Jayeesh Chennupati is an AmeriCorps VISTA member serving at United Way of the Virginia Peninsula (UWVP) through a capacity-building project managed by Serve Virginia. In college, Jayeesh already knew about national service as a way to make an impact thanks to his interest in Peace Corps service. After graduation, however, he sought out AmeriCorps as a way to cultivate new skills and gain a better understanding of the world. He recalls, "I decided to take a year to develop some skills [and] really learn about poverty in a dimension that I haven't explored before." In considering the biggest challenge he...

Rosealee Maxey, Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia Senior Corps – Senior Companion of the Year  - Senior Companions are volunteers age 55 and over who make a difference by providing assistance and friendship to adults who have difficulty with daily living tasks, such as shopping or paying bills.  Rosealee Maxey is always there for the seniors she serves in her Hampton Roads senior apartment complex -- coordinating activities and meals for the residents, providing transportation to doctor’s appointments, taking her clients out for manicures and pedicures, and even traveling to the hospital daily when one of her clients became ill. Read...

In Reston, Virginia, Robert Schnapp is the founder and leader of A Simple Gesture Reston, an effort that inspires and enables his community to help neighbors overcome the growing threat of hunger and food insecurity. Eight years ago, Bob realized that many donors work Monday through Friday “business hours” and that local pantries were mainly open for donations during those same hours, making it a challenge to donate. In the beginning, he served more than 40 hours a week to get the program off the ground, doing everything from signing up donors and drivers, to creating routes, sending emails, delivering...

The Span Center is a the state sanctioned Area Agency on Aging, serving serve Planning District 15, which covers the City of Richmond and the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, and Powhatan. With a mission of “Empowering older adults to live with dignity and choice,” The Span Center provides services, information, referrals, and advocacy for older adults, caregivers, and persons with disabilities. For more than 50 years, they have been a trusted resource in Central Virginia, dedicated to helping individuals and building a more connected community. Formerly known as Senior Connections, The Span Center name...

Congratulations to Dogs on Deployment of Newport News - winner of the 2018 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Community Organization! Have you ever wondered what happens to pets when their military owner is deployed? Dogs on Deployment is a nationwide nonprofit organization that assists military members and veterans in finding free temporary homes for their pets during times of deployment, hospitalization, training, homelessness, and other circumstances. Additionally, Dogs on Deployment provides financial assistance to military members and veterans for the care and treatment of their pets when the cost becomes prohibitive. The Hampton Roads Chapter began three years ago and...

Congratulations to TJ Kim of McLean - winner of the 2021 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Youth Volunteer! Becoming a Navy pilot has been one of TJ Kim's greatest childhood dreams. To make his dream a reality, he began taking flying lessons as a teen. When TJ’s school and lacrosse season were shut down due to COVID-19, his flight training became one of the only activities he could still enjoy. The high school senior decided to combine his passion for flight with helping others as a way to help serve his community during this challenging time, he...