Volunteer with Virginia Cooperative Extension

Virginia Master Gardeners are volunteer educators who work within their communities to encourage and promote environmentally sound horticulture practices through sustainable landscape management education and training. If you have an interest in horticulture and like teaching and talking to the public, contact your local Extension office and ask about the Master Gardener program.

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The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Interested Virginians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service. If you are interested in becoming a Master Naturalist, contact your local Extension office.

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The VAMWON consists of Virginia Cooperative Extension agents and volunteers trained in the proper design, management, and maintenance of private water supply systems (springs, wells, and cisterns). They organize and conduct county-based drinking water clinics and serve as a local resource for clientele with household water quality concerns. If you are interested in becoming part of the VAMWON, apply online.

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Master Food Volunteers help support Extension's family and consumer sciences agents through education and outreach efforts. These volunteers are involved in programs related to food preparation, nutrition, food safety, and physical activity.

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Virginia Cooperative Extension's Family Nutrition Program helps limited-resource families and children develop the knowledge and skills necessary to make healthier lifestyle choices on a limited budget.

For more information on volunteer opportunities with FNP, contact the agent nearest to you: 

Lee, Scott, Wise, Dickenson, Buchanan, Russell, Washington, Tazewell, Smyth, Grayson, Wythe, Bland, and Pulaski counties 
Sharon Rice - 276-628-9266 strice@vt.edu 

Carroll, Patrick, Floyd, Montgomery, Roanoke, Giles, Craig, Franklin, and Bedford counties 
Tonya Pickett - 540-238-8195, 540-444-2946 tpickett@vt.edu 

Henry, Pittsylvania, Halifax counties 
Alani Adkins - Danville, 434-766-6761 alaniadk@vt.edu 

Botetourt, Alleghany, Rockbridge, Bath, and Highland counties 
Rebecca Wilder - 540-463-4734 rmarlatt@vt.edu 

Nelson, Augusta, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Rockingham, Greene, Madison, Orange, Culpeper, Rappahannock, Page, Shenandoah, Warren, Fauquier, Frederick, and Clarke counties 
Morgan Bender - 540-245-5750 bmorgan1@vt.edu 

Amherst, Campbell, Appomattox, Charlotte, Prince Edward, Buckingham, Cumberland, Amelia, Nottoway, Lunenburg counties 
Pauline Stokes - 434-392-4246 pstokes@vt.edu 

Mecklenburg, Greensville, and Brunswick counties 
Kimberly Martin, 434-848-2151 kimartin@vt.edu 

Louisa, Hanover, Goochland, Powhatan, Chesterfield, Henrico, New Kent, Charles City, Prince George, Dinwiddie, and James City counties 
Ann Vargo - 804-433-2556 avargo@vt.edu 

Sussex, Southampton, Surry, Isle of Wight, and York counties, and Cities of Suffolk, Newport News, Hampton, and Poquoson 
Karla Robbins - 757-365-6257 karlrobb@vt.edu 

Westmoreland, Northumberland, Richmond, Essex, King and Queen, Lancaster, Middlesex, King William, Mathews, and Gloucester counties 
Kelly Lewis - 804-580-5694 ksuth3@vt.edu 

Caroline, Spotsylvania, King George, Stafford, and Prince William counties 
Katrida Williams - 540-658-8000 katridaw@vt.edu 

Loudoun, Fairfax, and Arlington counties and the City of Alexandria 
Van Do - 703-746-5524 vando@vt.edu 

Accomack and Northampton counties and Cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake 
Ellen Pudney, MS, RDN - 757-678-7946 epudney@vt.edu

The Master Financial Education Volunteer program focuses on helping families build their financial capacity through classes on topics such as managing money, planning for home ownership, getting out of debit, retirement planning, and preventing identity theft. The program also provides one-on-one mentoring.

Master Financial Education Volunteers receive a minimum of 20 hours of classroom instruction and, in return, commit to contribute an additional 40 hours of service to the in the 12 months following the training.

Volunteer educators partner with local Extension Agents to provide individual counseling sessions; assist at Reality Store, Kids Marketplace, and poverty simulations; teach money management workshops to youth; and lead adult financial management classes.

Contact:

Karen Munden, Unit Coordinator
Senior Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences
City of Virginia Beach
757-385-4769, kmunden@vt.edu

Crysti Hopkins,
Extension Agent, Family and Consumer Sciences
Lousia County
540-967-2111, hcrysti2@vt.edu

The Virginia Cooperative Extension Leadership Council is an advisory group working at the state level to help guide VCE's direction and priorities. Members of the council represent Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and each of the 22 planning districts in Virginia. Contact: Lonnie Johnson, Senior District Director, at 804-527-4251 or lojohns2@vt.edu.

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Each of VCE's 108 local offices has a leadership council. These groups help keep local programming relevant and responsive to the needs of the community. Representatives bring issues to our attention, and help determine priorities for program efforts. To get involved with your local ELC, contact the Unit Coordinator at your local Extension office.

Local ELC coordinator

Eric Kaufman
ekaufman@vt.edu
540-231-6258

Resources

• Awards
• Extension Leadership Councils: Planning for Success