Arlington Neighborhood Village (ANV) is celebrating Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 22 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. It is a cold, rainy night, but the parking lot is full. Wendy Zenker, Executive Director, says a number of the people attending the dinner don’t have any relatives nearby so this is their Thanksgiving celebration.

Tables are set up for 150 volunteers, members of ANV as well as family and friends. Volunteers and members have brought the appetizers and desserts, and ANV has provided a regular turkey dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy and stuffing and all the trimmings. Noel Durman, a ANV volunteer says, “The desserts are usually a ‘don’t miss.’”

Bobby A, both a ANV member and a volunteer, is playing blues on the piano while the group gathers and chats before the buffet.

ANV is a network of neighbors helping neighbors who want to stay in their homes and age in place. It is a non-profit organization with services and educational programs provided by volunteers. ANV currently has 450 members and 285 active volunteers. Zenker says their membership now consists of 41 percent of low-income individuals, and as a result ANV offers discounted memberships. 

ANV serves all of Arlington with members ranging in age from 58 to 102 years old. ANV members pay an annual fee which covers a portion of the operating expenses and allows them to receive services from the volunteer base such as transportation, errands, friendly visits, daily check-ins. Zenker says the greatest need for volunteer assistance is for medical rides because they happen at a specific day and time. 

She says most members are over 75 and have more significant needs. Other errands such as picking up groceries or trips to the post office have time flexibility. Zenker says the volunteers also offer technology assistance such as how to work your phone or computer issues, “Not high tech, just meat and potatoes.”

This concept of a village started in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston in 1999. Today there are more than 350 villages including the Arlington Neighborhood Village which was incorporated as a nonprofit in Virginia in July 2013. For more information: anvarlington.org