Volunteer with Us!

Virginia Cooperative Extension is looking for qualified applicants to become Master Food Volunteers!

Combine your love of cooking, nutrition, physical activity, and helping others by becoming a Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Food Volunteer. The Master Food Volunteer Program helps Extension reach more Virginians with up-to-date, research-based knowledge on food preparation, nutrition, health, food safety, and physical activity.

Applicants will submit an application, be interviewed to determine their interest and availability, have their references checked, and complete a criminal background screening, which is required for all VCE volunteers.

Participants receive 30 hours of training over four-nine sessions, depending on the lenght of the sessions:

• Basic nutrition

• Meal planning

• Cooking techniques

• Food safety

• Working with diverse audiences

At the end of the training, participants are equipped with the knowledge and skills to confidently help others improve their lives through balanced eating and healthy living. In return, participants commit to 30 hours of volunteer service within one year of the training.

Opportunities for service include health fair displays, outreach events, food demonstrations at farmers' markets and food pantries, teaching food safety classes, assisting with nutrition programs for youth and adults, and much more!

Information will be provided soon. Please check our website again around May.

Next Master Food Volunteer Training

When: tentative dates in 2025: September 5, 12, 19, 26 from 9am-12pm 

How: apply through Better Impact, our volunteer management system

Format: hybrid (virtual and in-person). Some Fridays will be in person 

Application Deadline: currently accepted on rolling admission

Application Fee: The cost for the training is $120 which covers the cost of supplies and mandatory Background Check. Scholarships are available!

Payment is not due until applicant is accepted and confirmed for the training.  Please note that all Virginia Cooperative Extension volunteers must undergo a background check. 

Contact Your Local Extension Agents for more information:

• General inquiries: masterfoodvolunteer-g@vt.edu 

• Alexandria City & Arlington County: Aisha Salazar at asalazar@vt.edu or 703-228-6417

Become a Master Financial Education Volunteer!

Do you have a passion for sharing your financial knowledge with others? Would you like to give back to your community in a meaningful way? Consider our Master Financial Education Volunteer (MFEV) program and join the ranks of others who have made a difference in others’ lives.

Master Financial Education Volunteers help individuals and groups reconcile debts, set goals, budget their spending, save money, organize financial records, and learn sound money management skills. Volunteers can choose to work one-on-one with individuals and/or teach money management classes to groups such as senior citizens, new immigrants, teens, residents at affordable housing complexes, and many others.

Volunteers receive a training manual with information on budgeting, retirement planning, home buying, and many other finance topics, instruction in counseling techniques, and lists of other community resources of use to clients.

Read our Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) to find out more.

Volunteer Information and Required Forms

• Volunteer Description (PDF)

• Counseling Opportunities (PDF)

• Volunteer Application Form (PDF)

• Volunteer Contract (PDF)

Still want to help, but can’t commit to the next MFEV training?

We offer a few programs  where we accept any and all volunteers, whether they’ve gone through training or have never volunteered with us before (our youth simulation programs). We also allow volunteers to shadow with us until they can complete the training.  For the Kids Marketplace and Reality Store programs, you must go through a background check if the program is held at a school. For more information, visit: https://ext.vt.edu/family/mfev.html or email asalazar@vt.edu

Next Master Financial Education Volunteer Training

When: TBD 

2024 Training Information:

September 16th - October 21st, 2024

• Mondays & Wednesdays from 6:30pm – 8:30pm (First & last class are in-person; all others are virtual)

• Taught in partnership with VCE Prince William Office

Where: hybrid (virtual and in-person), In-person classes will be on Monday, Sep 16 and Monday, Oct 21 at Fairlington Community Center.

How: apply through Better Impact, our Volunteer Management System

• APPLY HERE 

Application Deadline: September 15, 2024

Application Fee: The cost for the training is $80 which covers the cost of supplies and mandatory Background Check. Payment is not due until applicant is accepted and confirmed for the training.  Please note that all Virginia Cooperative Extension volunteers must undergo a background check. Scholarships are available!

Next Master Financial Education Volunteer Training through Zoom (open to anyone)

Session through Prince William County office: click here for more details: https://www.pwcva.gov/department/virginia-cooperative-extension/financial-education-volunteers 

• OUR NEXT TRAINING: February 24, 2025 to March 31, 2025

• Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

• Registration fee of $80.00

• Email smartmoney@pwcgov.org for information

Sessions through Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth, and VA Beach offices

• Held via Zoom every Tuesday & Thursday, 6 –8pm

• Cost: $90 includes Financial Education Toolkit & background check

  • Spring Session: March 4 – April 3, 2025

  • Summer Session: May 29 – July 1, 2025

  • Fall Session: September 30 – October 30, 2025

• Register here: MFEV Trainings: 2025 Master Financial Education Volunteer Program  

• Questions? Contact Chesapeake office: 757-382-6348; Newport News office: 757-591-4838; Portsmouth office: 757-393-5197; VA Beach office: 757-385-4769

Next Master Financial Education Volunteer Training in Arlington

When: TBD 

Where: hybrid (virtual and in-person)

How: apply through Better Impact, our Volunteer Management System

• APPLY HERE 

Application Deadline: rolling at the moment. You will be notified when registration opens.

Application Fee: The cost for the training is $80 which covers the cost of supplies and mandatory Background Check. Payment is not due until applicant is accepted and confirmed for the training.  Please note that all Virginia Cooperative Extension volunteers must undergo a background check. Scholarships are available!

Energy Masters is an award-winning program that conserves energy and water. Join a community of volunteers who are passionate about helping neighbors reduce their carbon footprint, their energy and water consumption, and their utility bills. Energy Masters volunteers, after receiving specialized training, deliver hands-on conservation upgrades and community education in affordable housing communities in Northern Virginia.

After hands-on training, volunteers will perform 25 hours (20 hours for student volunteers) of community service annually:

• Making hands-on improvements in affordable housing units that increase energy and water efficiency.

• Educating residents and their families to encourage behavior change for sustained impact

• Delivering educational programs to community groups and students at local schools.

• Providing educational information and energy and water conservation toolkits to residents who work hard to manage utility costs.

Next Energy Masters Training is October-Fall 2024!

When: Training dates: Oct 1st - Nov 12th; Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30pm. Below is information for our Fall 2024 training.

• 2024-2025 Energy Masters Community Volunteer Program Overview

• 2024-2025 Energy Masters – Student Volunteer Program Overview

Where: Hybrid training (virtual and in-person) will consist of 2 hour virtual sessions once a week with in-person sessions. See Program Overviews above for specifics

How: Visit https://www.ecoactionarlington.org/community-programs/energy-masters/training/ to apply. Two applications available through Better Impact:

• Community volunteer – Adults new to the program

• Student volunteer – High school and young professionals between 16 years and younger than 18 years

Application Deadline: September 20, 2024 (early bird deadline is September 6)

Application Fee: The cost for the training is $110 which covers the cost of supplies and mandatory Background Check. Payment is not due until applicant is accepted and confirmed for the training.  Please note that all Virginia Cooperative Extension volunteers must undergo a background check. Scholarships are available!* 

*All are welcome and encouraged to participate in this program, regardless of financial means. If the registration fee is a barrier to your participation, please contact us. Registration fee not required for student volunteers.

For more information, visit: https://www.ecoactionarlington.org/community-programs/energy-masters/ or https://arlington.ext.vt.edu/programs/energy-masters-volunteers.html 

For Questions about the program, please contact Bill Campbell at bill@ecoactionarlington.org