Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Give the Gift of a Healthy River this Holiday Season

Thinking of the perfect gift can be a tough task during the holiday season. Here are a few gift ideas that also benefit the James River Association. By giving these gifts, you are helping us continue to reach toward our goal of a healthy James River.


  • James River Association Membership  - Members also receive discounts of up to 20% at outfitters throughout the watershed.
  • James River Blend Coffee from Blanchard’s Coffee – Clean water makes great coffee. The James River Blend is a perfect coffee to complement cool, crisp mornings on the river.
  • Great Return from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery – This West Coast style IPA is a great gift for beer lovers.
  • Tycoon Tackle fishing rod – Custom built fly fishing and spinning rods specifically designed for fishing the mighty James from a world renowned outfitter.
  • James River art series – These posters, fine art prints, t-shirts and notecards are perfect for Richmonders who love the James.
  • Amazon Smile – Use Amazon Smile when making your Amazon purchases. Make sure to designate the James River Association as your charity of choice.

For more gift ideas, visit our online Gift Shop. We hope you have a happy holiday!

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Volunteering for the James

We are so thankful for our volunteers. People just like you give their precious time to help us create a cleaner, healthier watershed.

Meet Jose Espinoza a 24 year old IT professional originally from Stafford, VA. His love for the James led him to clean up trash in the Richmond region, as well as translating river information to Spanish to bring awareness to the Latino population.  Here’s what Jose had to say about his experience volunteering:

I moved to Richmond about 6 years ago to attend Virginia Commonwealth University and graduated in 2013. Like many VCU students, I had my first encounter with the James River by hanging out at Belle Isle. Every time I went to the river, it gifted me and my friends with new experiences and great quality time. Belle Isle brings so many people together but people also take it for granted. 
 After seeing so many people at Belle Isle throw trash on the ground and sometimes in the river, I decided to do something about it. I initially reached out to James River Association to volunteer in their self-directed trash cleanup program and have picked up trash along the Pipeline Trail. The James River Association also tapped into my cultural background to help them bring river awareness to the growing Latino population in the Richmond area. I helped them in translating pamphlets and newsletter that will educate Spanish speakers about the conservation of natural resources, good habits for the river and even volunteering opportunities. I really enjoyed this aspect of my volunteering experience because it helped the organization reach a different audience they wouldn’t have reached without my help 
I would highly encourage Richmond residents to volunteer with the James River Association because it feels good to give back to the river that has given so much to you in one way or another.


If you are interested in volunteering, contact Ben Hawkins, Volunteer Coordinator, at bhawkins@jrava.org