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!

Sponsor A Blanket for our Warm & Fuzzy Drive

Our Warm & Fuzzy Drive is going on NOW! 

We are collecting new and gently used items to keep people in our community warm.
All sizes appreciated – Infant through Adult XL
{no summer clothes please}

Most Needed:
Sweatshirts,  Sweatpants, Pajamas, Adult Socks, Blankets, Sleeping Bags

Also Needed:
Warm Pants, Long-Sleeve Shirts, Sweaters, Hats, Gloves, Scarves

Greatly appreciated:
Gift Cards to Payless Shoe Source, WalMart & Target

Accepting Donations At These Locations:
Oak Meadow Elementary School (NOW thru Nov 4)
Marina Village Middle School (NOW thru Nov 4)
Oak Ridge High School (Nov 1 – 11)
William Brooke Elementary School (Nov 7 – 18)

{Donations may be dropped in large blue bins outside school offices or in collection boxes inside classrooms.}

Sponsor a hand made blanket made with love by our youth.
The cost is $12 for supplies.
{We accept all major credit cards}

This year, we are running low on supplies for our blanket making.  We would love your support!

Sponsor 1 Blanket – $12.00

To Sponsor... Click here!

{These are our youth making blankets last year!}

Youth Volunteer Spotlight: Andrew

Andrew has been a very important part of Hands4Hope since it began.

"My mom (Jennifer) started Hands4Hope because she wanted to teach my brother and me to appreciate all we have," he said. "At first, I had no choice whether I wanted to volunteer or not, but after doing a couple events, it started making me feel like I am important and making a difference."

Andrew said Hands4Hope has made him appreciate more about his life and the things he has to be thankful for, including his mom. She has taught him quite a few things since starting Hands4Hope. "I'm really glad my mom started this. She's always wanted to make a difference and she taught me that when you set your mind to something, you can achieve it. I'm proud of her."

Although he loves many events, he said working at the Green Valley Community Church Kid's Cafe is one of his favorites. "There is this little boy that comes that I have really connected with," he said. "I feel like I am a role model for him because he doesn't have any older siblings."

Feeding the homeless has made him realize the importance of doing well in school and staying away from drugs. He also said it made him feel more connected to the community. "A woman came up to me and said 'it's because of people like you that make me want to keep on living'. I will never forget that."

"I'll always be a volunteer," he said. "Life is different for me because of Hands4Hope. I've been enlightened and have a lot more gratitude because of it."

Andrew has volunteered countless hours setting up and working the Haunted House. "I love it," he said. "Building it has been awesome!"

Thank you, Andrew, for all of your hard work!!

Youth Volunteer Spotlight: Nicole

Nicole started volunteering with Hands4Hope in 2008 when the organization began.

When she first got started, she says she was a little nervous. "I didn't know how to react, or what to say," she said. It's a step out of your comfort zone, but "I hope to see more people in our community take the steps to make a difference," she said.

Nicole likes helping those in and around her community. "I love seeing a direct impact on our local area," she said. "I think a lot of other organizations make a difference around the country, but we help people who live around us."

Nicole says her favorite volunteer event is the Sacramento Homeless Outreach. "I love going down there because there are no other agencies, we are just directly helping people that we serve."

"I remember there was this little family, a woman and her children and all of their belongings fit into a shopping cart," she said. "They were so thankful to get basic toiletries and I remember thinking, we have a whole house, and all they have is a shopping cart."

Nicole says Hands4Hope has offered her a unique experience in her community. "I've made friends with people from other schools and made connections with people who have the same interests as me."

She says Hands4Hope has taught her a lot about life. "I've learned to appreciate everything I have and the people in my life," she said. "It's also taught me that I have the ability to make a difference if I am willing to work hard and put the time in."

Nicole has worked very hard to help create a Hands4Hope Club at St. Francis High School. So far, more than 130 students have taken an interest in seeing what the organization does! "Being a part of Hands4Hope gives me a sense of belonging and thankfulness and I think others want to feel that same way."

Thank you for all you do, Nicole! 

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}