Will there be a 2015 Haunted House?

Hands4Hope Families, Friends, and Ambassadors,

Hands4Hope is in the process of determining whether to move forward with a 2015 Haunted House and the results of this survey will help us in determining this.

If there is enough interest by both adults and youth, we will hold a meeting to discuss the below items in more detail, as well as time commitment. We will then solidify a team of leads to get this project started.

The Haunted House is a ton of fun, but it is also a lot of work and takes a lot of resources, primarily volunteers. At our wrap-up meeting this past year, it was decided that to move forward for 2015, we need more adult and youth involvement . . . the same adults (and many of the same youth) have been doing the H4H Haunted House for the past five years are feeling tapped out.

This fundraiser is a youth/adult collaborative, but to get started We Need Adults who are willing to take the lead, serve as advisors, or assist in the areas noted in the survey. We need people with experience and also people willing to jump in and help where needed, willing to take direction and learn along the way.

We Need Youth who are wanting and willing to help with the build, marketing, and implementation of the Haunted House. We need youth who are willing to be characters and adults who are willing to oversee them during the running of the Haunted House. We need youth who are willing to help at the ticket booths and adults willing to work with them.

We need people willing to step up as leads and we also need worker bees.

Please follow this link and let us know in what way you are willing to help:

2015 Haunted House Survey

Also, check out our pictures from year's past...

2010 - Our very first Haunted House!

2010

2012

2014

2014

Thank you,

Jennifer

Jennifer Bassett
Founder & Executive Director
916.919.5695

Our Annual Winter Boutique was a Success! Thank you to all who donated, volunteered and assisted with this great outreach!

This past October, El Dorado County elementary schools including Silva Valley, William Brooks, Lakeview, Oak Meadow, Green Valley, and Phoenix Private School in Folsom participated in the Hands4Hope Warm & Fuzzy Drive, encouraging students to donate warm necessities like clothing, shoes, socks, pajamas, coats, scarves and hats.  Combined, this community contributed over 4,000 pieces of warm clothing and other items. 

Upon completion of the Drive, students at Oak Ridge High School washed and sorted the clothes.  These donations stocked the 5^th Annual Hands4Hope Winter Boutique for foster and low income families held at donated space near the H4H Youth Center in El Dorado Hills. Individuals were invited to “shop” for necessary warm clothing and accessories,. 

The Winter Boutique project was led by a committee of youth, 6^th to 12^th grades, and adult advisors, who together decided on a theme and hours for the Boutique, and decorated and organized it for a positive and festive shopping experience. They also organized a marketing campaign to get the word out to local schools and agencies.

The boutique was open for two weekends in December, where youth volunteers were responsible for greeting shoppers as well as helping them find needed items, and "check out".  The youth volunteers ranged in grades from 2nd-12^th and came from schools throughout El Dorado and Sacramento Counties.

Tenth Grader and Hands4Hope youth volunteer Devin Garber explained it best, “Many people tell me that by volunteering for those in need, I am helping change lives for the better. Little do they know, though I am helping people, it is they who are really helping me.  I have taken notice of so such in my life: my blessings, all I have to be thankful for, and I have become aware of difficulties within this community and surrounding communities. My time at the winter boutique was an amazing experience!  I met great people who had the brightest smiles on their face even through their times of difficulty. These smiling, thankful, and simply wonderful people are the reason I so thoroughly enjoy volunteering with Hands4Hope!”

Devin’s brother, Greyson (grade 7) adds, “The shoppers were very friendly people who were always smiling, laughing, and saying "thank you".  They were very grateful.”

The 2014 Winter Boutique almost doubled its numbers from last year in regards to assisting individuals in the community.  This year, a total of 87 families were served, representing 374 individuals, and 2,000 items were distributed. Agencies who partnered with Hands4Hope to get the word out were: Cameron Park Community Center, Mercy Housing, New Morning Youth & Family Services, Women’s Center, El Dorado County, Sierra Child and Family Services, El Dorado Mental Health, WIC, El Dorado Caring Hearts, Twin Lakes Food Bank, Lilliput, Wake Program, Early Head Start, El Dorado County Help For Christmas Facebook Campaign, and Foster Family Services. 

Hands4Hope volunteers also distributed 450 pieces of clothing and blankets at their annual Powerhouse Ministries Thanksgiving Dinner distribution, and 1,200 pieces of clothing, shoes and other accessories to some of their partner agencies including to Green Valley Community Church, Twin Lakes Food Bank, and New Morning Shelter, as well as directly to homeless on the street.   Without the community’s support, this could not have happened. Hands4Hope extends a huge Thank You to all who were a part of this effort.

Sponsor Spotlight: Town Center

Town Center celebrates its 12th anniversary this year. Developed by the Mansour Company, Town Center was designed to give El Dorado Hills a downtown. It was intended as a community destination - a place for residents to gather, shop, dine, and attend family/community events. Merchants range from larger stores such as Target to smaller boutique shops such as Lazio. Town Center has over 25 restaurants that offer a large variety of dining experiences. Its water features and lovely walking trails make Town Center a beautiful, unique downtown experience.

The Mansour/Nagel partnership, which owns and manages a large portion of Town Center, is proud to be a Hands4Hope sponsor. According to El Dorado Hills Town Center’s Marketing Director, Natalie Buerki,  “Hands4Hope has been a wonderful non-profit to work with because they focus on youth. Hands4Hope’s programs have done an excellent job of raising awareness among our young people and getting them involved. Once they get involved and realize they can make a difference, they want to do it again and it gives them a sense of community and pride. Jennifer Bassett and Hands4Hope have done an excellent job of giving our youth an opportunity to learn, give and grow. Town Center wants to be involved and support their efforts, because today’s young people are tomorrow’s leaders.

Happy New Year's from all of us at Hands4Hope!