An offer to house-sit in Great Falls determined our family’s future home and sense of belonging. Throughout my husband’s mobile military career, we dreamed of settling into the lifestyle our Great Falls friends had — living close to work, meaningful community involvement, good schools, and room for a garden.

Rolling hills leading to the Potomac and winding roads canopied by hardwoods made Georgetown Pike seem a world away from work on Capitol Hill. After a few days of traversing I-395/I-495 from Alexandria’s Old Town, we pined for the greenery of our getaway off Riverbend Road. Fast-forward 20 years and several addresses. We seized an opportunity to return to Great Falls and call it ours.

Home is more than where we hang our hats. Home is where we hang our hearts. Home is where we feel welcomed and we belong.

As a journalist, I’ve witnessed and experienced that newcomers begin to feel a part of a community when they become involved. Before we had keys to our house, our Holly Knoll neighborhood greeted us with Supper Club, Book Club, holiday park parties and more. Kevin and I found engaged citizens and civic opportunities fostering personal and community growth.

NEWCOMERS PARENTS to Northern Virginia find ease giving time to their children’s schools where professional strengths are welcomed. In addition to parent-teacher associations and special events, parents may contribute constructive time to a Junior Achievement program or the Reston-based GRACE Art program, which serves 40 local schools. Volunteers teach curated art lessons about famous artists while students produce projects that may also discreetly reinforce math, science, or history. Sometimes parents learn as much as the kids do.

The heart of our village is our library — home to many local groups, such as the Great Falls Historical Society, from which we’ve learned much about the area’s founding families, Civil War battles, and several small communities that became ZIP code 22066; art exhibits; and the Great Falls Writer’s Group (GFWG), which hosts authors’ events and organizes an annual writing contest for sixth graders to encourage the next generation of writers.

Soon after author Kristin Clark Taylor started GFWG several years ago, the GFWG writing family started planning its first writing contest. Parent-volunteer work in schools proved valuable. The now annual contest resulted in a partnership with Friends of the Great Falls Library and schools to inspire young readers and writers.

Such alliances among community groups pair skills, goals, and provide networking opportunities, resulting in vested fellowships and friendships. Involvement deepens one’s purpose and makes the town as a whole richer.

Locals jest that the boardroom for most civic organizations is the Old Brogue Pub or its adjacent coffee shop, Katie’s. For years, restaurant owner Mike Kearney’s energy and activism generated business support and fundraising efforts. Anyone listening to Kearney rally folks to invest in our community knows his efforts aren’t business decisions. They’re personal because he lives here.

Other local business owners share the same passion. Pairing with the Great Falls Optimist Club, Jorge Adeler coordinates the annual Great Falls Children’s Spring Festival and Egg Hunt on the Village Green and donates thousands of dollars of jewels hidden in eggs. Adeler is one of many citizens who strive to make this part of Fairfax County more than a Washington, D.C, suburb — but someplace special. He accepts challenges of making historic properties such as The Grange available and useful to all who live here. He’s one of our many village gems.

Celebrate Great Falls coordinates volunteers and centralizes fundraising for more than a dozen annual events, such as the Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks Display and the December’s Celebration of Light. Director Erin Lobato moved to Great Falls five years ago and embraced opportunities to get long-time residents and newcomers involved. Elementary school choirs and bands perform at the Celebration of Light so young families watching the performance adopt the holiday tradition.

Our village strives to preserve its history and keep its small-town feel among a changing landscape and population. Local organizations evolve with citizens’ needs, too.

A FEW YEARS AGO the Great Falls Woman's Club and Newcomers of Great Falls merged to become Great Falls Friends and Neighbors, which supports cultural outings, speakers, and philanthropy. With the robust group of artists, Great Falls Senior Center, the Great Falls Garden Club, weekly farmer’s market, and youth sports, our locale offers opportunities for everyone to contribute.

When we share our histories, languages, and foods we share ourselves. When we volunteer in our community we beautify and personalize our collective home — and we all benefit.

Each of us has a unique story about making Great Falls home. Its people make Great Falls great.