The Vienna Moose supports our community. One of the ways it is doing that is by making donations to worthy area nonprofits. On Thursday, May 3, 2018, there was a motion brought to the Board of Officers to make a donation to Opportunities, Alternatives & Resources of Virginia. OAR is a nonprofit helping to rebuild and break the cycle of crime with opportunities, alternatives, and resources to offenders and their families to create a safer community. OAR works with persons involved in the criminal justice system in around Fairfax County. This includes Vienna, Virginia.
OAR is a local non-profit restorative justice organization providing human services since 1971. Their history has its roots in the highest principles of human rights, and the most practical applications of a community’s enlightened self-interest and citizen action. Its origins can be traced to a 1968 prison strike at the State Penitentiary in Richmond, Virginia. In response, several local churches convened a conference on Churches and the Correctional System. Following that effort, Jay Worrall, Jr. founded the OAR movement, which at the time stood for “Offender Aid and Restoration”. It was his vision of citizen visitors helping jail inmates that formed the original premise for the creation of OAR organizations around the country.
In September 1970, Offender Aid and Restoration of Virginia received its articles of incorporation. In 1971, the local OAR office was established. Today there remain eight local OAR affiliates, four of which are in Virginia. In 1998, OAR voted to change its name from Offender Aid and Restoration to do business as "Opportunities, Alternatives & Resources" in order to better reflect the organization’s mission and goals.
We support them in their efforts to make Vienna and areas in Virginia safer and better for everyone. We are proud of the work they do and want to see them be a success. For these reasons the lodge made a monitory donation to Opportunities, Alternatives & Resources and wish them all the best in the years to come.