Volunteer Spotlight: Dan Snipes

When Dan Snipes moved to Charlotte five years ago from Denver, Colorado, he wanted to find out what the locals here do for fun. He came across an article about Hands On Charlotte and decided he’d better see what we were all about. After trying out half-dozen projects, Dan stumbled upon the Wednesday night Cradles to Crayons project and was hooked!

According to Dan, the children at The Summit House who attend this project don't have a very typical home life. While they are very fortunate to have a community to help raise them, Dan worries that they don’t always get the special attention kids need. Volunteers at Cradles to Crayons provide that special attention and lots of love.

“The kids need to know they are important. I think we do a fairly good job of spoiling them. This is evidenced by the rush to the door and the incredible hugs we get when we arrive,” Dan said.

Dan said he likes that there are so may ways to get involved and make a difference in the community: planting gardens, cleaning school grounds, helping at homeless shelters, sorting clothing and food, assisting those with special needs… the list goes on and on.

So what’s Dan’s best advice for Hands On Charlotte volunteers?

“Try a bunch of different activities to see what brings you the most joy. Return to that project often, but keep trying out new ones too,” Dan said.

“Throw yourself into it and allow yourself to be creative. While volunteering, be sure to live in the moment and enjoy the company of those around you. There are so many good people in your community, from all walks of life. You'll be amazed by who you meet.”


--Sarah Langford

Volunteer Spotlight: Wendy Raker

Wendy Raker first volunteered at the Britthaven Retirement Home – now University Place Nursing and Rehabilitation – on September 14, 2004. With only a few exceptions, she has been back twice a month every month for almost seven years. Her routine has remained the constant.

“I get to the center a bit early and go to the residents’ rooms to visit and to see if they want to join us for Bingo,” Raker said. “If they need help, I help them get to where we play. If they don’t feel up to it, I visit for a few minutes and then I go to the next room.”

Twice a month for nearly seven years.

“The most important thing with volunteering is consistency,” she said. “Being there week in and week out, the residents and the staff all know me. They are comfortable with me. I am ‘Bingo.’”

It’s worth noting that Wendy didn’t walk into a well-established program at Britthaven. Along with a close friend, she built the program from the ground up. At first, they encountered some obstacles like the lack of a budget and some staff resistance.

“It was a challenge for us to keep it going, but we took the bull by the horns and forced the issue,” she said.

Despite the challenges, Wendy has established Bingo & More into one of Hands On Charlotte’s best senior-focused projects. As the volunteer leader, she said she is always looking for more Hands On Charlotte volunteers.

“You have to do it from the heart,” she said. “It’s not easy because sometimes there is loss. But when you think about what it means to the residents, it makes it all worth it.”


--Tanner Kroeger

Volunteer Spotlight: Kerry McCray

In less than one year, Kerry McCray has donated $4,250.06 worth of labor to Hands On Charlotte. Do the math. That’s $354.17 per month, $82.67 per week or $11.81 every day. Yet, the recent transplant from Los Angeles, California, thinks she needs to thank us.

“L.A. is such a different world. But I feel at home here,” she said. “Hands On Charlotte has really helped me make Charlotte my home.”

But on a day when we are celebrating our volunteers’ service to the environment, we can’t think of anyone to thank before Kerry McCray. As the volunteer leader of the Panthers Recycling program and a regular at the McGill Rose Garden, she has bolstered some of Hands On Charlotte’s most popular environment-focused projects.

As the leader of the Panthers Recycling program – where volunteers collect cans and trash from fans tailgating at Carolina Panthers games – Kerry led Hands On Charlotte volunteers in helping to recycle 23.4 tons of garbage. To give some context, that’s nearly 29 percent of all the trash produced at Panthers games.

“What I really love about [Panthers Recycling] is that I hate trash. I hate trash,” she said. “Trash makes me cringe. And the fans just love it. They always yell ‘Hey! We’ve been waiting for you!’ It’s tough not to enjoy.”

In addition to helping Hands On Charlotte volunteers enjoy their experience, she’s also helped us continue our great relationship with the City of Charlotte.

“Working for the city has been a big part of why that program is so much fun. They think we’re the greatest thing, and because of that, they go out of their way to help us out,” she said.

Kerry admits that environment-focused projects can easily become preachy, but it’s her enthusiasm that makes Hands On Charlotte environment projects so much fun.

“The impact of what we’re doing there is great. The statistics demonstrate that,” she said. “But what’s really great is that it’s a non-lecture-y way to educate people about the importance of recycling and taking care of the environment.”


--Tanner Kroeger

Volunteer Spotlight: Anthony Parker

Anthony Parker is a high-energy guy. There’s a hop to his step that is contagious. Perhaps that’s what makes the 24-year-old one of Hands On Charlotte’s most popular and committed volunteers. In just over one year, he has served 107 hours – a significant portion of which he has spent at Special Rollers, a bowling league for people with developmental disabilities.

“Everyone is born into circumstances that we can’t control. This project allows me to serve people, who, in some instances, can’t always help themselves,” Parker said. “But when you think about it, that’s what service is, no matter if you serve people in poverty, in schools or other things. It’s all about being positive and overcoming challenges.”

His commitment to serving people with disabilities is common among many Hands On Charlotte volunteers. For a list of projects where you can volunteer like Anthony, click here.

Through Hands On Charlotte, Parker has made the city his home. After graduating from the College of Charleston in 2008, he moved to Charlotte to work for Wells Fargo.

“Because of Hands On Charlotte, I’ve been able to interact with people I never would have met otherwise,” he said. “It’s social, but it’s also organized, and I feel like I’m making a difference.”

Anthony’s commitment to volunteerism is deep. A member of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega in college, he has been finding ways to serve his community for much of his life.

“Life is all about serving people. It’s not really about you,” he said. “I can’t imagine not volunteering. It’s something that I always want to be a part of my life.”

--Tanner Kroeger