Food Bank Blitz - Fall 2011

Our Fall Food Bank Blitz 2011 was extremely successful!

Thank you to all of our fabulous volunteers (almost 200 of them!) who came out and spent 2 hours of their weekend collecting food, gift cards, and cash to help feed the hungry in our community!  The generous people in our area helped us raise...

$8,480 in cash in gift cards

and

3,861 pounds of food

Volunteers,

Twin Lakes Food Bank would like to say an Extra Special "THANK YOU" to the HandsHope Youth.  This Food drive ROCKED!  We weighed in 2,661 pounds of awesome food.  As you can see in this picture (below), the actual "shelves" were getting bare and these baskets of food poured in with perfect timing!

This was another grateful week at the food bank with lots of smiles on the parent's faces and even some giggles were heard from the kids when they saw the extra special goodies and juices!!!

Hands4Hope made a difference in the lives of over 132 families this week and the weeks ahead.  Way to go! :)

In Joy,

Tammy

Director at Twin Lakes Food Bank

Thank you!!!

Youth Recognition Dinner Slideshow

At the end of August, we had our annual Youth Recognition Dinner!  It was a fabulous event to recognize our amazing youth who dedicate their time to volunteering with our organization.

Our founder, Jennifer Bassett, led the night as we honored some AMAZING youth!!

Here is the slideshow from that night... pictures from the dinner are coming soon :)

{you may have to click on the video to take you to our Hands4Hope YouTube Channel}

Youth Volunteer Spotlight: Brayden

Brayde started volunteering with Hands4Hope a little more than a year ago. He is a 5th grader at a local Elementary School.

Brayden said the Homeless Outreach events are his favorite. "I guess it just makes me feel good to know I am helping other people," he said. "It makes me realize that a lot of people don't have food, clothes, and shelter like I do."

He also said he likes the Homeless Outreach because it's fun.  "I like cooking and making food and knowing it's going to a good cause."

When Brayden was asked what volunteering with Hands4Hope has made him realize about his own life, he said it makes him grateful. "We are lucky to do a lot of things like go on vacation, have Birthday parties, read books, and play lacrosse."

He also said it's changed his outlook. "If I want something and I don't get it, I have learned not to feel mad because some people don't have food."

"I try not to ask for too many things or be spoiled. I feel lucky to have food, clothes, and shelter to live in."

Brayden and his family have been great volunteers with Hands4Hope and we are so lucky to have them!

How YOU can make a difference!

Here is a message we received from a director at the Twin Lakes food bank.  If you are considering signing up to volunteer at the Food Bank Blitz on September 10th, here is where your hours of service pay off! 

Dear Hands4Hope volunteers,

"We are always grateful for the Hands4Hope food drives including gift cards and the monetary portion.

We log in our gift cards and here are the examples we were able to use from the last event:

1) Senior Citizen recovering from Cancer and going through Chemotherapy has a list of special food items her Doctor will allow her to eat. We are able to assist her monthly with a gift card allowing her to buy special Soy Milk, Wheat products, and special vitamins.

2) A mom with 2 teen boys-1 boy just had a brain tumor removed. He is recovering very nicely. He is at home and needs home schooling. We are able to help the mom buy extra food products for her son as he's growing and at home all the time. He no longer gets the hot lunch or breakfast at school. 

3) A homeless couple around 30 years old, Vet served in Iraq 5 years and fiance' were able to buy them ice for 3 weeks for their ice cooler and supply them with "special needs" items for camping out at Beals Point Campground. (miracle story, he has job in EDH working for Large Company and getting a house next month)

4)  We have a family and their daughter is a diabetic with special needs. We are able to provide them with grocery store cards for low/no sugar items.

5) Baby Food Baby Food Baby Food!!! We ran out at least 3 times and we were able to gather some gift cards and purchase bags of Baby Food products.

6) Gas Cards-Wal Mart/Sam's 2 emergency needs mom working and getting children to/from daycare just didn't have enough to stretch her gas for the week.

7) Mac N Cheese. We are seeing huge increases in families and have run out of Mac N Cheese 2 times. We were able to use the monetary funding for Mac N Cheese.

8) Purchased Soy milk for special Doctor's order

9) Purchased low salt food products for special diets and Dr.'s orders

10) 85 year old gentleman needed some special items and we were able to get his basic needs met.

11) Single Mom-3 kids hours have been cut and we were able to supplement her groceries for the kids.

12) Milk and eggs for the "PM" shift. We were completely wiped out of fresh milk and eggs for the Tuesday afternoon shift. We were able to purchase 30 dozen eggs and 30 gallons of milk for the families coming in to the food bank after work hours.

I just want to make sure you know how important Hands4Hope is to us as a food bank. We are very appreciative and look forward to working with you in the future."

Sincerely,

Tammy 

Director

(Twin Lakes Food Bank)

To sign up for the next Blitz, click here!

Volunteer Spotlight: Kaela!

Kaela has been an outstanding volunteer since 2008!

Her favorite event to volunteer for is the Homeless Outreach in Sacramento. She said her favorite part is "seeing people happy and helping them."

Kaela says doing outreach has made her realize a lot about the world. "I learned that homelessness is real. Some people really don't have a home, or food." 

Kaela has encouraged her friends to start volunteering with her. "The first time I volunteered, I got my friends to come, too. We have fun volunteering together."

The first time she volunteered, it was for a school requirement, but since then, she has donated many hours of her time because it makes her feel good. "If I were in their situation, I would want help, too," she said. 

Overall, Kaela says volunteering with Hands4Hope has taught her a lot. But most importantly, she says, "it has taught me to look out for other people."

Thank you so much for volunteering with us Kaela, we are so lucky to have you!

Volunteer Spotlight: Christine Klekman

Christine Klekman started volunteering with her family and Hands4Hope shortly after the organization began. As a friend of the founder, she heard the information and jumped on board right away!

"Growing up, I watched my Dad serve his community in many different volunteer capacities, and I followed in his footsteps, and also made up my mind that my children would do the same," she said. "I have always told them that we are here on earth to help people and animals whenever we can!"

Christine believes Hands4Hope has had an "illuminating" impact on her family. "The effect on my kids has been eye-opening," she said. "I believe they now no longer feel they live in an entitled world and have realized that some people live differently than they do...and that's ok!"

Christine said her best advice to parents thinking about getting involved with the organization is to participate with them. "It's great because we get to do projects together as a family," she said. "Also, if your children see you doing something good to help someone else, they are more likely to follow in your footsteps!"

Christine said she has many great memories from Hands4Hope over the years. Her favorite has been watching her daughter become "empowered over youth leadership".

"I believe in this organization because it empowers youth to make things better in the community around them," she said. "Hands4Hope teaches them to become leaders, and to recognize that they are the future, and they can contribute to their community." 

"I am grateful and proud that Hands4Hope is a part of our lives," she said.

Christine has also been a go-to volunteer for our founder, Jennifer Basset, through the years. We are so grateful for you, Christine! Thank you!

Food Bank Blitz

Fill It Up . . . FOOD BANK BLITZ!

Benefiting our local food banks!

WHEN: Saturday, September 10, 2011 10 a.m. – 6 p.m

WHERE: In front of participating grocery stores, from Orangevale to Placerville (Safeway, Nugget Market, Raley’s, Bel Air, and Wal Mart)

WHO: Youth and adult volunteers from Hands4Hope and the community will be manning tables at each store to collect donations of food, cash and gift cards. Shoppers will be given a wish list they can use to purchase and donate needed items.

WHY: In this economic downturn, the amount of people and families turning to local food banks is steadily increasing and donations are down.

VOLUNTEER:   Sign ups for the Blitz will begin shortly… stay tuned for details on signing up!!

In 2010, Hands4Hope organized two mass food drives (Blitzes) benefiting the Food Bank of El Dorado County and the Twin Lakes Food Bank. With the help of approximatele130 volunteers at ten stores each time, Hands4Hope volunteers collected a total of 9,700 pounds of food and $14,500 in cash/gift card donations.

Our September 10, 2011 our GOAL is: 200 volunteers, 5,000 pounds of food and $8,000 in cash/gift cards.

All food collected will go to local food banks. Cash and gift cards will be divided 50/50 between the food banks and Hands4Hope.

Make a difference for the hungry in our community!

For more information, please email us at volunteercoordinator@hands4hopeyouth.org