H4H Homeless Panel Hits Home With Youth & Adults

More than 100 people came together to listen to a panel of three homeless individuals talk about their walk through life. More than half of the attendees were kids, some learning about homelessness for the first time.

Jessie Mills, a teen currently living at Wind Youth Shelter; Donnie Maggard, a homeless man residing in Placerville; and Vivek Anand, a 24-year-old from Sacramento, captured the attention of the crowd as they discussed the harsh realities of homelessness, taking time to answer questions from the audience very openly and candidly. 

Their stories touched the hearts of the attendees, many noting that it sparked family conversations and reminded them that every homeless person has a story. Each speaker, when asked what they would like to do in the future said they would like to help others who are struggling as they are now. They may not have much to give financially, but they have loads to give . . . and so do we.

Read more about the event by reading the article in Village Life.

Volunteer Spotlight: Samita!

Samita is one of our hard working high schoolers! She joined Hands4Hope at the beginning of her freshman year of high school in 2009. Since joining, she has gotten very involved with our Team Inspire group and spends several hours volunteering.

Samita says one of her most memorable moments happened while working with a young boy at the Kids Cafe in Placerville. "I told him he was good at math and his whole face lit up! I realized how hard it is for kids to get attention when they have their lifestyle."

Samita says she loves Hands4Hope because it allows her to directly interact with people. "My favorite part of the organization is going to the Green Valley Community Church on Saturdays," she said. "I get to work hands on with people and you can see the appreciation for everything in their face."

Her involvement in Hands4Hope has also given her the opportunity to realize things about her own life. "I feel so privledged and lucky for everything I have," she said. "It never registered to me until I started volunteering that some people don't have clean water to brush their teeth."

Getting other friends involved is something Samita enjoys doing. "I tell them how amazing it feels to actually make a difference. I've gotten so much out of this."

Thank you, Samita, for your hard work. Keep it up!

Spring Blitz: Best to Date

Hands4Hope held its bi-annual Spring Food Bank Blitz on April 2, 2011. The event was a huge success, with more than 200 volunteers helping to spread awareness of hunger to shoppers at 10 grocery stores from Orangevale to Placerville. 

Partnering with volunteers from various organizations throughout the area, such as Holy Trinity Community Church, Boy Scout Pack 454, Twin Lakes Food Bank, and Light of the Hills Lutheran Church, we collected more than 4,000 pounds of food and $10,400 in cash and gift cards. The food and money collected will help feed hungry people in Sacramento and El Dorado Counties.

If you missed out on this Blitz, you can sign up for our second one coming up in August. Keep checking our website for more information on dates and sign ups.

Youth Volunteer Spotlight: Maddy & Elena

Maddy & Elena were chosen as our youth spotlights because of their dedication to Hands4Hope since the organization began in 2008.  The girls say volunteering has changed their perspective on life.  "Being a part of (Hands4Hope) has taught me to be grateful for what I have because not everyone has the basic things we take for granted," said Maddy. 

Elena says one of her favorite activities is making soldier care packages.  "It's touching to know we are changing their lives because being a soldier is hard ant it's always nice letting them know how much we care," she said.  Recently, both of the girls attended the Hands4Hope homeless panel at the CSD with their family.  They said the panel of people talking, especially the teenager, really changed how they see the world.  

Both girls say they plan on volunteering and being a part of their communities for the rest of their life.

Their mom, Bobbi, has dedicated her time to volunteering with the girls and help organize events for our elementary school students in Team Hope.  "I think this organization has helped develop the girls into responsible, empathetic and aware people.  They needed an avenue to do that, and Hands4Hope was a good one," she said.  "We live in a nice community and it runs the risk of our children not being aware of what really is going on in the world.  (Hands4Hope) cancels out that false impression and allows them to appreciate what they have through exposure."

Bobbi remembers a few good conversations that were sparked after volunteering.  "We were driving home and the girls asked why none of the homeless people were taking the apples.  I explained how hard it was to eat an apple with out teeth and it got us talking about dental care and what a privilege going to the dentist is."

Hands4Hope wants to thank Maddy & Elena for their time volunteering with Hands4Hope.  We also want to extend a big thank you to Bobbi for helping add to the success of our mission!

Emergency Bag Assembling

On Thursday, May 5th, Hands4Hope Team Hope and Team Dream met to assemble emergency bags for children who are removed from their homes and placed into Foster Care.
 

The evening went quicker than we expected.  Our youth worked efficiently as a team to get the bags put together.  They decided to have toiletries, a pair of pajamas or a nightgown, a new outfit, a new pair of underwear, and a new pair of socks in each bag. 

The event wrapped up well when a foster mom, Bonnie, came in and talked about how important these bags are to the children who receive them.  She explained how these children are taken very quickly from their homes and do not have time to take any of their belongings.  Bonnie explained the process of foster care and talked about her own experiences with the children she has worked with over the years.

Bonnie also started an organization to make these bags for the foster children.  Together, Hands4Hope kids made more than 75 bags to distribute to youth around the county.

Bonnie talking to our youth.

Reminders of what goes in to every bag

"Toiletries" :)

Listening to Bonnie

We make a difference!

Why our family joined Hands4Hope

Our family has been involved with Hands4Hope since January of this year.  We were excited to find something that we could do together, as a family.  I had been looking for a way for our family to serve in our community for a while. We have two boys, ages 8 and 10. We have been blessed in so many ways and wanted to be able to give back and serve others who are in need.  

I was introduced to Hands4Hope after volunteering at the El Dorado County Food Bank distribution at Christmas-time.  Hands4Hope is a great fit for us; it's something we can all do together. Since joining Hands4Hope we have done the Placerville homeless outreach two times. On both occasions it was cold and snowy.  It was a real eye-opener to the fact that there are people who have to try and survive in weather like that.  We have enjoyed meeting the people we are serving, asking their names and hearing their stories.  It has sparked some really great conversations with our boys.  They love it and look forward to serving again.

-Tracie H.

The Warmth of Volunteering

On Saturday April 9^th, I was able to visit Green Valley Church with Hands4Hope.  I had the opportunity to help out at the store in which every shopper was allowed to take his or her choice of 50 items in the store for free.  It was such an amazing program and the women in charge put in countless hours of work sorting and folding the clothes.  I felt like I was in a GAP store rather than a room in a church.  It was great to help out by folding the clothes and helping people pick out what they needed.  The pay of a friendly smile, and a “good-morning” was greater than any dollar amount.

 It may sound cheesy, but giving back and helping those who need it is truly a wonderful experience, and I have enjoyed it tremendously.  When I am able to give out a lunch I made to a homeless man, I see genuine appreciation.  Picking out a church dress with a little girl brings genuine warmth.  Becoming involved with Hand 4 Hope, I always leave smiling and happy that I took the time to get involved.  These are such rewarding experiences.  Sometimes, it just takes waking up a little earlier.  The payback is worth it, and I am always glad that I was able to offer help to those who need it, and at the same time growing closer to my community, God and myself.

Alexa- Age 16