Hands On Charlotte making an impact at KIPP Charlotte

For as much as we talk about the impact of Hands On Charlotte volunteers, it felt pretty great on Friday when WSOC TV did a spot on our program at KIPP Charlotte. Reporters came and looked at our tutoring program at KIPP Charlotte, a charter school for underserved communities.

Thank you to all the volunteers who participate at KIPP Charlotte and at all of our tutoring programs in Charlotte. Want more information on how you can get involved in one of our Charlotte tutoring programs? Email Shari Williams.

Friday Roundup – 12.17.10 – The Holiday Party Edition

Is anyone going to a holiday party this weekend? Apparently there are a few of those around town this weekend. I’ve posted a poll over to the left, below the logo.

We’ve cemented our plans for MLK Week, and we hope you’ll join us next month. To find out more, visit the special events section of our website. If you have any questions about how to get involved on MLK Day in Charlotte, please email me.

One final note: tune into WSOC TV tonight between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. One of our AmeriCorps members, Shari Lerline Williams, and her Hands On Charlotte project at KIPP Charter School will be on the news!

Have a great weekend, and enjoy your parties!

Friday Roundup: The Office Renovation Edition

We are t-minus 2.5 hours away from a minor office renovation. That means office clean-up. Floors debris free? Check. Desks cleared of all loose items? Check. Computers stowed away? (Almost) check. In a little more than a week, Hands On Charlotte’s office will have a slightly fresher look. Drop by and check it out.

While the renovation gets started this weekend, there are plenty of opportunities for you to volunteer in Charlotte.

• Saturday – Assistance League Thrift Store: Help organize clothes for the AL Thrift Store. Proceeds from the store benefit local youth and low-income communities.
• Saturday – Panthers Recycling Program: Yes, you read correctly. While there isn’t a Panthers game Saturday, the ACC Championship football game is at the stadium Saturday night, and we need your help with our recycling program.
• Saturday – Pet Therapy at White Oak Manor: Bring your pet (with updated vet records) to this senior home in the Cotswold neighborhood. Be sure to read the description for pet specifics before you sign up!

As the holiday season shifts into overdrive, we know many of you won’t be able to make it to a project until next year. However, we hope you will support Hands On Charlotte by making a charitable donation on our website. Without your financial support, we would not be able to offer the volunteer opportunities that you love. Thank you for donating to Hands On Charlotte!

OK, Shari is telling me to turn off my computer and to put it under my desk. That means I need to run. Have a great weekend!


Tanner

To the Holiday Volunteers

As the holiday season and the end of the year quickly approach, I believe this is a time many people reflect on life, and express their thankfulness while trying to find purpose and meaning. This sentiment causes people to become naturally selfless and give of themselves. While this feeling and sudden urgency is commendable, we should not let a season dictate our civic engagement and philanthropic deeds.

As a nation, there is a huge trend to volunteer during the holidays. Please don’t misunderstand me; giving service at anytime is a tremendous gesture, but I’m here to challenge you. Start volunteering this holiday season, but don’t stop after Christmas. On Monday, January 3, when the holiday season passes, the homeless man will still be hungry, the middle school girl will still need your guidance, and the elementary school garden will still need beautification. We need your efforts year round. I challenge you to push yourself, and break from the culture of just holiday giving.

Of course, some people prefer to donate financially during the holiday season. If you are in a position to make a charitable donation to Hands On Charlotte, we hope you will visit our website today. Without your financial support during the holiday season, we would not be able to fund our service projects throughout the year.


Shari Lerline Williams is an AmeriCorps member with Hands On Charlotte

Why I Volunteer: Shari Lerline Williams

What is a volunteer? What does volunteering mean to you? To me, volunteering means sharing, painting, playing sports, laughing, building, hugging, mentoring, gardening and caring. I know, it sounds mushy, sentimental and certainly cliché, but it’s true. When you give up your personally time, and donate it to someone who needs you, how can you not feel accomplished? Since I started at Hands On Charlotte, I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer through various efforts. Beatification projects, cleaning, tutoring, and the list goes on. At times, the challenge can be daunting, but if you let go of your inhibitions I guarantee you will love it! Volunteering always provides those special situations when you surprise yourself, and learn something new. Over the years I’ve picked up a multitude of tricks, skills and tools through volunteering. This Saturday at Hands On Charlotte Day, I will learn how to build benches! Whoever thought I was equipped for such a project?!

The best feature volunteering has to offer is that there’s something for everyone! Personally, I love to mentor and tutor. One of my favorite projects is Homework Hounds. Every Tuesday I get to help Matthew, who is in kindergarten. It’s my favorite part of the day. First we complete his homework, and then we read a book together and laugh and giggle all the way to the end. Although I’m helping my mentee, he is helping me as well. He is helping me not to take my life so serious!

I challenge everyone who is reading this to take an hour out of your week or month and do something fun and rewarding… Volunteer! I promise you will thank yourself!

Want to write a "Why I Volunteer" post for our blog? Email Tanner at tanner@handsoncharlotte.org for more information.

Believe it, Mrs. Math: I'm a math tutor now

The words every volunteer tutor loathes to hear from a high school student: “I need some help with math.”


The response I’ve always wanted to give: “Hey, me too, kid. Where do we get in line?”


Alas, today I was the math tutor. For one hour, it was my responsibility to help a ninth grader at Midwood High School understand the concepts of integers and basic algebra. And to what I imagine would be the utter disbelief of Mrs. Barritt, Mrs. Pilo, Mrs. Zack and every other math teacher I’ve ever had, I didn’t cause this student to regress in her understanding of mathematics, time or space. In fact, the session was a great success.


I don’t know if there’s a more rewarding volunteer experience for me than to tutor students. The objective and success are clearly defined. That’s easy. But more importantly, tutoring provides an opportunity to have a real impact on a young person’s personal and professional life. Success in school snowballs into positive self-confidence, and confidence, I’ve learned, begets success in so many of life’s challenges. Help a kid earn an A on a math test after he earned a D on a previous attempt. Then watch how his outlook about school and life changes.


My co-worker Shari and I are planning to go back to Midwood High School every Wednesday from here on out. Sign up to join us on the Web site. And I assure you: no matter how bizarre it might seem to your former teachers, you can handle the academic rigors of being a high school tutor.




-Tanner



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