Community & Volunteers

In May, Sydney Harris graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs and plans to begin law school in the fall. But there was one more accomplishment on her list – Sydney wanted to find a meaningful way to spend her summer. Thanks to Atlantic Union Bank’s Future Impact Makers Grant, she found it at SOAR365.

This summer, Sydney worked with both the Community Engagement and Human Resources teams, learning what it takes to support a nonprofit that serves thousands of individuals with disabilities and their families each year.

This spring, SOAR365 was excited to welcome Rynan Garner as part of our Marketing & Communications team. Rynan is a recent graduate of the VCU Brandcenter and was connected to SOAR365 through the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI).

Bon Secours nursing students complete a semester of service with staff and program participants at SOAR365’s Staples Mill and Saunders locations. Nursing students participate in daily activities, crafts, and more. They also lead health-focused lessons, teaching participants about topics such as proper handwashing, white coat syndrome, and other wellness practices.

At SOAR365’s Friendsgiving celebration for Adult Day Support, the room was filled with laughter, dancing, and the sound of live music from volunteer musician Clay Mottley. Music has been part of Clay’s life for as long as he can remember. “I’ve always been a musician since I was young, learning piano and guitar,” he says.

On a sunny September day, SOAR365’s Camp Baker in Chesterfield was buzzing with energy. Employees from Altria rolled up their sleeves for our largest volunteer event ever.

Volunteers painted and reorganized the Lodge and Price House, refreshed campgrounds with mulch and gravel, stained picnic tables, and even assembled brand-new furniture. They also put together LEGO sets for Pediatric Therapy and Adult Day Support and created special holiday therapy kits for children.

Welcome to the recorded session of SOAR365’s 2025 Next Generation Council Leadership Workshop, an annual event held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, with this year’s theme being “Unconventional Roads. Unstoppable Leaders.”