Outreach Highlights: Beary Special Playdate

For several months, Hands4Hope has offered a new outreach opportunity that is both a unique and rewarding opportunity for anyone interested in working with youth. Beary Special Playdate is a monthly event hosted at Sacramento Children’s Museum that allows young children with Autism to come together, interact, participate in games and activities, and spend time with their caretakers in a fun and safe environment.

Hands4Hope was invited to participate in this outreach so that the attending children would be able to experience peer-to-peer mentorship with other H4H’s youth. This is also a great opportunity for the Hands4Hope volunteers to learn more about the attendees’ experiences and perspectives, while gaining skills on working with children who have special needs as well as mentorship.

Ciara Colgan, an H4H youth volunteer who has participated in Beary Special Playdate, described her experiences with the outreach:

"I have only been to one session of Beary Special Playdate, but loved it right away. I was able to help the children with activities throughout the museum and helped to reset exhibits. Going in, I wasn't expecting the event to be as fun as it was. Once the event started I knew that most of it would be interacting with the kids and having fun with them, which I loved. 

There were around five volunteers there to help, which allowed them to interact more with the kids, but I definitely encourage more people to volunteer so the event can be even more fun for the kids. I loved this outreach because of how much fun it was to spend time with all the kids, it definitely did not feel like work and by the time it was over I didn't want to leave. The museum supplies so many fun and creative things for the kids to do that not only are super fun, but also help the kids to learn. I love being able to see how much fun the kids have and being able to enhance that fun for them."

Beary Special Playdate is hosted the second Wednesday of every month from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Sacramento Children’s Museum in Rancho Cordova. The museum is closed to the public at this time to allow plenty of hands-on experience at all exhibits.  Volunteers help lead and reset activities for youth and spend time with the children during the different activities available.

This outreach event is open to high-school-aged Hands4Hope participants, and is a great chance to hone skills in mentoring, youth development, and interacting with children ages two to eight. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/beary-special-playdate.html, or contact Yoko Kono at yoko@hands4hopeyouth.org.

**Scheduling conflict, busy Wednesday nights, or other commitments during the week? Hands4Hope also offers Explorability at the Children’s Museum in Rancho Cordova on the first and third Sundays of each month from 10:00am to 12:00pm. This event is very similar to Beary Special Playdates in which children with special needs engage with the exhibits with their family and friends. Volunteers will help lead various stations, set and reset exhibits, and interact with the children. For more information, visit http://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/explorability.html or contact Yoko Kono.**

Adult Lead Spotlight: Patty Conroy

Hands4Hope has chosen Patty Conroy for this month’s Adult Lead Spotlight! Patty regularly volunteers her time to bake and provide all kinds of food donations for Hands4Hope’s outreach events, and Hands4Hope is extremely grateful for her participation and contributions. Read on to learn more about how Patty got involved with Hands4Hope and her experiences since joining.

1. How long have you been participating with Hands4Hope?

I joined the H4H team in Jan '17 by contributing to the food drives for the homeless lunches and Mercy Senior Dinners.

2. Why did you join Hands4Hope as an adult contributor? 

The H4H office is right in my neighborhood and I had been wanting to contribute something to the community and this location proved to be perfect for me. I am able to deliver freshly baked and/or purchased food items in a timely manner.

3. What outreaches do you usually volunteer with? Which do you enjoy the most?

I am always on the lookout for local fundraisers that are in need of baked goods for their events. I am a retired pastry chef and I have enjoyed baking cakes, cupcakes, scones and cookies for our churches and schools also. It provides an opportunity for me to keep my baking skills sharp and give back to the community.

4. What is your impression/experience with Hands4Hope youth?

The H4H Youth who I have encountered so far have been very mature, organized and appreciative. I am so impressed with the time they spend giving back to our community in such a selfless way.

5. Overall, what has your experience been like since joining?

I am very pleased to have found an organization that I can give hands-on help to and meet face-to-face with members of the organization. It gives me great pleasure to be able to help these hard-working youth in meeting their goals.

Kids Zone Event Exceeds Financial Goals

On July 3rd, Hands4Hope hosted the Kids’ Zone area at Town Center’s annual Freedom Concert and Fireworks Show, and is happy to report that it exceeded its financial goals for the event! According to the Kids’ Zone Committee Lead, Madeline Simko, the event surpassed the committee’s original goal and raised $7,548.08!

The Kids’ Zone was held in the Target parking lot, and offered bounce houses and slides, cotton candy, drinks, light-up fidget spinners, AND strawberry shortcake. Participants who visited the Kids’ Zone were welcome to purchase a wristband for the bounce structures, or just enjoy food and refreshments (with excellent views of the fireworks show!).

This event is the second largest youth-led fundraiser for Hands4Hope, and helps to fundraise for the organization on a large scale, including the upcoming 2017-2018 program year. This project also allows youth a greater opportunity to hone their project planning skills and work in direct contact with the community in organizing marketing, programming, licenses, communications with Town Center and other vendors, collaborate with sponsors, and organize shifts for other Hands4Hope volunteers. Madeline furthered the experience of leading this project in stating, “The Kids Zone was such a great project to lead! I learned a lot about event planning, and had fun while doing so.”

Hands4Hope is very excited for the work that Madeline and the Kids Zone Committee put into this event, and cannot wait to see how the youth leads will continue to participate in similar projects throughout their service.

Outreach Highlights: GVCC Saturday Cafe

Green Valley Community Church (GVCC) is one of the largest food distribution points in El Dorado County. Every Saturday, the church serves between 150-300 people, preparing and serving a warm meal while they wait to go through the grocery food line and clothing closet. All of these services are free, and provide individuals and families the opportunity to interact with others for a greater sense of community, as well as receive needed supplies, find help and resources from the church staff and volunteers, and just have the chance to sit down and have a meal with others in a welcoming and safe setting.

In preparing and hosting these events, GVCC collaborates with Hands4Hope for volunteers that help Saturday Cafe attendees “shop” for groceries and clothing at the church. Volunteers may also help bag clothes, run shopping carts, serve the meal, clear tables, or bag up animal food, if the church staff requires help with those as well. Hands4Hope participants work at the Saturday Cafe every 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, and all aged youth are welcome to participate in this outreach.

This is a great opportunity to interact with others and hear their stories; learn more about the food and homelessness services available in El Dorado County; and just help others prepare for the next week, recharge their batteries, and gain support from the community. To learn more, please visit our website or contact Yoko Kono at yoko@hands4hopeyouth.org.