AHC Inc. Applauds Community Volunteers that Helped Provide Vital Services to Affordable Housing Residents during COVID-19


Terron Sims, II, AHC Inc. volunteer tutor of 15 years, with three of his students who achieved honor roll

We celebrate the efforts of all involved who worked so hard to keep our residents engaged, educated, and fed during an especially challenging year!

In recognition of the 2021 National Volunteering Week (April 18-24), leading developer of affordable properties AHC Inc. today celebrates the selfless efforts of the numerous volunteers who helped support its charitable community outreach efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, some 250 volunteers regularly donated their time and energy to work hand-in-hand with AHC’s staff and ensure that affordable housing residents continued to receive vital services. One of these dedicated individuals is Ameerah, a 4th grader from Arlington who took the initiative to supply more than 700 face masks to AHC residents.

In addition, numerous community organizations and more than 100 volunteers helped AHC expand its food distribution program from six to 26 sites. Volunteers also continued to tutor and mentor K-12 students virtually, providing a critical lifeline to students struggling to keep up with the curriculum during the pandemic.

“What I appreciate most is that our volunteers had to put in so much more work during the height of the pandemic,” said Laura Jackson, AHC’s Volunteer Coordinator. “They had to become proficient at Zoom in addition to building relationships with students and teaching their subject matter in order to be effective tutors.”

In addition to celebrating all the 2020-2021 volunteers, AHC Inc. would like to applaud the individuals whose service to AHC and its communities has reached five- and fifteen-year anniversaries. Those being honored include volunteer tutors of five years Tom Dunlap, Ryan Hoang, and Sahar Kazmi, and fifteen-year veteran Terron Sims II, who over the years have helped students of different ages achieve their educational goals.

“If I can show any one child that they matter and that they deserve to succeed in this life, I’ll feel like I’ve made an impact,” said Kazmi.

Sims, who had tutored while also serving in the Army, added: “What makes me happiest is to take a kid that just doesn’t care about school, and at some point, a light turns on and he suddenly matures and does the work to bring his grades to what is needed.”

“On behalf of our entire team at AHC, I would like to applaud and thank our dedicated volunteers from the bottom of our hearts,” said Susan Davidson, Director of Resident Services at AHC Inc. “Without the dedication of both volunteers and Resident Services staff, 2020 would have been a much more difficult year for the residents of AHC Inc. properties. We celebrate the efforts of all involved who worked so hard to keep our residents engaged, educated, and fed during an especially challenging year!”

AHC Inc. would like to extend a special Thank You to the many generous groups and in-kind supporters, including: Amazon, Volunteer Arlington, Arlington Rotary Club, Aronson LLC, Boy Scout Troop #162, Marymount University, Washington International School, Potomac School, Healthy Community Action Team, Arlington Community Corp, Real food for Kids, St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Arlington County Police Department, Phoenix Bikes, Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, Capital Area Food Bank, Arlington Food Assistance Center, Food Rescue, Arlington Can-Do, Glebe Community Garden, Second Story, Carlin Springs PTA, and Claremont PTA.

Visit AHC’s Instagram at @AHC_Inc to see individual portraits of many of our long-time volunteers. To learn more about volunteering with AHC, please email volunteer@ahcinc.org or visit https://www.ahcinc.org/get-involved/volunteers/.

About AHC Inc.

Founded in 1975, AHC Inc. is a nonprofit developer of affordable housing that provides quality homes and education programs for low- and moderate-income families. Based in Arlington, VA, AHC has developed more than 7,800 apartment units in 50+ properties in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC. AHC’s Resident Services program reaches 3,000 children, teens, adults and seniors each year through onsite education and social service programs and activities. For more information, visit http://www.ahcinc.org.

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