Special moments at Center of Hope for kids and volunteers

A week ago, fellow volunteer Leticia Foster and I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope. The Center is Charlotte’s only year-round emergency shelter, serving more than 1,000 children each year. The project gives volunteers a chance to spend an hour with the children at the Center. Typically, organized activities include board games, arts and crafts and outdoor playtime on the playground.

This was my first time at the Center, and I didn’t really know what to expect. As soon as I walked in I was greeted by two little girls who ran up and gave me a huge hug and did not want me to put them down. I picked them up, held them for awhile, and when their mom told them it was time to go, they would not let go. That was truly a special moment for me. I realized then how much these children appreciate the attention we are able to offer them through this project.

The time spent with the children serves as an outlet that allows them to simply be kids for an hour. During our time at the Center, we played some childhood classics such as Trouble, Chutes and Ladders and Scrabble. It was refreshing to play good, old-fashioned board games again. I had forgotten how much I loved them as a kid. Although, we both realized how far removed from childhood we really are when the kids began beating us at our own game. Leticia described the night as a “flashback to her elementary school years“, and was amazed to see the innocence of the children while interpreting the games in their own fashion.

Project leader Beth Butchino said she initially started with the project to establish connections with the children. I can see how time with these warm, smiling faces can keep you coming back. The children genuinely look forward to this project every week. Leticia had one child ask her, “Is this every week?” The time spent with the children was rewarding and memorable. Both Leticia and I hope to consistently volunteer at this project in order to give the children some familiar faces to look forward to every week. The project meets every Wednesday from 6:45-8pm. To sign up, please visit our website.

Kristen Okamoto is a Hands On Charlotte volunteer.

Going Green at Cook’s Community Garden

On Tuesday I volunteered with Cook’s Community Garden. The Garden serves as a co-op for members of the community wanting to start their own gardens but who might not have the space at their own homes. In addition, the Garden also sets aside a third of an acre designated for growing organic produce to help those in need. All produce grown in this plot is free of cost. Currently, the produce is being used in conjunction with a program called ‘Friendship Trays’ which delivers home-cooked meals to members of the community who are unable to cook or leave the house.

During my time with the Garden, I was able to help build garden beds for the designated third of an acre that is set aside for free community produce. We tilled, dug foot paths, composted and laid down straw in preparation for the planting to come. The work was hard, but in the best way possible. So often, you may leave a volunteer project feeling like you could have done more, or worked a little harder. Not the case with Cook’s. I left feeling like I had left it all out there in the garden. I relearned the meaning of the term ‘sweat equity.’

There were about 8 volunteers there total. There was a nice mix of people who attended, some with lots of knowledge and experience in gardening and others, like myself, with none. It was also neat to see a mother and son there together. It is great to see first-hand all of the positive effects of volunteering such as strengthening of family dynamics. Everyone worked together. There was no one standing around with nothing to do. Everyone had a place and served a very distinct purpose in working towards a common goal.

Cook’s is currently in need of other volunteers to help, especially during this busy planting season, in order to produce a sufficient crop. The project meets every Tuesday evening from 5-7pm. I was a little hesitant at first to volunteer because I know little to nothing about gardening. My thumb is definitely not green. However, the folks at Cook’s are great and walk you through every step. For more information on the garden you can visit their website. To volunteer for the project, please visit Hands On Charlotte's website.

Kristen Okamoto is a Hands On Charlotte volunteer.

Tutoring at Midwood High

For the past several weeks I volunteered as a tutor with Midwood High School, a transitional high school for 9th graders. For this project Hands On Charlotte volunteers collaborate with one specific teacher each semester. This semester, volunteers have lent their skills to a creative writing class. Volunteers then work one-on-one with students to help reinforce assignments they have been studying in class. Projects have included writing news articles, fables and editorials.

Today was especially neat to be a part of because the students are preparing for end of semester testing. I felt like I was truly helping to serve a very real and practical need in their lives. There was that one ‘ah-ha’ moment that I was able to see in my student’s eye today as we were going over vocabulary that I will be able to take away and cherish from this project. The opportunity to be able to witness that moment is all the reward I need to keep me wanting to come back.

This project is one that would really benefit from consistent volunteers in order to help establish a good working rapport with the students. I encourage you to become involved in any capacity you can to bolster the students at Midwood High and provide them the practical knowledge, as well as encouragement, that they need to succeed as they work towards earning their high school diploma. The project meets every Wednesday from 1-2:15pm.

Click here to join me as a tutor at Midwood High.


Kristen Okamato is a Hands On Charlotte volunteer.