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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.

Friday Roundup: The “Wait, It’s June Already?” Edition

So wait, it’s June? It seems like March was just last week. OK, calendar, you win. You always do. Exciting things are on the docket for Hands On Charlotte in June. The team is heading to New Orleans this weekend for a four-day conference. Stay tuned to the blog, Twitter and Facebook for updates. A summer intern will start at some point. And at the end of the month, we’re launching our new website.

And as usual, we have a long list of fun projects where you can volunteer in Charlotte. This weekend, we’re all set on Sunday, but we need you out volunteering tomorrow. Here are some open volunteer projects in Charlotte tomorrow:

• Mountain Biking with Kids: It’s that easy. You get to teach kids about bike safety and to go for a bike ride. If you’re a bike enthusiast, this project is for you.
• Assistance League Thrift Store: Sort through donations and prepare them for sale at the Assistance League Thrift Store. Fun-loving project for an amazing organization.
• Little Sugar Creek Community Garden: Have a green thumb? Do you wish you had a green thumb but you don’t have the space for a garden? Come help this awesome community garden near Uptown. The best part: you can take what you grow, and it’s free!

With a week left in school, we’re officially on summer watch. Amidst the vacations, pool visits and cookouts, don’t forget to keep volunteering throughout the summer. We’ll be here at Hands On Charlotte to keep the projects posted! Happy June, everyone!

Foster volunteers at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina

Hands On Charlotte volunteers were busy in action despite the heat advisories at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina yesterday. This week, I had the opportunity to assist the local food bank in the “Race Against Hunger” project. This was my first experience here at Second Harvest and I learned quite a bit in the two hours I volunteered.

Every year, Second Harvest delivers at least 3 million pounds of foods to agencies in 19 counties in the Carolinas. Last week, Second Harvest opened its 4th satellite location in Spartanburg. Prior to this opening, agencies in Spartanburg and the surrounding areas traveled the one and half hour commute to Charlotte to pick up food deliveries! During this particular volunteer event, Hands On Charlotte volunteers assisted with sorting donations from CVS. I never really realized the variety of household and beauty items the store sells until this particular sort. In addition to household items, the volunteers also prepared snack donations to be delivered to the new location warehouse.

Unfortunately, during this visit I was unable to meet the well-respected Ms. Grace. Ms. Grace is an employee of Second Harvest who has dedicated 26 years to servicing agencies in need. I was looking forward to hearing her stories from working at Second Harvest and her interaction with other volunteers and recipients…I guess this means I will be volunteering again!


Leticia Foster is a Hands On Charlotte volunteer.

Speed Street promises fun for community, volunteers

The 17th-annual SPEED Street has begun! If you haven’t been to Speed Street in Charlotte then you need to walk away from your computer and head downtown immediately. The event kicks off at noon each day and will make for an amazing Friday and Saturday in Uptown. There are tons of booths set up to give away all sorts of cool free merch! There is food and drinks galore and music in every direction you walk. The event stretches down Tryon and Martin Luther King, with festivities lasting until 11:00pm each night. There will be guest appearances from some of the drivers, lots of NASCAR fun for serious fans and great performers are hitting the stage including headliners Clay Walker, Josh Turner and Everclear.

I had the opportunity to work with the Green Team through Hands On Charlotte on yesterday’s opening day. The Green Team meets for a quick run-down of the day’s events and to pick up their sweet t-shirts, which allowed us to be walking reminders to everyone in Uptown that they should recycle! Last year the Green Team played a huge part in keeping OVER 7.5 TONS of recyclable material out of the waste bins. Our job was to walk around Speed Street making sure garbage was put in trash bins and recyclables were put in designated containers. We had brand new garbage pickers to use, so no problem keeping clean. It was amazing how many people expressed their appreciation as we walked up and down the streets. Best part of volunteering was getting to enjoy Speed Street while we helped out!

To get involved with the Green Team, you can check the Hands On Charlotte website to sign up for one of the three shifts of the day. There are open shifts to volunteer today and tomorrow. If you are planning on spending the day enjoying the festivities, feel free to sign up for more than one shift! There’s always more to recycle!

Kira Hale is a Hands On Charlotte volunteer.

Game night a fun night at Regency

All five Hands On Charlotte volunteers sat around tables accompanying residents of the Regency Retirement Village. We took the stacks of Bingo cards and selected the two we were going to play with for the night. In the middle of the tables were cups filled with white chips to cover the numbers called out, but those were for guests as the residents all had chips of their own liking. The woman beside me had gold chips and the woman across had red ones, etc.

“B7”…..”O65”…”N24”…were called by the Hands On Charlotte project leader as the residents intently looked for the numbers being called. This went on for a few minutes until “BINGO!” the woman beside me called out. She was then given her quarter for the win of that game. All cards were cleared and the new game began.

I found that I had chosen to sit at the lucky table for the evening, as many of the wins went to the residents at my table. Small talk in between games went on about the cards and the wins from weeks past, but as soon as the calling began all eyes were locked on the cards in front of them. “Last Game” the project leader called out and I couldn’t believe the night was almost over. I was having such a fun time playing Bingo with the residents. After the game was over, I thanked the residents for letting me play and they stated to me that I had not won that evening. I smiled and said “Yes, but I will hopefully have better card selections next time.”

I walked out of the room with them and made my way to the lobby with the other Hands On Charlotte volunteers. I am looking forward to the next BINGO night at the Regency Retirement Village tonight.

Ryan Kamp is a Hands On Charlotte volunteer.

Friday Roundup: AmeriCorps Week edition

AmeriCorps Week is coming to an end here at Hands On Charlotte. Janelle, Marcel, Sarah, Shari and I have bounced around town, chatting with people about AmeriCorps.

Here are the main points: AmeriCorps provides opportunities for people of all backgrounds to roll up their sleeves for one year to work in the trenches on some of our country’s most dire environmental, economic, educational and social issues. No matter what issue area you care about, there is likely an AmeriCorps assignment somewhere in the country to foster your interests and skills. AmeriCorps is urban, and it’s rural. Members are on the east coast, the west coast and everywhere between. To learn more, visit AmeriCorps website.

While not everyone has an entire year to commit to public service, almost everyone can spare a few hours on a Saturday once a month. This weekend, we have 14 projects that still need volunteers. Here are some highlights:

• Saturday – Mountain Bike Riding with Kids – Join Trips for Kids on a short bike ride with teenagers. We can even supply you with a bike!
• Saturday – Adaptive Baseball – Come out and play baseball with kids and teens with disabilities. Adaptive Baseball is part of the Therapeutic Recreation Division of Mecklenburg County Parks and Rec.
• Saturday – Animal Care & Control – Love animals? Come help the staff at Animal Care & Control play with and take care of some cats and dogs.
• Sunday – Pet Therapy at Summit Place – Bring your dog or cat to Summit Place and spend an hour visiting with residents at this retirement community.

Everyone’s availabilities and desires to serve are different, but everyone can serve to some degree. Hands On Charlotte and AmeriCorps help you find opportunities that meet your interests. We hope to see you at projects soon!

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.

Friday Roundup (Returns!): Get connected and have a happy Mother’s Day!

A fun article popped up on our Twitter feed this morning. Ranking the “Top 100 Socially Networked Cities in the U.S.,” we found our fair city sitting pretty at #21. If you haven’t figured it out, we LOVE social media at Hands On Charlotte. Whether through a blog post, a Tweet, a Facebook comment or a LinkedIn discussion, one of our goals is always to get volunteers to visit us (and each other) online.

But let’s be clear: all this social media hoopla is a means to an end. We want you to get connected online so that you can get connected in real life. For all the work we put in Tweeting and Facebooking, we spend 10-times as much energy providing you with opportunities to serve your community.

Looking for something to do to celebrate the Mother’s Day weekend? Here are a few options:

• Saturday – Special Olympics, Young Athletes Field Day: Assist kids with various basic sports and skill situations.
• Saturday – Trips for Kids: Just show up and ride bikes with kids while teaching them about bike safety! Bikes provided!
• Saturday – Assistance League Thrift Store: Sort clothes and other items as they head toward the showroom floor.
• Sunday – Pet Therapy at Mecklenburg Health Care Center: Bring Mom, Fluffy and/or Spot to visit with residents of this senior home. It only lasts an hour and is one of our most rewarding projects –ESPECIALLY on Mother’s Day.

Speaking of which, Hands On Charlotte wants to wish a very happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there. Thanks for everything you do all year long!

Network connecting volunteers, resources to tornado-stricken areas

The HandsOn Network, of which Hands On Charlotte is a chartering member, is connecting volunteers and resources to communities impacted by last week’s devastating tornadoes. Hands On Charlotte volunteers who want to volunteer or donate to this cause should visit: Hands On Birmingham or The Volunteer Center of Morgan County, Alabama.

One of the many benefits of being a part of a national network of volunteers is that in moments like this, Hands On Charlotte volunteers are already connected to communities all around the world. To learn more about the HandsOn Network, please visit its website.

As spring blossoms, kids celebrate the season at Reedy Creek Park

Despite poor weather, a recent Easter egg hunt and celebration at Reedy Creek Park were a great success for area foster children. Kids participated in several arts and crafts projects with foster parents and HOC volunteers. The activities included decorating Easter eggs, creating a necklace, playing “Bunny” bingo, and “Pin the Tail on the Bunny” to name a few.

It was a joy to see how the children helped each other decorate as well as proudly display their creations. Culminating the event was the infamous hunt. While the children participated in the indoor activities, volunteers hid over 430 candy-filled Easter eggs throughout the playground. I don’t know how but the kids were able to find every single egg it seems like in less than 10 minutes.

The best part of volunteering with this event was the kid’s enthusiasm and smiles. They were truly excited and happy to participate in this event. Each proclaimed that they were going to get “the most” eggs which was a quick reminder of my own childhood. I truly enjoyed working with this project because this was my first dealing with children….I think I am finding my niche project


--Leticia Foster is a Hands On Charlotte volunteer.

For the Birds provides behind-the-scenes look at Raptor Center

On a recent Saturday, a group of Hands On Charlotte volunteers arrived at the Carolina Raptor Center ready to work. The team included Julie, John, Crystal, Brandy, Kellie, Victoria, Heather, Guohua, Rui and Rob. The Raptor Center has over 23 different species of raptors housed along a ¾ mile nature trail.

In two groups, we worked on two main projects. One group prepared the amphitheater so that it could be painted at a later time. The other group helped to refit a cage for a new bird. Armed with sledgehammers, crowbars, and a battery-powered drill, the work began.

Julie, our project leader, was knowledgeable about the raptors and provided information as we went to and from the work areas. She gave us a chance to see the raptors and a sense of the importance of helping out at the Center.

One of the many benefits of volunteering was being able to see some areas that the general public isn’t allowed to see. Birds being rehabilitated need to be caged in a quiet area that is not accessible to the public. We were able to see these raptors and to talk with some of the staff from the rehabilitation facility. We also got to see an eagle that was rescued in Asheville in 1993, when it struck its wing on an electrical wire.

Volunteers are always needed at the Carolina Raptor Center, and volunteering through Hands On Charlotte is great way to do just that. "For the Birds" opportunities are available through the Hands On Charlotte volunteer calendar.


--Rob Bridges is a volunteer for Hands On Charlotte.

Visiting the McColl Center for Visual Art

Since I am an art lover, I decided to volunteer at McColl’s Community Service Day. Every corner of the restored neo-Gothic church was filled with family friendly art activities and children performances. Some of the activities including book making while another allowed patrons to assist an artist with his installation called the “Work of Art that Grows.”

My particular task included helping a former resident artist, Annabel Manning, with the Nature Prints. The project consisted of 5 stages in which individuals created their own print with miscellaneous objects, construction paper cutouts or their personal design on a plastic transparency. Throughout the morning and afternoon, our group assisted numerous families with their mini projects in which they proudly displayed on our studio walls and in the halls.

As I left my shift, I participated in a brief 20 minute docent led tour to learn more about the history and vision of the McColl Center. The tour consisted of a brief history of the original church, McColl Center, and its artist in residency programs. As a new Charlotte resident and a fellow MBA graduate student, it was rather insightful to learn how the McColl Center integrates with the Uptown community to spur innovation and creativity.

As I walked out the Center’s arches into the beautiful spring day, I was reminded of my childhood as two young boys were in deep concentration on their sidewalk chalk drawing. This event was yet another Hands On Charlotte project that me closer to the Charlotte community.


--Leticia Foster is a Hands On Charlotte volunteer.

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: Eboney Luckey

At the heart of Eboney Luckey’s weekly volunteerism at Hope Haven is her belief that everyone should be offered a chance at recovery and rehabilitation. And what better way to provide a fresh start than to tutor adults who are trying to obtain their GEDs. Every Monday evening you’ll find Eboney arriving early to this GED/ABE Tutoring project so she can photocopy study sheets and worksheets for a group of enthusiastic students.

Eboney is a stay-at-home mom and a native of Charlotte who originally found out about Hands On Charlotte from her daughter’s middle school in 2007. Having always tutored in some form—from the neighborhood community center to helping classmates in the school library during lunch—Eboney has a passion for teaching and learning. Her background is in information technology and telecommunications, and she uses this expertise in her extensive preparation before every project. Each student is on a different level in his or her GED preparations, and Eboney has developed countless practice sheets for the students to use in their studying.

Eboney chooses to volunteer through Hands On Charlotte because of its organized approach to volunteering and the variety of projects through which she can help. She wants others to be aware that everyone can do something and make an impact on the world around them. Hands On Charlotte’s goal is to help people do just that.

“Education is a right, and everyone should have access to learn the basic skills,” Eboney said.

It is with this conviction that Eboney continues to “do something” quite extraordinary.


--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: Roy Shuler

For almost eleven years now, Volunteer Leader Roy Shuler, a 51 year-old native of Charlotte, has been at the forefront of Hands On Charlotte’s poverty-focused projects. As a testament to the health benefits of service, it was a doctor who first suggested Roy try volunteering in the community. From Race Against Hunger to Spruce Up Hospitality House, Roy soon became one of Hands On Charlotte’s most active volunteers. In 2009, he became the Volunteer Leader for Race Against Hunger, and we’re grateful to have his enthusiastic leadership for such an important project.

So why has Roy stuck around for so long? It’s crucial for him to give back to the community in such a tangible way, he says. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, where Race Against Hunger is held, allows him to do just that. Roy is good friends with the staff there now, and they regularly call him in on the weekends to do extra work. When asked which activity at the Food Bank he enjoys the most, Roy answers that he likes working wherever he is most needed.

And why is Roy such an ardent supporter of Hands On Charlotte? It’s an organization that has encouraged him to get out and help the community—and to do projects that he otherwise might not have considered. Roy’s volunteer history is evidence that he likes to spread his volunteer around, and Hands On Charlotte offers the variety of projects that he likes. However, he’s found that it is the projects he goes to consistently that end up being the most rewarding.

Perhaps the most important reason Roy is committed to volunteering is that he knows he is making a difference. When he’s at Second Harvest or Crisis Assistance Ministry, he can see the impact he has on the organizations, and more importantly, the people affected by them. Roy’s service experiences have changed the way he thinks about his community, and he’s learned how widespread poverty in Charlotte really is. He’s seen firsthand how crucial the school backpack programs are and how greatly people’s lives can be impacted by his work. And fortunately for the Charlotte community, Roy is showing no signs of slowing down. You can join him in his efforts to curb local poverty by checking out the many projects Hands On Charlotte offers each month at both the Second Harvest Food Bank and Crisis Assistance Ministry. Because if there’s one thing Roy’s story teaches us, it’s that a single individual can make a huge difference.

--Sarah Langford

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

New website launch pushed to early July

Hands On Charlotte will not launch its new website next week, as planned. While we prepared on every possible front – from designing the site’s aesthetics to training key users – we are not confident that the volunteer-management system is capable of fully supporting our needs.

The HandsOn Network is responsible for developing this new volunteer-management system called HandsOn Connect. During a conference call on Tuesday, it came to light that the there is substantial work left to do before we are comfortable asking our volunteers to use the system. We expect considerable improvements by our re-launch date around the first of July.

Hands On Charlotte is well known for making volunteering an accessible and enjoyable experience. Moving to the new system next week would have put that reputation at risk. Our current website is excellent and will continue to meet our needs until July.

If you have any questions about the transition, please let us know. We still plan to have a party on Thursday, April 14 at BlackFinn in the Epicenter from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. As part of National Volunteer Week, we want take the opportunity to recognize our volunteers for everything they do.

Thank you for your continued commitment to public service through Hands On Charlotte


In service,

Lisa Quisenberry
Co-Founder and Executive Director
Hands On Charlotte