Gifts of Mercy Dinner

Gifts of Mercy is a holiday dinner serving families in need who live in a local Mercy housing development.

Many of our volunteers baked cupcakes and donated them for this event.  We also had our volunteers help greet and serve our guests.  Thank you!

Here is a letter from the organizer of the event:

"Dear 2011 Gifts of Mercy Volunteers,

Thank you again for your time and talents in making the 5th Annual Gifts of Mercy event a success and blessing to the residents and children of White Rock Village. It was a memorable night for all! We had approx. 80 volunteers who helped setup, coordinate, cook, make desserts, take photos, decorate, serve, sort and distribute gifts. There were over 160 children who received Christmas gifts and we served 225 meals."

Thank you volunteers!  

Together, we helped make a difference for many families this holiday season!

Homeless Outreach Sacramento: Cookies, Cards, & Cocoa

December was such a busy month for our volunteers, and one of the events that filled up with volunteers very quickly was the Homeless Outreach in Sacramento with the cookies, cards, and cocoa theme.

Our volunteers worked with youth from WIND in Sacramento decorating cookies and writing cards to take out to the streets for the homeless.  With more than 600 cookies, 200 holiday cards and lots of cocoa, they made the holidays a little brighter for more than 200 hundred people.

 Thank you to all of our volunteers who donated cookies, decorating supplies, and items to distribute!  It was a very fun way to get into the holiday spirit of giving.

Winter Boutique in Town Center

Many families are in need of warm clothing, pajamas, and undergarments like underwear, bras, and socks.

This December, our volunteers organized and set up our 2nd Annual Winter Boutique in Town Center.   Invited were Foster and Kinship families, along with others in need, associated with local Hands4Hope partner agencies. They were all invited to come inside and shop for free.

Many of the items from our boutique were collected during our Warm & Fuzzy Drive, and others were private donations made by the generous people in our community.  Our racks and tables were lined with thousands of items, and the people who came to pick them out were very grateful.

The boutique was open for two days serving the people in our greater community, but it boutique took about 4 days for our volunteers to set up. 

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers (including the Marina Village Middle School Club) who helped make this happen. 

Many families in our community were very grateful.

Youth Volunteer Spotlight: Olivia

{Olivia is on the right}

Olivia started volunteering for Hands4Hope 3 years ago after being recruited by family friends. Since then, she has become very involved with the organization and with the Marina Village Middle School Club.

Most recently, she helped plan and coordinate the Winter Boutique in Town Center for families in need to shop during the holidays. "It's really cool because you get to know the people and families who come in," she said. "Everyone is so grateful and kind." While working the boutique she said she pick out clothes and assist a family with a little boy who she will always remember. "I met a foster boy named David and he was being fostered by a good family. He was so cute!"

Olivia says her favorite volunteer event ever with Hands4Hope was the Sacramento Homeless Outreach for the holidays. "I loved going down to WIND and making cookies," she said. "We had a lot of time to talk and really get to know the less fortunate people. I had some great conversation with them."

She says working with the homeless has made her realize a lot. "Homeless people are like us and they need care just like anyone else," she said. "(Doing this) opens your eyes and makes you realize how much you have and how often people take things for granted."

Olivia says she is grateful for Hands4Hope. "I've changed a lot and it made me a better person. I get to come up with my own ideas and do them."

Olivia has recruited many of her own friends and says she loves spreading the word about the organization. "I like everyone that I have met and I like that Hands4Hope is youth based and we get to go out and help the community while spending time with our friends."

Thank you for all you do, Olivia!  We are so lucky to have you.

Youth Volunteer Spotlight: Kory

Kory started volunteering with Hands4Hope in 2010. His first event was Homeless Outreach in Sacramento, and he said the event surprised him. "I've done other volunteering before, but Hands4Hope is very direct," he said. "It was much different than what I expected because it was hands on and we got to meet the people we were serving and they ended up helping us get set up when we arrived. What's most shocking are the people with out the basic needs." 

Kory has been a key player in getting a Hands4Hope club started at Ponderosa High School. He attended the high school leadership retreat in Coloma for three days in August. "This is my first time being involved in a leadership role and it has really helped me with public speaking and becoming more out going," he said.

"I really enjoy it and I believe high schoolers can inspire the next generation." The Ponderosa H4H club has grown quickly and is off to a great start!

Kory said another event he really enjoyed was the blanket making party he attended with some of his friends. "I liked making them for people, especially during the winter months."

Overall, Kory said volunteering has been a positive experience. "It has really made me more empathetic, I know I can't relate but I understand," he said.

"I have learned a lot of people in our community need help and it's great to make a difference," he said. 

"I think Hands4Hope is successful because it's direct and we're doing something from both sides. I believe youth can have a big impact on our community"

We are so grateful for you, Kory!