Serve with Us Locally

In working with and helping our neighbors, we share the love God freely gives to us.


Good Shepherd organizes opportunities to serve and partners with community organizations to be God's hands the Alexandria community.


Whether Good Shepherd member or not, you're welcome and invited to serve with us locally. Learn more below and check the GSLC calendar for upcoming events and schedule specifics.

Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC)

Do you love children and reading? ATC seeks dependable volunteers to be one-on-one tutors for Alexandria City Public School kindergarteners and first graders who need extra help with literacy skills.


Training, lesson plans and materials targeted at each child’s reading needs and support are provided.


One tutor remarked, “So little effort for the volunteer, yet so rewarding!”


For the children, learning to read makes a difference that lasts a lifetime. 85% of the 192 children tutored last year reached their spring grade level literacy benchmarks.


Tutor, and change two lives! Visit www.alexandriatutors.org or call 703-549-6670 ext. 119 for more information or to register.

Contact: Community outreach chair

ALIVE! 

Good Shepherd is an active member of ALIVE! (Alexandrians Involved Ecumenically), a nonprofit of over 40 faith groups working together to help those in need in Alexandria:

  • During April and November, we collect food and cash contributions to stock the ALIVE! food pantry.
  • Twice a year, our volunteers help pick-up furniture from donors and deliver it directly to neighbors in need.
  • We’re a proud sponsor and participant in the annual ALIVE! Child Development Center Walk-a-Thon.

Visit the ALIVE! website for more ways to get involved.


Typical schedule: Frequently

Contact: ALIVE! Liaison

Carpenter's Shelter

GSLC members have found Carpenter's Shelter, provides housing and services for those dealing with homelessness, a meaningful place to volunteer and share the love of Christ, including:

  • Staffing the front desk and other administrative tasks
  • Helping with children’s programs and adult education
  • Cooking a meal for residents
  • Contributing to facilities maintenance

Visit the Carpenter's Shelter website to see how you can be involved.

Typical schedule: Varies

Contact: Community outreach chair

God’s Work, Our Hands

God’s Work, Our Hands is an ELCA-wide annual day of service held in September when members and friends across the U.S. make a collective impact by planning or participating in community service projects. Good Shepherd has organized a variety of events:

  • 2018 and 2017: The Amazing Food Packing Event
  • 2016: Bone marrow donor registration
  • 2015: Host a BBQ for Guest House residents; visit elderly residents at Goodwin House; indoor and out facilities work at Carpenter Shelter; making blankets for Lutheran World Relief and Guest House; crocheting mats from plastic grocery bags for homeless people
  • 2014: Host a BBQ for Guest House residents; visit elderly residents at Goodwin House; stream clean-up; making blankets for Lutheran World Relief

Typical schedule: Annually in September

Contact: Community outreach chair

Guest House

Our close neighbor and friend, Guest House, is an award-winning charity that provides short-term, live-in programs for women recently released from prison to help ensure a successful transition back into society and family life.

Good Shepherd works with Guest House on a variety of fronts to:

  • Cook a monthly meal for the women. Volunteers gather at Good Shepherd to prepare the meal and deliver it to Guest House.
  • Tie fleece blankets as gifts for Guest House program graduates. We invite you to coordinate a blanket-tying event or just pick up a blanket kit and tie it to help ensure we have enough blankets ready.
  • Assist with yard work, life-skills training, furniture pick-up, and donate wish list items and business clothing.

Guest House also needs volunteers to work directly with the women in various capacities and to help maintain the property. Visit the Guest House website to learn more about current needs.


Typical schedule: Monthly

Contact: Community outreach chair

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Learn to make a prayer shawl! This group knits shawls for people bearing tragedy or celebrating. Completed shawls are prayed over and then blessed by Pastor Kate and the congregation. Shawls are given to those who need comfort or healing. No experience is necessary, and all are welcome, including crocheters.


Typical schedule: Monthly, 3rd Thursday

Contact: Denise Gray

Refugee Family Support

Beginning in 2017, we partnered with two other Alexandria churches, First Christian and Old Presbyterian Meeting House, to help resettle a refugee family of seven who fled Syria. GSLC members and friends supported the effort through donations of money, food and time. Our volunteers played essential roles on various teams to:

  • Find furnishings and help settle the family in their new home.
  • Stock food and deliver meals.
  • Provide for transportation needs.
  • Help the family learn American household logistics like public transit and banking, and generally adjust to a new culture and life.

Our time of official support has ended, but friendships and encouragement continue.

Contact: Evangelical outreach ministry chair, Community outreach chair

Learn more about the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy's Living Wage Certification program


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