones.
2015	Cornerstones and partners reduced homelessness by 50% in Fairfax County!
2016	Cornerstones took on role in establishing an Opportunity Neighborhood in Reston – creating a community where all children succeed and thrive.
2020	50th anniversary of Cornerstones.

 Page 4

Programs and Initiatives

Assistance Services and Pantry Program (ASAPP)

Cornerstones’ Assistance Services and Pantry Program is the largest food pantry in northwest Fairfax County. In addition to helping clients feed their families, ASAPP offers short-term emergency financial assistance to people needing help with paying rent. Clients also have access to other services such as case management and financial counseling.

11484 Washington Plaza West, Suite 120, Reston, VA 20190

Community Connected Sites (CCS)

Our Community Connected Sites comprise four apartment communities in Reston where the rent is subsidized for low-income residents: Cedar Ridge, Crescent, Stonegate Village, and Westglade. Each site has a community center (“Connections Center”) that is staffed by a Program Coordinator/Advocate (PCA). The PCAs ensure that community members are connected to resources that improve their quality of life and build self-sufficiency. They also provide residents with a monthly newsletter with a schedule of programming provided on-site or at another site close-by. These could be developmental/educational opportunities, social engagement events, or community meetings to discuss issues and strategize on solutions. 

Residents in these communities are from a wide variety of backgrounds. We often need volunteers who can speak languages such as Arabic, Spanish, Pashto, Urdu, and Farsi to help at events. If you speak one of these languages, please let us know at volunteer@cornerstonesva.org. 

Cedar Ridge: 1601 Becontree Lane #1C, Reston, VA 20190

Crescent: 1578 Cameron Crescent Drive, Apt. 1, Reston, VA 20190

Stonegate Village: 2244B Stonewheel Drive, Reston, VA 20191

  

Westglade: 2110 Westglade Court, Reston, VA 20191

 Page 5 

Programs and Initiatives

Connections for Hope Partnership (C4HP)

The Connections for Hope Partnership brings together co-located nonprofit and community organizations and government agencies that work together to improve service delivery to residents. Services include referrals to resources, including emergency food and financial assistance, dental or medical assistance, housing counseling and eviction prevention, employment services, educational assistance, and citizenship classes.

1141 Elden Street, Suite 200, Herndon, VA 20170 (building is called Elden Place, and it is next to Amphora’s Diner)

Cornerstones Housing Corporation (CHC)

CHC owns more than 100 housing units throughout Reston, Herndon, and Centreville. The units are rented at affordable rates to residents who earn half or less than the area’s median income. Affordable housing tenants receive supportive services and counseling provided by Cornerstones care managers.

Embry Rucker Community Shelter (ERCS)

ERCS is a 70-bed residential shelter that provides healthy, safe, emergency housing for individuals and families. It is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Services include childcare, medical assistance, nutritious meals, a nurse on staff, and financial counseling. In 1989 the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors renamed the shelter to the Embry Rucker Community Shelter after Embry Rucker, an Episcopal priest and community activist. 

The shelter is located at 11975 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, VA 20190 (next to the Reston Regional Library).

FREE from Hunger Center (Food Hub)

The FREE (Food Rescue Empowerment Enterprise) from Hunger Center is an inclusive, non-competitive network of large to small nonprofit, faith, schools, and neighborhood-based pantry and feeding programs, working to collectively address hunger in our region. It provides much-needed space for food storage, including fresh vegetables, meat, dairy, pantry staples, and meals, until distribution to families and individuals in our community. It is located in a warehouse in Sterling, VA.

22560 Glenn Drive, Unit 105, Sterling, VA 20164

 Page 6

Programs and Initiatives

Kids and Parents Engage (KAPE)

KAPE is a youth initiative that focuses on afterschool and summer learning programs within the Opportunity Neighborhoods footprint in both Herndon and Reston. KAPE programs provide physically and emotionally safe environments that offer homework assistance, academic enrichment opportunities, life skill development, career exploration, and parent/family engagement initiatives. KAPE is based in two locations: the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center, 1086 Elden Street in Herndon (in the Dulles Park Shopping Center) and Stonegate Village Apartments, 2244 B Stone Wheel Drive in Reston.

1086 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170 (in the Dulles Park Shopping Center)

Laurel Learning Center (LLC)

Cornerstones has been offering safe, high-quality, affordable childcare at Laurel Learning Center since 1977. The center accommodates up to 130 children from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

11484 Washington Plaza West, Suite 200, Reston, VA 20190

Opportunity Neighborhoods (ON)

Opportunity Neighborhoods (ON) is a county-wide initiative that brings together residents, service providers, schools, and other supporters—within defined communities—in support of a shared vision to address needs and achieve equitable results for youth and their caregivers. Cornerstones serves as a backbone organization for ON, driving the initiative’s work in Reston (RestON) and Herndon (ON Herndon). 

Working closely with diverse community partners and stakeholders, the team helps advance systems-change at the local, regional, county, and state levels. Through strategic partnerships with community leaders and stakeholders, they encourage engagement and foster relationship-building opportunities that empower individuals and promote positive change across Reston and Herndon, and throughout Fairfax County.

Seasonal Drives

Cornerstones hosts drives throughout the year, including Back-to-School, Thanksgiving, and Gift Cards for Kids. Volunteer help is needed during these drives, and they serve as a great way for groups and families to be involved with Cornerstones.

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About the Volunteer Program

Goals of the Volunteer Program

Volunteers are representatives and ambassadors for Cornerstones. The two goals of the volunteer program are to offer support for programs and services provided by Cornerstones and to aid in educating the public about our programs and services.

Our volunteers need to possess many qualities, including (but not limited to):

• Support and adhere to policies, procedures, and guidelines
• Safety-minded
• Listen well and follow directions
• Common sense
• Observant
• Self-motivated and thorough
• Calm and collected
• Cooperative and positive
• Ability to work independently and follow instructions and policies
• Communicate well with public, clients, staff, and other volunteers
• Courteous to the public, clients, staff, and fellow volunteers at all times

Each of us can become a Cornerstone, helping neighbors to build more stable lives by connecting them to vital resources that help them through stability, empowerment, and hope.

Code of Conduct and Policies

Volunteers are required to read, adhere to, and sign our Volunteer Code of Conduct and Policies.

Elevator Speech

We know that Cornerstones does a lot, and it can be difficult to sum up what we do when speaking with family, friends, co-workers, and the public. We’ve put together a brief “elevator speech” to help you. An “elevator speech” is a short, concise speech that describes what an organization is, what it does, and what it wants to achieve.

Cornerstones is a social services nonprofit that offers programs and services which focus on urgent and affordable housing, food and financial assistance, community and family strengthening, and thriving children and youth in order to promote stability, empowerment, and hope to neighbors in need in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. 

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Age Requirements

Our minimum age to volunteer for most positions is 18. There are some opportunities for those 16 years of age and older. On occasion (infrequently), we have opportunities for those as young as 13.

• Volunteers between 13 and 15 years of age must volunteer with a parent or guardian, and we require that both the teen and parent or guardian create separate accounts in VolunteerHub, our volunteer management system, at the same time (please use a parent’s or guardian’s email for both accounts). Both the parent or guardian and the teen must schedule for shifts and the parent or guardain must actively participate in the activity with the volunteer who is under 16 years of age.

Please note that we have a list of off-site project ideas, which are open to those under 13 years of age. These ideas are also a great alternative or addition to volunteering on-site.

Onboarding

All new volunteers and those who have not volunteered in a year or more are required to create an account in VolunteerHub and to watch an orientation video prior to volunteering. Applicants will also be required to read our volunteer handbook and to review and sign additional documents as part of the volunteer onboarding process with Cornerstones. Once these criteria have been met, an applicant can view some, but not all, volunteer opportunities in VolunteerHub, our volunteer management system.

Applicants who are 18 years of age or older and want to volunteer at the Embry Rucker Community Shelter (ERCS) must meet with a Cornerstones staff member to complete paperwork for a Virginia State Police (VSP) combined criminal history background and sex offender search. This paperwork must be notarized so an in-person meeting is required. Be sure to bring a current government issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, or passport. VSP results typically arrive within one week. Once an applicant passes the VSP search, they can view additional volunteer opportunities at the ERCS in VolunteerHub. Please note that volunteers must be 18 years of age or older to volunteer at ERCS.

Individuals who are 18 years of age or older and want to volunteer directly with children will in addition need a satisfactory VA Department of Social Services search. Social Services results can take up to six months to arrive. Once an applicant passes the Social Services search, they will be able to view additional opportunities that involve volunteering directly with children in VolunteerHub.

Please note that volunteers are required to report any new convictions to Volunteer and Community Engagement Staff (volunteer@cornerstonesva.org) within 72 hours for staff evaluation. Failure to report could result in dismissal from the Cornerstones volunteer program.

In addition, some programs and initiatives have additional training requirements. These trainings will be conducted by staff or lead volunteers.

To maintain good standing as a volunteer with Cornerstones, volunteers must read any updated materials or attend any trainings deemed as mandatory by Volunteer and Community Engagement Staff.

Non-acceptance

Cornerstones reserves the right not to accept any prospective volunteer if the Volunteer and Community Engagement Staff deem the individual not suitable for a volunteer position.

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Scheduling (VolunteerHub)

Volunteers help us nearly every day in a variety of roles, and VolunteerHub is the volunteer management system we use to keep all of the moving parts organized. It is a great tool that ensures we have enough volunteers to help our programs and initiatives succeed.

VolunteerHub How-To Instructions

• Signing in or creating an account
• Access account settings
• Filter and view events
• Resetting password
• Kiosk sign-in instructions for volunteers

Scheduling FAQ

Do I need to schedule a time to volunteer?
All volunteer shifts should be scheduled in advance. The system operates in “real-time” so when volunteers sign-up for a shift, the schedule updates immediately. Volunteers can schedule up to three months in advance for a shift.

• Out of respect for scheduled volunteers, we ask that individuals not show up to a volunteer opportunity without registering ahead of time. You may be asked to come back at a later time during a shift that you have scheduled in advance.

When does Cornerstones host volunteer shifts?
There are a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year on weekdays, weekends, mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Once you have created an account in VolunteerHub, you can view opportunity descriptions that will include location, date, and time.

What if I need to cancel a shift?
When you sign-up or remove yourself from the schedule, it updates immediately. So in the event that you must cancel a shift, please sign-in to VolunteerHub and make the change at least 24 hours before your scheduled shift. This will free the shift for another volunteer.

• We rely on our volunteers to show for a scheduled shift. The success of an event or activity is often dependent upon adequate volunteer support and coverage. If a pattern emerges of not showing for scheduled shifts, the Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement may issue a warning to the volunteer. An excessive pattern of not showing for scheduled shifts could result in dismissal from the volunteer program.

Do I need to sign-in for my volunteer shift?

Yes, and each site location has a different sign-in process. Some will have paper sign-in sheets or a QR code (you will need your VolunteerHub username and password) that links to VolunteerHub while other locations will have a computer or tablet with a kiosk-based sign-in process. Please note that you must be scheduled for a shift in order to use the QR code or kiosk-based sign-in process. 

Can I bring a friend with me while volunteering?
Volunteers may not bring any non-volunteer friend or family with them during their volunteer shifts. This includes children.

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Volunteer Opportunities

The volunteer opportunities below are subject to availability. More extensive descriptions can be found in VolunteerHub, including the minimum age to participate. This list is not exhaustive as volunteer needs are always changing and evolving. In addition, some of these positions have additional training and/or onboarding requirements.

After School Assistant
After School Assistants provide support for after school activities. They help with coordinating activities for youth and serving snacks.

Event Assistant
We host many events throughout the year that require volunteer help. Duties vary depending upon the event, including event set-up, serving food, staffing an information table, or event teardown. Previous events have included Back-to-School Nights, Winter Wonderland, Community Health Resource Fair, and National Night Out. 

Farmers Market Gleaner
At the end of each Reston Farmers Market at Lake Anne Plaza, Farmers Market Gleaners collect surplus produce from market vendors and sort it for distribution at our Food Pantry. 

• Farmers Market Lead Gleaner
  The Farmers Market Lead Gleaner also serves as the main point of contact and trainer of new volunteers to the Gleaner position. 

Food Sorter
Food Sorters at our FREE from Hunger Center help with unloading, sorting, inspecting, and checking for expiration dates and usability of shelf-stable and perishable food items.

Front Desk Assistant, Embry Rucker Community Shelter
Front Desk Assistants at the Shelter assist with a wide variety of office tasks and interact with shelter residents, staff, and the public. This position helps to ensure that the day-to-day operations of the shelter function smoothly. 

Kitchen Assistant, Embry Rucker Community Shelter
Kitchen Assistants at the Shelter help kitchen staff who serve meals three times a day, seven days a week to shelter residents, but does not involve assisting the kitchen staff by cooking. This position ensures that approximately seventy shelter residents receive their meals in an orderly and timely fashion. 

Organization Assistant, Embry Rucker Community Shelter
Organization Assistants at the Shelter help with keeping the storage closet organized, neat, and tidy. The volunteers also contact Volunteer and Community Engagement Staff if any items are running low. 

SNAP at Market Assistant
SNAP at Market Assistant volunteers (SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) help clients who receive SNAP benefits stretch their food dollars to buy nutritious fruits and vegetables from our local farmers market.

• Lead SNAP at Market Assistant
  The Lead SNAP at Market Assistant also serves as the main point of contact and trainer of new volunteers to the SNAP at Market Assistant position. 

Seasonal Drive Helpers
Cornerstones holds many seasonal drives throughout the year, including Back-to-School, Thanksgiving, and Gift Cards for Kids. Help is often needed with sorting, packing, and distribution. 

Other opportunities will arise and will be listed in VolunteerHub.

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Community Service

Teen Community Service

Teens often need to fulfill a community service requirement for school. Please note the following regarding our volunteer program:

• Our minimum age to volunteer for most on-site positions is 18.
• There are a few opportunities for those 16 years of age or older.
• On occasion (infrequently), we have opportunities for those as young as 13. Volunteers between 13 and 15 years of age must volunteer with a parent or guardian, and we require that both the teen and parent or guardian create separate accounts in VolunteerHub at the same time (please use a parent’s or guardian’s email for both accounts). Both the parent or guardian and the teen must schedule for shifts and the parent or guardain must actively participate in the activity with the volunteer who is under 16 years of age.

The teen can also volunteer off-site by working on a project from our list of off-site activities. There is no age restriction for off-site opportunities; however, the teen must be approved in advance by contacting Volunteer and Community Engagement Staff at volunteer@cornerstonesva.org before working on a project from the list. Once approved and at the project’s completion, staff will sign off on the teen’s hours.

Court-ordered Community Service

We do NOT accept court-ordered (or attorney-advised) community service volunteers.

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Important Information

Duties

Do not take responsibility for duties you have not been authorized or trained to assume. If you are asked to do something you feel uncomfortable with, you may decline doing it. Feel free to state that is a policy from the Volunteer and Community Engagement Staff to help ensure the safety of our volunteers and clients.

Communication with Volunteers

Communication with volunteers will occur via VolunteerHub, email, Facebook, and the volunteer newsletter. It is your responsibility to stay up-to-date on changes, etc. in the volunteer program. It is also your responsibility to ensure that your contact details (including email) and emergency contact information is up-to-date in VolunteerHub.

Phones

The use of phones should be limited so that it does not interfere with service to our clients or distract volunteers from their duties.

Photography

Photography of those we serve is strictly prohibited.

Attire and Appearance

Volunteers should dress with their duties in mind. Presenting an appearance or wearing clothing which is disruptive, provocative, revealing, profane, vulgar, offensive, or obscene is prohibited. For many volunteer opportunities, shoes must have covered toes and be non-slip (no Crocs, sandals, flip-flops, etc.). Please remember that volunteers represent Cornerstones anytime they are at a site location or event.

Personal Items

We encourage volunteers to bring minimal personal items with them while volunteering. Cornerstones is not responsible for the loss, theft, or damage of a volunteer's personal items.

Family and Friends

While volunteering, you may not bring members of your family, friends, or co-workers with you unless they are also volunteers and have signed up for a shift. This includes children.

Questions from the Public

It is very important that we give correct information regarding Cornerstones and its programs. If you are ever unsure how to answer a question, please do not hesitate to ask a staff member for assistance.

Media

In the normal course of their duties, volunteers may be contacted by members of the media, government officials, or others and asked to comment on Cornerstones policies and procedures or asked to make a statement or commitment (verbally or in writing) for the organization. Unless specifically authorized by Volunteer and Community Engagement Staff, all such contacts must be referred to the supervising staff member of the event or to Volunteer and Community Engagement Staff who will forward to the appropriate staff member.

Common Sense

As with any organization, it is impossible to predict every type of situation that may occur. Please exercise common sense and your best judgement in these instances. When in doubt, always ask a staff member for assistance.

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Important Information

Weather Closings

Cornerstones follows the weather-related openings and closings of Fairfax County Government (not the school system). However, Cornerstones may elect to close during inclement weather without following Fairfax County Government, and this decision is made by the Chief Executive Officer. If Cornerstones should close any of its site locations or cancel an event, a notification will be placed on the VolunteerHub homepage. If a volunteer is uncomfortable venturing into inclement weather for a shift, it is their responsibility to remove themselves from the VolunteerHub schedule before the start of their scheduled shift. Please be safe and do what makes you comfortable.

Volunteer Inactivity

An inactive volunteer is defined as a person who has not volunteered in a year or more. Please note that inactive volunteers who wish to have an ongoing volunteer role will have to undergo all the steps of the onboarding process to be reinstated.

Leaving the Volunteer Program

If you wish to resign from the volunteer program for whatever reason, email Volunteer and Community Engagement Staff at volunteer@cornerstonesva.org so that our records remain up-to-date. 

Dismissal

Cornerstones reserves the right to revoke the volunteer status of any person as necessary. Cornerstones may request a volunteer to leave immediately if warranted by the circumstance. Please refer to our Volunteer Code of Conduct and Policies.

Grievances

The best way to handle any misunderstanding is to communicate honestly about it as soon as it happens. If you are having a problem with another volunteer or staff member or with program responsibilities, contact Volunteer and Community Engagement Staff at volunteer@cornerstonesva.org.

Page 14 

Safety

All volunteers are required to use caution and established procedures when volunteering. By remaining vigilant and careful, most accidents can be avoided.

Be aware that some volunteer positions may include lifting and carrying heavy items. It is your responsibility to know your limitations, communicate them as needed, and refrain from activity beyond your abilities.

Injuries

1. Immediately report the incident to the supervising staff member.
2. If needed, the supervising staff member arranges medical care based on if the injury is life threatening (911/emergency room visit) or non-life threatening (urgent care center).
3. The supervising staff member and/or the volunteer will email the Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement, the CFOO, and the EVP, Business & Community Impact as soon as possible about the incident, including the date, time, location, supervising staff member’s name, and a brief description of the incident.
4. The supervising staff member will complete a Critical Incident Report form and a First Report of Injury form with the volunteer as soon as reasonably possible. The forms will be forwarded to the Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement, CFOO, and EVP, Business & Community Impact.
5. Cornerstones will facilitate the reporting of the incident to the necessary insurance administrators.

Cornerstones carries accident insurance that covers Authorized Volunteers in the event that an injury is sustained during volunteer activities. A Cornerstones authorized volunteer is defined as any uncompensated individual who is acting within the course and scope of their activities on behalf of Cornerstones, which includes completion of any necessary onboarding criteria, scheduling for shifts as required, and adhering to policies, procedures, and guidelines as dictated by their volunteer role.

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Frequently Used Acronyms

Cornerstones uses many acronyms. To help you through our alphabet soup, we’ve created a list of frequently used acronyms.

ASAPP	Assistance Services and Pantry Program
CCS	Community Connected Sites (Cedar Ridge, Crescent, Stonegate Village, Westglade Apartments)
C4HP	Connections for Hope Partnership
CHC	Cornerstones Housing Corporation
ERCS	Embry Rucker Community Shelter
KAPE	Kids and Parents Engage
LLC	Laurel Learning Center
HNRC	Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center
ON	Opportunity Neighborhood
POC	Point of Contact
SNAP	Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
SRO	Sponsoring Religious Organization
VH	VolunteerHub
WIC	Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children

 Page 16

Donations

We have such wonderful volunteers! On top of the time they give helping neighbors, they often ask what items are most needed at Cornerstones. To assist with these inquiries, we have compiled a list of frequently requested items. Please refer to our Amazon Wish List for shelter items or our Amazon Wish List for pantry items.

Please consider donating clothing to The Closet or to Women Giving Back (only accepts clothing for women and children). We also ask that you consider donating toys to The Closet and books to Reston Regional Library.

For more information, please contact Nate King, Coordinator of In-Kind Donations and Drives at nate.king@cornerstonesva.org or 571-323-9569.

On-site Group Volunteer Opportunities

We offer on-site group volunteer opportunities on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups must have at least 5 volunteers and up to 12 volunteers. We are unable to guarantee specific project areas or duties for groups. Please note that volunteers must be 16 years of age or older to participate in group volunteer projects on-site at most locations. Volunteers must 18 years of age or older to participate in group volunteer projects at the Embry Rucker Community Shelter.

Please complete our on-site group request form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. We strongly recommend submitting a group request at least one month before your desired date.

Off-site Volunteer Opportunities for Individuals and Groups

If you are looking for a volunteer activity that can be done at home, school, or as an off-site group opportunity at a location of your choice, please consider one of our six off-site volunteer opportunities.

• Make Bedtime Snack Packs for Children
• Make Snack Packs for Adults
• Make Bagged Meals
• Catering for the Embry Rucker Community Shelter
• Build a Kit (Kitchen Staples, Food for Kids, Welcome Home, Personal Hygiene)
• Host a Drive

These activities are good volunteer options for those under 13 years of age, which is the youngest age possible for volunteering on-site with Cornerstones.

 

We hope the handbook was helpful. Please refer to it as needed during your volunteer journey and contact us at volunteer@cornerstonesva.org with any questions you may have.

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