Volunteer Spotlight: Kimberly

Hands4Hope is very fortunate to have Kimberly as one of our dedicated and hard working adult volunteers.

Kimberly got involved with Hands4Hope as it was becoming a non profit and has since spent tireless hours to help develop, lead, and fundraise for our programs. She is the Secretary for the Hands4Hope Board of Directors, and has been a key volunteer for the Haunted House and many of our outreach events.

She says she's always had a desire to volunteer. "I did it in high school and I always wanted to do it with my kids," she says. "As a family it helps us stay grounded and feel thankful for what we have."

She remembers the first time she and her kids volunteered to collect toiletries for the Warm & Fuzzy Drive in 2008. "My kids were asking me why we were collecting toilet paper and I had to explain to them that some people can't afford it."

"My favorite event is Homeless Outreach because my kids get to see not everyone has enough to live." she says. "My daughter Hallie asked why we just can't build them all a house," she says, "but handing out the items from the Warm & Fuzzy drive at least lets us fell like we can do something."

Kimberly says her family has done many memorable things by volunteering with Hands4Hope. "It makes us grateful to be a family because so many people don't have one."

Kimberly says she's happy to see youth getting involved in the community. "Hands4Hope has helped me fulfill my passion for volunteering. I am glad to do it in our community. It's non denominational, and kids of any age can participate. I am grateful to do it and pass it on to my kids."

Thank you for all you do, Kimberly!  We appreciate all of the valuable time you spend to help make Hands4Hope what it is!!

2011 Haunted House A Success!

Here are a few pictures from the Hands4Hope Haunted House.  It's the biggest fundraiser we put on and our volunteers have the best time.

For 3 months - volunteers (youth and adult) build and decorate our elaborate Haunted House.  Each year (this was our second year) the theme changes, and the characters and props inside change too.  This year - those who dared visited The Haunted Saloon!

The majority of all of the items inside are donated... and all of our live "characters" inside are youth volunteers.  It is so much fun to see it all come together... and the kids have a great time scaring the poop out of our visitors on their 5 minute journey through the saloon.  During the 3 weekends we were open, our Haunted House had more than 3,000 visitors!  

Our youth and adult volunteers spent thousands of hours making this happen.

Each night - about 25 different youth volunteers were dressed up as characters to make the haunted house scary... 

 They did an awesome job and it was so much fun to be there and watch the visitors come out!  

We got so many wonderful reviews... and most importantly, we raised a lot of money to support our community programs and youth outreach activities that support the great mission of Hands4Hope.

Written By: Tracy Lesher, Communications Coordinator

Painting The Gracie Bus

Winter is just around the corner, and already, our temperatures have dropped.

Each year, many people in Placerville are left to freeze on the streets.  This year, our youth helped paint a donated bus to help transport these people back and forth between shelters and keep them warm.

It was painted with lots of love!

Thank you volunteers!

Many people will appreciate the hard work and love you put into painting this bus this winter.

Blanket Making Party

Each winter, many people in our community can't afford to stay warm.

Our youth are doing their part to try and help!

They hand made (with love) more than 70 blankets... we made a difference, and it was fun!!

These blankets will be distributed at our outreach events in Placerville & Sacramento.

Thank you volunteers!