Hands4Hope’s 2nd Annual School Supply Drive serves 394 students with essential school supplies for this year.

Youth Participants getting bags ready to go hand out fliers door to door in El Dorado Hills based neighborhoods.

Hands4Hope hosted their 2nd Annual School Supply Drive to benefit children in need in El Dorado and Sacramento Counties with essential school supplies for the 2015-2016 school year.  The drive collected 2298 school supplies that helped 394 El Dorado County students, grades Kindergarten through 12th.  This is 100 more local students served than last year.

Hands4Hope youth leaders & volunteers worked with local businesses, agencies and community members to collect items such as: backpacks, notebooks, pencils, pens, scissors and other school supply items.

The 2nd Annual School Supply Drive was led by Kelly McMillen, H4H School Supply Drive youth intern and Oak Ridge Senior, who was mentored by Nicole Craine, H4H Youth Development Coordinator.

Youth participants and Adult mentor at our Table Event at the Office Max in Placerville.

“All of the students were incredibly thrilled to be getting new backpacks and supplies. It was an awesome experience to see how excited kids were about the small supplies like a brand new pencil or binder. It made me realize how lucky I am to have school supplies that are easily accessible,” McMillen explained. “ At the end, right before we packed up, a second grade girl came in. She picked out a new blue backpack, gave me a giant smile, and proceeded to do that for every single thing she got. That experience was extremely humbling and gratifying for all the work put into the collection and distribution. She and all the other kids were so grateful for even the simplest pencil topper,” continued McMillen.

Youth Participant assisting an elementary school student pick out her school supplies.

Thank you to the community members who participated in this drive for bringing joy and confidence to local students this year.  Thank you also to the following local businesses and agencies: El Dorado Hills Library, Cameron Park Library, re: Visions, Placerville Library, El Dorado Hills CSD, California Welcome Center, Hangtown Skate Shop, Blue Shield of California, El Dorado Disposal, DST, Gift of Kids, USA Stars Soccer Academy and Ethos Soccer Club.

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.

Please Consider Hands4Hope In Your Year-end Giving! Thank you!

Hello Hands4Hope Families, Friends, and Ambassadors!

As 2014 comes to a close, I’m sure you join me in thinking, “where has all the time gone!?” As we each reflect on this year – with our families, at our jobs, and in our communities – I’m proud to share some of the amazing accomplishments the Hands4Hope youth, leadership teams, families, and friends have achieved:

• Partnered with 15 local schools to engage 400 students in service learning projects which included: clothing and toiletries drives, fundraising projects benefiting the needs of local agencies and serving the less fortunate. Hands4Hope Clubs completed 26 projects during the 2013-14 school year, all to improve the lives of others.
• Planned, prepared and served 3,255 meals to homeless on the streets, to senior residents living in low income housing developments, and to mentally challenged women at a local shelter.
• Mentored children bi-weekly at a transition home for recovering moms and their children, where they built positive relationships with the children and served as positive role models demonstrating good and caring behavior.

“Hands4Hope provides an opportunity for youth to see and participate in the needs of others that they may have never seen or may never see and experience. Their efforts have produced many solutions to many of the social ills that plague our society.”   Ron Sachs, Job’s Shelter of the Sierra

To learn more about the many accomplishments of Hands4Hope youth, please watch our most recent video: http://www.hands4hopeyouth.org.

The commitment from our youth and families is the foundation of Hands 4 Hope; none of these results could be achieved without YOU, your imagination, creativity, passion, and support! I am deeply grateful for your many contributions.

Our numerous youth-led programs also depend on resources and funding. As you consider making your final tax-deductible donations for the 2013 year, or perhaps consider donations in a family member’s name as a holiday gift that keeps giving, please put Hands4Hope at the top of your list. Please donate directly through our website today: http://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/donate/. We are happy to supply a Certificate of Donation for those dedications. Checks are also gratefully accepted.

For a little as $20, your donation can fund a blanket, hand-made by our youth, to keep someone warm this winter. A donation of $50 allows our youth to prepare and deliver 25 meals to someone who otherwise would go hungry. A donation of $100 funds a “youth in action,” allowing a youth member to participate in our service learning and outreach programs for one year. And, a generous donation of $400 provides a scholarship allowing a youth member to attend our H4H leadership camp next summer, providing an at-risk youth to experience something that could change their lives forever.

I know this time of year is especially difficult to find the extra money in your household budget to give to local nonprofits, even those you love like Hands4Hope! My only ask is that you make every effort to support our organization by donating today at http://www.hands4hopeyouth.org and in doing so, support the more than 1200 youth involved and the thousands of community members who benefit from our programs.

Thank you for your support and commitment as we continue to develop programs that directly benefit our community, as well as the people we serve. We are making a difference every day, and that is something worth investing in!

Warm wishes for a happy & safe holiday season,

Jennifer Bassett

Jennifer Bassett
Founder/Executive Director
Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference
916.919.5695
www.hands4hopeyouth.org

Empowering youth to make a positive difference in the world around them through Exploration, Action, and Leadership.

2014 Blanket Making Party: 102 Blankets warm blankets made for those in need in our community.

Last Friday, we hosted our annual Blanket Making Party at Oak Ridge High School, where youth and adult volunteers alike made "no-sew" fleece blankets.  These blankets are distributed to the homeless, during the cold winter months, through our homeless outreaches and given to our partner agencies who help the homeless. 

A total of 102 blankets were made in this one night! 

We also had a local soccer team make an additional 20 more to contribute to the cause!

Thank you all who attended and assisted!

Highlights from our annual Hands4Hope Youth Leadership Camp

Seventeen high school Hands4Hope Club leaders participated in the 4th Annual Hands4Hope Youth Leadership Camp, spending 2 nights and 3 days at the Coloma Outdoor Discovery School (CODS) in Coloma. This camp provided an opportunity for all of the Hands4Hope (H4H) High School Club leaders to come together from six local high schools including: Union Mine, El Dorado, Ponderosa, Oak Ridge, Folsom, and Mira Loma. 

Hands4Hope High School Club Leaders participated in both the low and high ropes courses at CODS. In addition, the H4H Leaders participated in a series of workshops focused on strength-based leadership development, meeting and project development skills, and site-based teambuilding. We were also fortunate to have El Dorado County Sherriff D’Agostini as our camp closing speaker. 

These teambuilding and leadership development opportunities provide an excellent opportunity for Hands4Hope youth leaders to build foundational skills essential for running a successful service learning club in the 2014-2015 school year. Hands4Hope staff will continue to support and offer additional progressive leadership skill building opportunities for our young leaders throughout the year. 

Haley Lehtola, this year’s Youth Board President, had this to say about Hands4Hope’s Leadership Camp, “I have gone to camp for the past two year and can honestly say that I use the skills from camp everyday. With Hands4Hope, I am pushed past my comfort zone and grow as a leader. I also love getting the opportunity to bond with my fellow leaders so we can work together throughout the year.”

Our high school H4H Club leaders are excited to kick off the 2014 - 2015 school club year; many have meetings scheduled for as early as mid-September.

Our 1st Annual School Supply Drive was a success!!

This summer we held our 1st Annual School Supply Drive to benefit children in need in El Dorado County. In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2014-2015 school year, Hands4Hope youth and adult volunteers, led by college intern Riley Peick, collaborated with multiple local businesses, organizations and residents to collect backpacks and school supplies. Supplies were then distributed to over 400 students during two events, one for students in grades K-8^th and one for students in grades 9^th-12^th.

Led by a committee of five young volunteers committed to this cause, another 111 volunteers were put into action, handling the marketing of the drive, and collection and distribution of the supplies. In all, youth and adult volunteers worked over 130 hours to plan and implement the school supply drive.

We are proud to report that over 400 students were provided with new backpacks filled with necessary school supplies. With generous donations from businesses and community members alike, Hands4Hope received an estimated total of $29,517 worth of school supplies, including over 500 backpacks! In addition, Hands4Hope received a total of $1,557 in cash and gift card donations.

Hands4Hope Youth Development Coordinator NicoleCraine expressed her gratitude for the generosity shown by the community, “We are grateful for the incredible support from local businesses and residents. Together we have most certainly made a contribution to the well-being of the children who have benefited.”

Hands4Hope would like to acknowledge the local businesses and agencies that supported the school supply drive: Blue Shield of CA, California Welcome Center, Community Service District, DST, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, El Dorado Disposal, El Dorado Hills Fire Department (All locations), El Dorado Hills Library, Hangtown Skate Shop, Holy Trinity Parish, Lakehills Church, Office Max (Placerville), Rock’n Frogs, Rolling Hills Church, Round Table Pizza (El Dorado Hills Town Center) Royal Tattoo VI, Sam’s Club (Folsom), St. Stephens Church, Starbucks (Francisco), Starbucks (El Dorado Hills Town Center), The Gift of Kids, US Bank (White Rock Road),  Ethos Soccer Club and Zia’s.

Also, a huge thank you goes to the Placerville Union School District and the El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE) for allowing Hands4Hope to utilize space at Schnell School and EDCOE to distribute the donated school supplies to students in need. Without the support of local residents, and these business and agencies, 400 El Dorado County students would not have been well prepared for their first day of school.   

We are already making plans for its 2nd Annual School Supply Drive. If you are interested in participating in this resource collection and distribution effort, please contact Nicole Craine,  nicole@hands4hopeyouth.org.

A heartfelt perspective from one of our youth...

 Education and serving my community are two of my biggest passions. My freshman year I joined a community service club at my school called Hands4Hope. Little did I know the complexity (I will try to not be too confusing) and value of this organization that has made a huge impact on my life. This organization is unique in that it is completely youth driven and provides the highest level of service learning where youth work and communicate directly with adults to start projects, drives, and outreach opportunities. Since joining Hands4Hope around three years ago, I have put in over 350 hours, and have learned so many valuable skills.

Starting out, I was very shy and uncomfortable, but nevertheless, I signed up for my first outreach, which was a daycare for kids while their homeless or low-income parents shopped around for warm clothes and food in a churches’ warehouse. It is so easily forgotten how much we take for granted, and I was, and still am, constantly reminded how lucky I am to have a roof over my head and food to come home to. Since this experience, I have become so passionate about helping others, especially children, because some of us were not as lucky as others in the “birth lottery.”

Hopefully it is okay for me to not focus on just one experience or one project, because I have truly been humbled by the variety of opportunities, and each one I find equally important. Each outreach and meeting slowly raised my confidence in myself and brought out skills I never knew I had. The first time I had to engage a large group of children in Project Birthday, where we throw birthday parties for children who cannot afford one, I found that I have the ability to lead. For a year, I have been mentoring kids in a shelter for single mothers who have had drug and alcohol problems. Here I found my ability to empathize. 

The way I can find time with four AP classes, a job, and leadership positions in school clubs, to cook a meal once a month for the homeless and mentally disabled women at the Sister Nora’s House, has showed me time management and organization. Visiting and entertaining the elderly at a local home has taught me patience. By leading monthly meetings with about 20 elementary school kids to brainstorm ways to raise money for the community, I learn from their innocence and honesty. 

The homeless teen I had the honor meeting and serving at a youth shelter; the one that has pretty much raised herself and her siblings for years. She has taught me what it means to be independent and strong. My pen pal, Birungi, from Uganda reminds me everyday how lucky I am to go to school and her passion to become a doctor inspires me. Now you know what I mean by the humbling opportunities I have had with Hands4Hope, and the list does not stop there. 

A few years ago I would have never dreamed I would be secretary of the high school Hands4Hope club, service hour coordinator for the National Honor Society, treasurer of the Hands4Hope Youth Board, or president of the Team Hope elementary school Hands4Hope club, but here I am. I am always encouraged to step out of my comfort zone and I feel that I have grown so much as a person because of it.  When asked why I volunteer so often, I say that by volunteering I receive more than I can ever give. It may sound selfish, but it is true. I am forever in debt for the priceless things these people have taught me and I will continue volunteer for the rest of my life. 

-Haley Lehtola

My Experience At NTLP

NTLP (National Teen Leadership Program) is a motivating, inspiring and fun three-day camp at Sacramento State University.  We've been sending youth for years and we always enjoy sharing their great experiences.

NTLP was without a doubt the highlight of my summer.  The life lessons are definitely going to stick with me throughout my life.

I came into NTLP expecting it to be another boring camp where the speakers are all the same and speak on the same thing, but I was definitely surprised with how good of speakers NTLP provided, especially Calvin Terell. 

Listening to Calvin speak was pretty much a life changing experience, he's such a powerful speaker who really made me think and evaluate myself... my parents even said I came back home more mature, just after those three days. 

It was also really exciting getting to be a college student for a little bit.  We stayed in dorms and all had roommates and we all had to make it to the different seminars or events on time. We also did a lot of team building activities, pretty much always done in silence, which really strengthened our communication skills and brought us all closer together.  

I loved NTLP and I can't wait for the next one and to be reunited with the friends I met there and to also make new ones. I really enjoyed how everybody was themselves and I got to truly express myself.  I don't think I've ever danced like that at my own school's dance before, I really felt comfortable and at home at NTLP and can't wait for the next one!

-Writted By: Kellien