By Taylor Duffy
SimVentions recently completed our 7th annual Day of Service with activities and donation collections in Fredericksburg, Dahlgren, and Virginia Beach (VB)! Individual volunteer activities were made available for those unable to participate in the group volunteer opportunities. Individual efforts included donations to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, Stafford Food Security, King George Family YMCA, and the VB Community Development Corporation. Employees also donated household items to benefit both the Fredericksburg and VB Samaritan House. On October 11th, 36 employees and family members gathered in 5 different locations in Fredericksburg and VB to make a difference.
Employees helped the Steadfast Trail in Spotsylvania with fence repairs and other work outside including clearing and removal of trees and brush. The Steadfast Trail is a non-profit organization formed to offer Equine Ministry and Life on the farm for kids and families from all circumstances of life. They utilize horsemanship as a way to reach kids where they are and help them to gain confidence in finding who they are created to be in Christ. SimV employee, Pete Schatz, said, “I’ve been volunteering at Steadfast Trail with the SimV Day of Service for a few years now. They provide a wonderful service to those in need with no cost to the people who use them. Our team helps Steadfast Trail so that they can help others. It’s a great way for us to love others through our actions.”
SimV provided the materials and volunteers built a ramp for a Fredericksburg family through Servants at Work (SAWs), a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing freedom to low-income, permanently disabled individuals through the construction of wheelchair ramps to the exterior of the homes. SimV employee, Matt Wilson, said, “The opportunity to connect with my SimV partners to do something so meaningful for this family is inspiring. Bless you SAWs for allowing us to partner with you to bless those in need and provide an even bigger blessing to us in the process.”
Our volunteers were able to help with the morning chores at the Fredericksburg SPCA, which included the dog’s and cat’s dishes, laundry, kennel cleaning, and more. Our animal-loving employees had a great time not only helping the animals but also getting an opportunity to play with them. The SPCA is dedicated to ending animal suffering through leadership and action, engagement and learning, compassionate care and adoption, and affordable veterinary medicine and resources. SimV’s Alex Grega said, “I’ve always had a strong affinity for animals, so being able to support my local SPCA animal shelter through SimV brought a big smile to my face. I’m glad we were able to not only help the animals there but also help the people who constantly support and love these animals on their way to their forever home.”
Volunteers painted and replaced the floor in the three residents’ bathrooms at Loisann’s Hope House. They even went back on their own two days later to complete the floors that they didn’t have enough time to finish on the first day. Loisann’s Hope House is the region’s oldest and largest family homeless shelter, having opened its doors in 1987. SimV employee, Troy Sizemore, said, “It was a lot to accomplish, but the team had a great time of fellowship in the process! It is awesome to work with great people!”
Some of our Virginia Beach employees cleared out and painted one of VB Samaritan House’s offices. They also helped reassemble the office furniture and fixed some pieces to ensure they were safe for use. The Samaritan House will now be able to convert the office into a game room for older children and teenagers, so by painting and reconfiguring just one office, they helped pave the way for additional larger projects to move forward. Samaritan House is committed to fostering personal safety, growth and self-sufficiency in adults and their children through the freedom from sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking and homelessness. Since 1984, Samaritan House has provided emergency and permanent housing, support services and community outreach to victims of domestic violence and homeless families. SimV’s Rhoda Carroll said, “Samaritan House has long been an organization very near and dear to my heart as I personally have seen close hand the effects that domestic violence has on families, especially children. This is one of the many reasons I was grateful to be able to do one small day of service with them.”
About SimVentions, Inc.: SimVentions is a 100% employee-owned DoD contractor focused on developing, integrating, and transitioning new technology to our country’s warfighters. SimVentions’ corporate office is located at 100 Riverside Pkwy, Suite 123, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22406. Their Dahlgren office address is 17021 Combs Drive Suite D, in King George, VA 22485 and their Virginia Beach office address is 468 Viking Dr #210, Virginia Beach, VA 23452. For additional information about SimVentions, please visit https://www.simventions.com/.
SimVentions is always looking for qualified candidates across all disciplines to work in the Fredericksburg, VA; Dahlgren, VA; Washington, D.C.; Charleston, SC; and Virginia Beach, VA areas. Apply online at https://www.simventions.com/careers.
