Youth Volunteer Spotlight: Mackenzie

Mackenzie is in the white shirt & purple shorts.  Next to fellow leaders at Camp in 2011.

Mackenzie is going to be a senior at Oak Ridge High School. She got involved with Hands4Hope after hearing about it from her friend.

“Since I started with Hands4Hope I have realized that giving my time to others is more rewarding and more fulfilling than anything I could have received from someone else,” she said.

Mackenzie is one of 3 Hands4Hope youth that is involved in a mentoring program at Hope House in Placerville. She volunteers her time twice a month to interact with kids from a troubled past. “My favorite Outreach activity is mentoring; I absolutely love going to see my three young friends there. Simply knowing that I am making an impact on the kids' lives makes me love going back to visit them.” She adds, “I also get to act like a seven year old without being questioned by anyone.” {To read her touching blog post about her experience mentoring, click here}

Mackenzie is also one of our leaders for the Oak Ridge High School club. She joined her leadership peers at Camp last summer. “I learned so much in those three days on how to become a good leader and how to make a difference that others would look up to.”

“Working with Hands4Hope has definitely made me come out of my comfort zone,” she said. “A year ago I would have been so shy when approaching new people; I never would have had enough confidence to go up to someone that I didn't know and ask them how their day was going. [It's] taught me to come out of my box and be a more confident person.”

Mackenzie said she plans to volunteer forever and Hands4Hope has helped her make decisions for her future. “I am already planning to volunteer for the rest of my life! I have even thought about changing my career path to a nurse so that I can help people daily.”

“There really is nothing in the world like volunteering. Just knowing that I am affecting another person's life in a positive way leaves me feeling so great inside.”

Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to Hands4Hope, Mackenzie!  We appreciate you.

Participating in a trust activity at Camp with friend, Kirstie.

Painting the Gracie Bus in Placerville.

Helping out at the Spring Food Bank Blitz in 2012

My Journey As A Mentor

The first day I started working at the Hope House I was incredibly nervous. I had never been great when it came to watching little kids and making sure they didn’t run with scissors in their hands or decide to finger paint a wall. However, when I was asked to become a mentor for a little girl (Sophia) who had a tough going in the recent years, I knew I couldn’t refuse. Four months later, my two mentor friends (Connor & Andrew) and I still go to hang out with our buddies. We had thought our goal would be to simply help the kids stay on the right track; it turned out to be much more than that. As our visits progressed, the kids began to open up to us in ways we had never expected.

When we played hide and seek, each child paired up with one of us and would refuse to leave our side, even if that meant giving away our hiding spot every time. Sometimes when Connor played prisoner with his buddy Israel, the seven year old would yell for Andrew or I to save him from “the monster.” In a way I believe we have become the kid's heroes. During the most recent time we visited the kids, Charlie who is the youngest, began to cry for no apparent reason. We tried to comfort him and ask him what was wrong, he simply replied, “I don’t want you guys to leave,” and then clung on to us. Every time we have to leave the Hope House, my friend Sophia, the oldest of the three, gives me a giant bear hug for three seconds, let go of me for two seconds, and then hug me again. She repeats this process about nine times, or until I was outside of our car. The last time she did this she looked me straight in the eye and said, “I love you.”

At first I was in shock of her statement, I had never expected to become this close to the kids. Although, when I thought it over I realized that I did in fact love those three little monsters right back. Originally I had been brought to the Hope House to help the kids stay on track with school and teach them right from wrong, but each time I come to visit I also become more of an older sister to the three of them. Talking to Connor and Andrew, I know they both feel the same way as well. Both of them have done so much for the kids whether they bring their guitars to teach the kids how to play, or allow the children to draw mustaches and uni brows on their faces simply to allow them to have a good time. We all three have become very attached to our kids, in a way very much like a family. I know I would do just about anything to see a smile appear on Sophia’s face.

Written by: Mackenzie

Hope House Mentor

(Hope House is an alcohol and drug free transitional housing program that provides a more comprehensive solution for homeless single women and their children. For more about Hope House, please click here)

Youth Volunteer Spotlight: Caleb & Zach

 

Brothers Caleb & Zach started volunteering with Hands4Hope in January of 2011. Both have volunteered for several events and say they found a "love" for service.

Caleb, 11, says one of his favorite events is the Food Bank Blitz. "I was shocked because a lot of people donated money, even some who didn't have a lot of money themselves," he said. "We got a lot of mac and cheese for hungry people."

When he first got involved in Hands4Hope, Zach, 9, says he wasn't really sure if he would like volunteering. "I didn't know if I would like it," he said. "But after I went, I realized how fun it was and I wanted to do it over and over again. I want to stay in Hands4Hope forever."

Both boys are very involved in Team Hope and work together with their teammates to save money through Change4Hope. "This year we donated our money to Homeward Bound and we got to meet Romeo [the dog] and it was cool to pet him," said Zach.

Going out to feed the homeless for the first time in Placerville was something new to them. "I didn't know what to expect," said Caleb. "I always like seeing Everett [a homeless gentleman in Placerville], he has a dog and he is always so nice to us. He has a really good grip handshake."

"I can't believe [the homeless] are so touched by everything we do, even if it is really little," said Zach. "We've started spending some of our own money on dog treats for the homeless and they always remember we have them. It's really neat."

The brothers have also spent several Saturdays volunteering at Green Valley Community Church helping with the food distribution. "I remember one lady who came in looking for an extra dessert because it was her husband's Birthday. We gave her a cake and I remember she was so excited and grateful. It was touching," said Caleb.

"We have so much. A house, food, and toys... we like to share," said Zach. "I appreciate everything I have now," added Caleb.

Caleb and Zach, thank you very much for all of your hard work.

GVCC Food Distribution

 Team Hope Meeting

Homeless Outreach Placerville

Great Job!!

Youth Volunteer Spotlight: Connor

Connor has been a part of Hands4Hope for a year. He is wrapping up his Freshman year at Jesuit High School. He got involved through a friend, and says he was "hooked" from the start.

One of his first experiences with Hands4Hope was helping found the H4H Club at Jesuit High School. He headed off to Leadership Camp with all of the area high school Club leaders. "The Leadership Camp was my first taste of Hands4Hope, and it was great. In just a few days I became closer to [them] than I am to most of my friends."

Connor has also been one of our teens who mentors young children from a troubled past at Hope House in Placerville. He says the experience working with his 6 year old child has helped him "step out of his comfort zone." He says, "I look forward to this every week. [Mentoring] is not a chore, it is more of a dream job and I love that H4H has given me the opportunity to do just that."

Connor says his first year of being on our Youth Board as taught him a lot about himself. "When it comes to leadership, I will always be behind you supporting." He says being a part of the organization has "made me appreciate every small detail in my life".

Although Connor is unsure of what he wants to do in his future, he says he has realized through volunteering that he wants to do something in service. "Whether the military, police, fire department, or even a doctor, I can just see helping others in my future."

Thank you, Connor, for all of your hard work with Hands4Hope this year!

 Conner is in the white shirt doing the balance challenge!

 Presenting to the group!

 Painting the Gracie Bus!

Connor is in the black shirt (left) putting his handprint on Gracie!

Fashion Show Fundraiser Raises Thousands of Dollars!

Someone once said, “There is no greater gift in life than the ability to light the way for others”. It was a great honor to chair the 1st annual See Your Name in Lights Fashion Show.  My committee and I are all freshman at Ponderosa High School. We represent the Hands4Hope Youth Organization and Club at Ponderosa.

It is a great feeling to know that you made the difference in the lives of young people in your community. Our committee of four put on a benefit (The See Your Name In Lights Fashion Show) to support abused and neglected foster girls in the Sacramento area through an organization called The Glass Slipper. The Glass Slipper provides a warm place for them to come and regain their ability to open up and lead a more successful life.   They offer various activities for the girls, such as cosmetology and cooking. They also offer a program called IMAGE Boot Camp, in which the girls learn to love themselves.

To us, helping support this cause by planning the fashion show means appreciating the lifestyle we get to live, reaching out the community, and making a difference in the young lives of abused and neglected foster girls in the Sacramento area.

The event was from 11:30am-1:00pm at The Hampton Inn in Folsom and included a lunch of wraps, fruit, salad and cookies. It also featured a fashion show, which exemplified the beautiful clothing of Button Up Boutique in Folsom, CA.

It took months and months to plan, and although we still have a lot to learn, there was an amazing feeling of relief that flooded my body when we began the show. That flood of relief also came with a feeling of contentment and belief that there are so many good people in the world who are willing to help, even though they are struggling to make ends meet.

I speak on behalf of my committee and everyone at Hands4Hope when I say thank you to the people who put in money and time to help the girls of the Glass Slipper.  Together, we raised more than $2,000 for The Glass Slipper.

-Written By: Julia Guardino, Fashion Show Committee Chair

 {Fashion Show Fundraiser Committee}

 

{The models!}

{Special Guest Speakers from The Glass Slipper}

 

Thank you to our community for supporting the fundraiser!

Spring '12 Food Blitz was a Success!

On April 22nd, our volunteers (mostly youth) set out on a mission to educate our community about hunger and fill the shelves of two local food banks.

In just 8 hours, they collected:

$7854.74 in cash and gift cards 

4,786 pounds of food

All of the food will go to the El Dorado County Food Bank or Twin Lakes Food Bank (based on which county the food was collected in) and cash and gift cards will be divided between the food banks, Hands4Hope, and other Hands4Hope partner agencies.  

Wow!  We are so impressed.  Thank you to our volunteers & community members who helped support their cause.

We're making a difference.

Volunteer Spotlight: Inga

Even though Hands4Hope is a youth volunteer organization, we rely heavily on the support of our adult volunteers. Inga Buckendorf has had a tremendous role in helping lead several of Hands4Hope’s monthly outreach events, as well as helping guide and advise youth members in the Oak Ridge Hands4Hope Club. 

Inga started helping out with Hands4Hope after her two daughters, Kirsti & Lena, got involved. “Their desire to impact peoples’ happiness and welfare inspired me,” she said. Since getting started, Inga has found herself volunteering along side her daughters at the GVCC Kid’s Café, the Haunted House, Homeless Outreaches in Placerville and Sacramento, the Food Blitz and many more of our events. “Each event brings with it a unique experience and memory,” she said. “Those that have had the biggest impact on me come in the form of unexpected realizations. For example, offering bananas to homeless people over other fruits because of dental issues and people choosing not to eat because the public restrooms are locked due to a holiday.” 

Inga has donated hundreds of hours to help with Hands4Hope projects. She has been known to do the shopping for Homeless Outreach, blanket making, or other projects when we find ourselves in a pinch. She also steps up often if we find ourselves needing an extra hand. 

“I have always been proud of H4H and the role I play in the organization, but what’s far more inspirational are the youth volunteers,” she said. “They make a conscious decision to make a difference and many times put that ahead of sleep, Facebook, and hanging with friends.” 

Inga said H4H has been a great outlet for her family to spend time together. “Volunteering provides us with meaningful life experiences which not only help improve the lives of others but transform ours along the way. The benefits are truly immeasurable.”

Thank you Inga for all of your hard work and dedication to Hands4Hope!  We are so appreciative for all you do!

{Helping out at the Spring '12 Food Blitz}

{Making sandwiches with youth for the April Sacramento Homeless Outreach}

{Dancing the night away at the Haunted House Premiere Dinner & Costume Ball}