Read all about how volunteers made an impact on the MLK Day of Service, meet our new Supervisor of Youth and Adult Day Services, and learn about a VCU student’s internship with SOAR365 Employment Services in the February edition of the Volunteering newsletter.
The January 2025 edition of The Update – Volunteering Newsletter is out now! Read about how volunteers made the holiday season extra special for SOAR365 participants and much more.
How did you get involved with SOAR365, and why is it important to you? I worked for SOAR365 from 2017-2019 as the Community Engagement Specialist. From day one, I immediately fell in love with the job, as it was clear that everyone was passionate about the organization’s mission. It was a daily highlight of mine to spend every lunch with our participants,...
As part of “A Day of Service: Moving Richmond Forward Together”, SOAR365 has partnered with the City of Richmond to offer a public service project opportunity on Saturday, January 11.
Originally appearing in the November 2024 edition of Richmond Magazine, this article takes an in-depth look at the need for nonprofit organizations and the volunteers who help them achieve their goals across Richmond and beyond.
The success of SOAR365’s Adult Day Support is sustained by a skilled staff, engaged volunteers, and participants who join in a wide variety of activities and special events. Beginning this year, a new group has made an important contribution to the Adult Day Support success story.
For the fourth consecutive year, a team of more than 20 volunteers from Dominion Energy joined us at Camp Baker to work on outdoor tasks after a busy Summer Camp season.
The Dominion team worked on mulching; painting the Retreat residence hall; clearing out small trees, branches and shrubbery; and creating more space in the trail system to improve access to the fishing hole in the woods.
After a 33-year career as a Registered Nurse (RN), SOAR365 volunteer Kim Lynch brought her valuable skills to Camp Baker this summer. There, she served a group of campers who benefited from her expertise and attention to detail gained through decades of working with patients and their families.
When Kim saw counselors greeting incoming campers, she said they made “an instant connection.”
This summer, Jacklyn Cheely arrived at PARK365 with a group of EAB colleagues. They were planning to tackle a one-day beautification project – a great fit for Jacklyn’s green thumb. But what she didn’t know is that she would be returning again … and again … and again! Jacklyn fell in love with the park environment that day. She’s happily volunteered as a gardening assistant for Adult Day Support and Youth Services ever since.
Smiling faces. Enthusiastic cheering. And post-game hugs! Adult Day Support participants and staff had a great time watching the VCU Volleyball team play at the Siegel Center in September. “It was especially thrilling to see the players and coaching staff interact with our participants after the game,” says Vandal Truong, Director of Adult Day Support and Youth Services.
☀️ Play, connect and belong this summer at PARK365! SOAR365’s Summer Series is back with three FREE, family-friendly events filled with inclusive fun for all ages. From adaptive sports and soccer activities to music, crafts, special guests, and hands-on LEGO® play, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Richmond’s award-winning all-abilities playground.
⚽ School’s Out with Richmond Kickers & Richmond Ivy SC 📅 May 29 | 3:30–6:30 p.m.
🎉 World Play Day with Sportable 📅 June 11 | 3:30–6:30 p.m.