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!

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!


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Reflecting on HOC Day - Tanner

We’re all starting to regroup after “Hands On Charlotte Day,” and I thought I’d share my experiences from the event with our blog readers. I had a great HOC Day, visiting three impressive sites: the McGill Rose Garden, the Assistance League Thrift Shop and the Charlotte Nature Museum. Here’s a rundown of what I found at each:

• McGill Rose Garden: Located a block north of 277 on N. Davidson Street, this garden was a beautiful surprise. Twenty-two Hands On Charlotte volunteers joined project leader Angie Simpson in trimming rose bushes and clearing brush. Jim from Clark Nexsen was out sporting his N.C. State sweatshirt, and Kerry McCray, who leads our Panthers Recycling Program, was laughing and making everyone feel great. I’m excited to go back to the garden just to…yep…smell the roses.
  
  
• The Assistance League Thrift Shop: This project and organization really blew me away. The first thing you should know: the Assistance League Thrift Shop in Charlotte (AL Charlotte) employs one full-time person. The rest of the operation relies on volunteers, many of which donate 40 hours per week. When you consider the quality of work they do, that’s really astounding. Last year, AL Charlotte distributed 433,000 snacks, clothed 1,640 children and awarded $19,000 in college scholarships. On top of that, AL Charlotte assisted 393 youth offenders in finding volunteer hours, helping those young people get back on track. If you want to get involved, Amy Cratsley, Hands On Charlotte’s project leader at this site, will help you get started.
  
  
• The Charlotte Nature Museum: It’s easy to miss the Charlotte Nature Museum, located in the heart of a neighborhood on the edge of Freedom Park. But once you find it, the Nature Museum promises acres of trails and small gardens. Hands On Charlotte volunteers, led by Cathy Durbin, cleared brush, planted gardens and set gravel on paths. As Stephen Collie, a Hands On Charlotte volunteer, said, “This is a great project if you like to be outside. I like doing yard work, so it’s a great way to volunteer.”

I wish I had more time to spend at each site. I had to leave before I could have all my questions answered. But that’s part of the fun of volunteering. It offers new experiences. Even though “Hands On Charlotte Day” is over, we still have plenty of opportunities for you to volunteer. Visit the calendar and browse our upcoming events.

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