Volunteering for Animals

Come volunteer with us refurbishing donated bicycles so that they can be used again by the community! This event is open to new volunteers and existing volunteers. No mechanical experience is necessary. Note: The warehouse location is in the alley behind 1502 Mt Vernon Ave. Enter through the gray door next to a roll-down garage door. If you drive to the location, be sure to park in the street, not in the alleys or parking lots surrounding the warehouse. And wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty with bicycle grease! Volunteers under 18 need a parent or guardian to accompany them to their first volunteer experience and sign a liability waiver. Volunteers under 16 need a parent or guardian to accompany them at all times while volunteering with Vélocity.

Are you interested in learning more about our club? Why not attend a meeting or visit us at one of our upcoming community service projects? We’d love to meet you!

**TURN UP THE VOLUME: Do You Want To Learn How To Create a Podcast** **Fairfax Public Access** **Wednesday\, March\. 4th\, 2026 \| 7:00pm \(2hr est\.\)** Got a voice? A story? A podcast idea you’ve been sitting on? Pull up and join us at our Community Media Station for a vibe-filled meetup made for podcasters, radio hosts, voice artists, and audio creatives. Whether you’re already dropping episodes or just thinking about starting, this is your chance to connect, learn, and tap into real resources that can take your content to the next level. **What’s going down:** • Meet and connect with local creators • Tour our radio studios and creative spaces • Learn how to launch, grow, and level up your podcast or show • Discover training, membership perks, and collaboration opportunities • Open convo + Q&A with our team **Location:** 2929 Eskridge Rd., Suite S, Fairfax, VA 22031 **RSVP or for Questions Contact us at**: FPAtraining@fcac.org / 571-749-1132 / www.fcac.org/orienation

Regular biweekly walk to find the birds and sights of Lake Artemesia.

You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, **[https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf](https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf)** and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "**I Accept**" to be permitted on the hike. **9.5 mile loop hike with 223 feet elevation gain** **Description:** Starting at **[Columbia Island Marina](https://boatingindc.com/columbia-island-marina/)** (Lady Byrd Johnson Park, GW Parkway, Arlington, VA; **GPS Coordinates**: 38°52'30.7"N 77°02'56.2"W We will proceed along the **[Mount Vernon Trail](https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/mtvernontrail.htm)** towards **[Theodore Roosevelt Island](https://www.nps.gov/this/index.htm)** where we will walk around the **Swamp trail**, the island's main trail. From there we will cross the **Key Bridge** and climb the **[Exorcist Steps](https://www.trolleytours.com/washington-dc/exorcist-steps)** before heading down to the river. Our next destination will be **[Georgetown Waterfront park](https://www.nps.gov/places/georgetown-waterfront-park.htm)** where we will stop for **lunch** while enjoying a scenic view of the **Potomac river.** After lunch we will walk along the river past the **Lincoln Memorial** to the **14th Street bridge** and finish back at **Columbia Island Marina**. **Pace:** 2.5 to 2.75 mph while moving ***You must be able to hike this distance at this pace to successfully complete the outing*** **What to bring:** **:** Adequate hydration, also snack/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes. **Restrooms** are available both at the Columbia Island Marina and on Theodore Roosevelt Island. **Dogs:** are **not** welcome on this hike. **[NVHC Dog Policy](https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy).** **Weather** : weather for this location can be found **[HERE](https://weather.com/weather/today/l/f5eb957fcc631380629a5541b21a742eb7eeb5ad5ae988d2035003fb107d301f)**. **Where to meet:** we will meet in the parking lot of the **[Columbia Island Marina](https://boatingindc.com/columbia-island-marina/),** Lady Byrd Johnson Park, GW Parkway, Arlington, VA. Upon entering the Columbia Island marina, in Lady Bird Johnson park, turn left, I have a Honda Fit that will have the UV hatchback open. Thank you for being ready to hike at 9:15 so that we can get signed in and leave on time at 9:30 am. The hike will begin from Columbia island Marina parking lot. **Rehydration**: Island Time Bar n Grill in the marina is open again! Dawn K message me here or text to 703 533 9231

**☕ Welcome to the Kindness Cafe Crew! 🌟** Hey there, wonderful souls! We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new meetup group: **Kindness Cafe Crew!** 🎉 Our mission? To gather amazing people like YOU to share life experiences, learn from one another, and sprinkle a little kindness into our lives! Join us at **Panera** for a cozy cup of coffee, delightful conversations, and a chance to connect with fellow kindness enthusiasts. Let’s create a warm space where we can get to know each other better while sharing stories and insights that help us grow. So, grab your favorite mug and come be part of our journey! We can’t wait to meet you and make some beautiful memories together! **See you at the cafe! ❤️**

Speaker: Mattia Trottola, Abolish Fur Worldwide and the International Council for Anima Welfare Leading organizer of the animal rights movement in Europe, Mattia, will share insights from grassroots organizing across the region for fur and cage-free campaigns. He will discuss the ongoing work to get Milan Fashion week to go fur-feee and building growth and power in local communities across Europe. Join your fellow animal lovers and DC Animal Protection to discuss what’s happening in the animal advocacy scene in DC! This series is a weekly meetup, with guest speakers from all of the major animals rights orgs. We’ll host non-profits such as Pro-Animal Future, International Council for Animal Welfare, DC Voters for Animals, The Humane League, Mercy for Animals and Direct Action Everywhere as well as local grassroots groups like the DC Coalition Against Foie Gras and sanctuaries. We’ll also have special sessions related to health, nutrition and mindfulness! We encourage anyone who is interested in helping animals to attend- no need to be vegan! Come learn about our rich variety of local activism. With protests, outreach, wheat-pasting, signature collecting, leafletting, lobbying, tabling etc. there’s something to match everyone’s comfort level and skill set. Coffee, bagels and community will be provided! Feel free to bring any extra treats to share (no animal products please.) Hope to see you soon! :) Note: Unfortunately, animals are not allowed at our venue. Please leave your furry friends at home.

PawsUP for David and Brick for originally suggesting this awesome meetup and our dogs love it! -Dumbarton Oaks/Montrose Park in Georgetown -Meet at the entrance off of R st, on the East side (closer to the cemetery) -Plenty of street parking in the area -Bring water and a ball for your Aussie This park is a very large open field, that is very dog friendly. Tons of space to run and chase. Most if not all dogs are off leash. Occasional runners and kids (there is a playground), so keep that in mind. There is also a trail inside with a stream that the dogs love to play in.

Blerdcon **screening room** Blerdcon March 6-8,2026 3:00 PM - 3:00 pm(48 hours) DC Anime Club will be hosting Blerdcon **screening room** Hyatt Regency Crystal City 2799 Richmond Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202 YOU MUST BE AN ATTENDEE of Blerdcon **screening room** to participate. [https://blerdcon.org/](https://blerdcon.org/) We will have a table at Blerdcon **as well.** During the screenings we ask that attendees please keep talking to a minimum and that all cell phones be put on vibrate and take phone conversations outside the screening room. Please keep the meeting room clean. please read the poster in front of the screening room if you want to know what is playing. This event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there. For more information Contact the following [president@dcanimeclub.org](mailto:president@dcanimeclub.org) 202 262 2083

Our regular Sunday meetup at the Shirlington Dog Park -- members start arriving around 10:15 a.m. You'll always find an Aussie to play with. There are 3 entrances, so wander the park -- the dogs will find each other! For puppies, Shirlington has a small dog park within the larger dog park. It's the prefect place for your puppy to gain confidence and socialize with others. There is also plenty of room to run. Just a reminder, the Dog Park is under attack by the Arlington County Board of Commissioners. While early plans to decrease the size of the park by 50% has been tabled, it's important to remind Arlington County how important this park is to dogs and owners. Here are links to the change.org petition and the Facebook page where you can get updates. Shirlington Dog Park Page Petition: https://www.change.org/.../arlington-county-board-save... Arlington County Board: Save the Shirlington Dog Park! We love the Shirlington Dog Park -- it provides… change.org Shirlington Dog Park Page Shirlington Dog Park Page Save the Dog Park Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/groups/696087663906890

Questions/lost? Call 240-447-4796 Meeting location - https://maps.app.goo.gl/voNwinFikVNEdpL58 https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maryland/rachel-carson-trail 2.6mi Length 255ft Elevation gain 1–1.5hr Estimated time Loop This hidden gem is densely populated by numerous species of wildlife, high-quality forest and features spectacular rock and massive boulder outcropping throughout the park. This area remains undeveloped for some of the best hiking trails around! The Hawlings River passes through the park and almost the entire hike is along this beautiful river. Rachel Carson offers 650 acres of undisturbed wooded parkland and trails surrounding the Hawlings River in upper Montgomery County. Amenities: This is a "conservation park," which means there are no bathrooms and no water available. The trail is not well marked in some areas, downloading the map ahead of time is helpful for navigating.

Please join us for our fun and friendly monthly VSDC Vegan Potluck in NW DC, near (but not at) Hip City Veg on 7th St, on Sunday, March 8th. It will start at 12 pm and go until 3 pm. There is no charge to attend the event but you will be expected to bring vegan food or drink to share. ***\*\*Note: you must provide your 1st and last name plus your contact email to receive the specific location. If you do not, then you will not be provided the location and allowed to this event - NO EXCEPTIONS.\*\**** **Items to bring to the potluck:** \- Vegan potluck dish \(no animal products of any kind\) to share\. For food quantity\, please bring 4 to 6 times the number of servings times the number in your party\. \- A serving utensil for your dish \- Ingredients list or recipe for your dish \- ***Please print or write it out in advance*** \- Beverage for yourself or one to share \- To help reduce waste\, bring your reusable plate\, cup\, and utensils [VSDC will provide drinking water.] Please Note: \- Be sure to help leave the space clean before leaving the potluck and take the containers and utensils you brought with you\. *\- Vegans do not consume any animal products or byproducts \(no meat\, chicken/poultry\, fish/sea animals\, eggs\, milk or dairy products\, honey\, etc\)\.* **LOCATION** Near the Capital One Arena in NW DC. The exact location will be provided to Attendees who follow the directions above about 2 days before the event. The host prefers not to make the location public - only for registered attendees. **PARKING** Yes, there should be free street parking on Sundays in this area. *Please read and follow all parking signs.* **METRO** This location is accessible by public transport. It is within 1 block of the Gallery Place - Chinatown metro station on the Red, Green, and Yellow lines. ***Please plan your trip in advance and ask any questions the day prior. The organizers will do their best to answer questions but ones on the day of the event will be difficult for responses.*** Email potluck@vsdc.org for questions or to help plan future potluck events. VSDC Thanks our host for arranging this wonderful space! ***Don't be a no show! If your plans change, update your RSVP.*** **VSDC: More Than A Meetup** We are delighted to have you as part of The Veg Society of DC Vegan Meetup group, and we look forward to seeing you at our events. Did you know that [VSDC](https://vsdc.org/%20) is a nonprofit organization with membership benefits? With VSDC membership, you will save money at area restaurants and businesses, attend VSDC member-only events, and, most importantly, support us as a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle. The membership fee is minimal, but the impact is significant! [Join today](https://vsdc.org/membership/)! **Ways to Stay In Touch with Us** Thank you for being part of our Meetup presence and bringing like-minded people together. We invite you to: * Become a [VSDC member](https://vsdc.org/membership/) to save money at area restaurants and support us in being a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle. * Sign up for our[ monthly e-newsletter](https://vsdc.org/about/newsletter/) to hear more about our activities. * Follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/vegsocietydc/) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/vegsocietydc/) to engage with us. **Interested in Volunteering with VSDC?** VSDC offers many events each month, thanks to the dedication of our event planning team. Would you consider volunteering? To learn more and get started, [please visit our website](https://vsdc.org/volunteer/). **Only Vegan Food, Please** While VSDC welcomes people wherever they are on the path to an all-plant, vegan diet and lifestyle, it is our policy that only vegan food be served and consumed at our events. If you would like to [explore a vegan diet or get support in making lifestyle changes, consider these resources](https://vsdc.org/exploringvegan/). **Liability Waiver and Code of Conduct** When you sign up to attend, you automatically acknowledge [VSDC's Liability Waiver](https://vsdc.org/activity-waiver/) and commit to follow the code of conduct found at [Policies - VSDC - Veg Society of DC](https://vsdc.org/policies/). **VSDC. Creating communities. For your health, the animals, and the planet.**

Join us for our first ever St. Patty's day parade march in the annual Old Town Alexandria Ballyshaners's Parade. We are confirmed with details on line up and parade route pending. https://ballyshaners.org/ Parade staging will be 11:00-11:45 to begin marching the 10 block route at 12:30. I encourage you to come closer to 11:45 but please account for parking time if you plan on driving in instead of walking/metro'ing in. Our staging will be on the sidewalk since we do not have a vehicle/float this year. Please be as festive as possible. with the St. Patty's day theme. We are Welsh but that hasn't stopped us for Scottish Parade and it certainly doesn't stop us for an Irish theme! We should be marching at "normal adult walking pace" for 10 city blocks (30 min consistent walking) so for those of you with elderly corgis please bring a stroller for them to keep pace. We are encouraged to use metro since the staging area is a short walk from the King Street metro. I will send out additional instructions once we get them. For now the only major instructions is that we are not allowed to throw things at the crowd (candy etc) and that we should not have alcohol. Expect it to be fairly loud since there will be plenty of bands and bagpipe players. Parade "ends when it ends" but they expect it won't drag out longer than 1:30-2 pm.

Meeting Room 2b, Main Library Join us for a welcoming evening of reflection, gentle music, and meaningful conversation. We’ll begin with a short grounding moment, followed by a brief reading from spiritual or philosophical traditions, and an open reflection circle where participants can share (or simply listen). Libera Animae is an interfaith community focused on inner growth, creativity, and authentic connection. We desirere to cultivate a space where all questions are welcome and all members are treated with compassion and respect. All backgrounds are welcome.

Come assist Van Buren Shelter (https://ymcacolumbus.org/locations/vanburen) staff in serving dinners and cleaning up on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Dinner for the women is 5-6 pm and for the families is 6:15-7:15 pm. There is ample free parking available in the shelter's lot. The recommended area to park is in green in the image above. There will be a new entrance for the time being. We are asking all volunteers to enter through the Donation Dock door, the orange mark on the image above. This door is located between the Single Adults and Family Shelter. You will see 2 large garage doors with a large green trash compactor in the center. Please head to the closest garage door to the building wall, with a ramp leading up. There, you will see a door with a sign stating instructions on how to enter the building. Please ring the doorbell, and a staff member will come and escort you into the building. If a staff member takes longer than 5 minutes, please call the front desk at 614-689-2020. This is a new process for us, and we do not want to keep you waiting! We appreciate your patience as we navigate this temporary change. The shelter needs a volunteer count the day before the event so sign-up ends Monday at 4:50 PM. Afterwards some of us go to the Omnipresent Atheists Weekly Meetup in progress to have a bit to eat or drink (http://www.meetup.com/omnipresentatheists/). Volunteers must be 14 or older. Since we will be working around families, the YMCA does not permit volunteering by individuals with convictions for violent or sexual crimes. The YMCA reserves the right to run background checks on volunteers. For questions, comment on this page or contact: Andrew, awhit12@yahoo.com, (614)937-5802 (cell). Please let Andrew know if you volunteer anytime other than our COUNT events so that he can count your hours toward our service record.

The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Our March speakers are Molly Gaines and Zack Parrish, co-organizers of the Secular Education Association: They will share their story of how a small group of Ohio parents grew into a national organization tracking released-time religious instruction and other church–state issues in public schools. The presentation will cover SEA’s early wins and hard lessons, what we’re seeing nationally right now, and how local advocates can play a meaningful role in protecting public education. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the landscape — and practical ways to get involved. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

Join us for a fun Saturday evening starting with dinner at Ranchero Kitchen at 6:30 PM, where we’ll be supporting an immigrant-owned local business. Pupusas: Beans, Potatoes, Veggie Homemade juices: Passionfruit, Tamarind, Horchata, Pineapple-cashew After dinner, we’ll head to Skate Zone 71 from 8:00–10:30 PM for skating, music, and good vibes. Come hungry and ready to roll! 😋🛼 Locations: Ranchero Kitchen 984 Morse Rd Columbus, OH 43229 (Same plaza as Ohio BMV license bureau) Skate Zone 71 4900 Evanswood Dr Columbus, OH 43229

🌱 Vegan Dinner + Bowling Night 🎳 Join us for a relaxed vegan dinner at Loving Hut on Saturday, March 14 from 6:00–8:00 PM. We’ll enjoy delicious plant-based food, good conversation, and chill, friendly vibes. After dinner, we’ll head over for bowling at Holiday Lanes for some fun and laughs 🎉 ✨ All are welcome 🥗 100% vegan dinner 🎳 Bowling afterwards (optional) Come eat, connect, and enjoy a fun Saturday night together 💚 Locations: Loving Hut 6569 E Livingston Ave Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Holiday lanes 4589 E Broad St Columbus, OH 43213

**Understanding the Columbus Housing Market: Let’s Talk Downsizing for Seniors** Understanding the Market to Make Your Best Move Yet Thinking about downsizing or helping a parent prepare for a move? Join us for a friendly, educational seminar designed specifically for seniors in Central Ohio. We’ll break down what’s happening in today’s Columbus housing market, explore timing and planning for downsizing, and discuss easy ways to prepare a longtime home for sale—without overwhelm. You’ll also learn about low‑maintenance housing options, financial considerations, and simple steps to make your next move smooth and stress‑free. This is a relaxed, no‑pressure event where you can ask questions and get practical advice tailored to seniors and their families. Hosted by: Katie McCartney, Broker & Senior Real Estate Specialist® (SRES)

Join the **Columbus Vegan Meetup** for a night of great food and even better high notes! We’re heading to **Basil Thai Cafe** for a feast, followed by karaoke right at the bar. * **When:** Thursday, March 12th * **Dinner:** 7:00 PM * **Karaoke:** 8:00 PM * **Where:** Basil Thai Cafe (inside VHS Social Club), 520 S Front St, Columbus, OH **Note:** While Basil Thai Cafe is not a strictly vegan restaurant, they have a **ton of vegan options** on the menu for us to enjoy! Can't wait to see you there! 🌱✨