Charity & Philanthropy

Let's meet in Louçainha for a cold swim and a snack afterward. What is this place, though? Well, there is a beautiful 40-meter-long pool filled with water flowing from nearby mountains. It's a classic place for local winter swimmers. I've been swimming there pretty much every week since November. The water temperature went as low as 8 degrees. That, without training, feels brutal. With training, spiritual :o Now is spring, though the water is still cold (around 15 degrees). Join me this Saturday for the swim.

Join Team Rockville Vegan's for the Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary's Run for the Animals 5K!! This annual event is a great way to run in a fully vegan race (that means no worrying about the post race snacks... you can eat ALL of them!) and hang out with local vegans! The race has options for both runners and walkers! There is also a virtual event if you are unable to be there on a Sunday morning. You can join our team here: [https://pro.gofundme.com/team/818034](https://pro.gofundme.com/team/818034) **Please note that you must join the team and register for the race in order to participate.** RSVPing to this event only lets us know that you are interested. **We will not be at the entrance off of Arcola, please make sure you use this address for your GPS:** Wheaton Regional Park 2000 Shorefield Road Wheaton, MD US 20902 (Shorefield Road is off Georgia Avenue.)

We will be hosting the City of Rockville's annual TERRIFIC Kids bike distribution. In this program students have completed a list of good deeds to earn a bicycle. Here is information about the program: [www.rockvillemd.gov/321/Terrific-Bicycle-Award](https://www.rockvillemd.gov/321/Terrific-Bicycle-Award) We need volunteers to help with set-up, helping students select a bike, and break-down. Families will be arriving by appointment between 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. A member of the Mayor and City Council will be presenting the student with a certificate. Then the student will be guided to select the correct-sized bicycle and helmet. Please let us know which 3-hour shift you can volunteer: 8:30 am to 11:30 am and/or 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. You are welcome, of course, to spend the entire day with us also. Just let us know!

We will have open shop hours for anyone to bring their bikes to work on or need help fixing your own bike. We will also have bikes that need to be fixed so you can learn if you like. We will need everyone to sign in when arriving and sign out when leaving so we can keep track of volunteer hours and shop times. Suggested donation of $15 per hour for use of tools and space would be appreciated. Thank you!

The Rockville Bike Hub will be at the Rockville Town Square Bike to Work Day pitstop to provide help with mechanical issues you might be having on your way to work. Come by and say hi or stay to volunteer for an hour! Register to be counted and receive a free t-shirt and other fun prizes! [https://www.biketoworkmetrodc.org/rockville-town-square](https://www.biketoworkmetrodc.org/rockville-town-square)

**Sign up with volunteer information here:** **[https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0444AAAA2FA6F58-62378301-viva](https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0444AAAA2FA6F58-62378301-viva)** **If you have additional questions, feel free to email the volunteer coordinator, Fred, at [volunteer@vivavienna.org](volunteer@vivavienna.org)** Help out with the Viva Vienna Festival. Lots of fun for the community and they raised $300,000 for charity last year. Volunteer dates: Friday evening May 22 until Monday evening May 25 -Most shifts are only two hours long. -No experience is necessary. -Because the festival is entirely organized and run by volunteers, all proceeds go to charity. -The Rotary Club of Vienna, in concert with the Town of Vienna, has been running *ViVa! Vienna!* for 42 years. -Each year the proceeds from *ViVa! Vienna!* support over 70 local charitable organizations. [https://vivavienna.org/](https://vivavienna.org/)