New Volunteer Ministers Tent Opens on National Mall, Connecting Hundreds with Community Service Resources

WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 29, 2026 — The Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C. officially launched its new Volunteer Ministers Tent on the National Mall on Saturday, June 27, introducing hundreds of visitors to practical volunteer resources, free online courses and community service opportunities during the Great American State Fair, one of the Freedom250 celebrations commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Located near the Washington Monument and directly across from the Great American State Fair, the new Volunteer Ministers (VM) Tent served as a welcoming center where visitors explored educational exhibits, spoke with volunteers and learned practical skills designed to help them improve conditions in everyday life and better assist others.

The grand opening was organized by Chas Smith, External Affairs Director for the Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C.

Throughout the afternoon, volunteers welcomed tourists, local residents, families and educators into the tent. By the close of the event, Volunteer Ministers had reached 349 people, guided 52 visitors through the educational displays, distributed 50 online course activation cards and welcomed six new Volunteer Ministers to the program.

One visitor from India, who works in education, specifically sought information about Study Technology and expressed interest in continuing discussions on educational applications in his home country.

Another visitor, the leader of a Washington-area community running club, learned about the Volunteer Ministers' community service activities and discussed opportunities for future collaboration.

One of the day's most memorable moments came when a visitor from Japan stopped by the tent. Although she spoke very little English, Volunteer Ministers helped her locate the program's free online courses in Japanese. She completed an entire course while still at the tent and later, using Google Translate, shared that she had previously held misconceptions about the organization and was grateful for the opportunity to learn firsthand.

The Volunteer Ministers program is known internationally for providing practical tools intended to help individuals improve conditions in everyday life while encouraging volunteer service in local communities. Around the world, Volunteer Ministers also assist communities following natural disasters and other emergencies by providing humanitarian support alongside local organizations and emergency responders when requested.

"Our goal is simple," said Chas Smith. "We want to provide practical tools that empower people to help themselves and help others. The response from the community during our very first day showed there is genuine interest in learning skills that can make a positive difference."

The Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C. plans to continue operating the Volunteer Ministers Tent at future community events throughout the Washington metropolitan area, offering educational materials, demonstrations and volunteer opportunities to residents and visitors alike.

The Scientology Volunteer Ministers program, created more than four decades ago by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, has grown into one of the world's largest independent volunteer relief organizations. Guided by the motto, "Something can be done about it," Volunteer Ministers provide practical assistance through community outreach, disaster response and life-improvement education in countries around the world.

For more information about the Volunteer Ministers program or upcoming community activities, contact:

Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C.
Volunteer Ministers Program
202-797-9826
externalaffairsdc@scientology.net

https://www.scientology-washingtondc.org