Volunteer

AAC Rides Program

    Agudas Achim Congregation participatesin a program for members unable to drive to medical appointments, to visit people in hospitals, shopping, and to attend services and other programs at AAC. AA Rides is a volunteer supported rides program so that more non-driving adults ages 55+ will be able to get rides to medical appointments, make hospital visits, go shopping, as well as attend services and programs at AAC.

    We started by first offering the drivers who have participated in the past and, if necessary, expanding the program to new drivers. It is the volunteer drivers who make this program a success. For volunteers: The length of your commitment depends on your schedule. AA Rides provides volunteer drivers access to our ride scheduling software that lets you select your driving assignments, offering volunteers a flexible schedule. You can volunteer as little or as much as you like. NV Rides will pay for a required background and a DMV check for all volunteer drivers.

     In addition to volunteer drivers we need a couple of volunteer coordinators. Sam Backman is lead coordinator. Additional coordinators will servce as back ups when the lead is out of town so the program will still work smoothly.

     The program will match member requests for rides with drivers. We are doing this by parterning with NV Rides to form the AAC rides program. Ride requests should be made as early as possible and at least 48 hours in advance in order to assure the best chance of being matched for a ride. A request from a Client/Member will be put in the AA Rides system and an e-mail will be sent to all drivers to respond. The program covers rides needed for medical appointments expanding to all rides.

     Contact Assistant to the Clergy and Executive Director Erica Jacobs (703-998-6460) to schedule a ride. Contact Sam Backman to volunteer or if you have questions.

ALIVE Coordinator:          

     Joan Hartman Moore is the Agudas Achim representative to ALIVE!, a non-profit organization servicing Alexandria's most needy through an organization of more than 40 religious institutions in Alexandria City. To participate in the following activities of our congregation, click here to contact Joan.

• Operation Isaiah around the High Holidays — publicizing food collection, distributing flyers on Rosh Hashanah, organizing the collection on Yom Kippur,  coordinating with the ALIVE warehouse regarding packing and pick up, coorindate a lesson/activity with religious school or the community.
• Furniture collection once a year — getting volunteers to pick up and deliver used furniture, point of contact for the ALIVE furniture program.
• Periodically bring collected food donations from the coat room to the ALIVE warehouse on South Payne Street (next to the Agudas Achim cemetery).
• The ALIVE! congregational liaison becomes a board member for ALIVE and is invited to all ALIVE board meetings and receives notices from the organization for needs and opportunities.
• Publicize and create mitzvah opportunities to help ALIVE!
• Good Deeds Day event with ALIVE!