Schools: Look good, feel good

Hands on Charlotte Day was a huge day for our community and its schools! I saw firsthand how everyone from big corporate executives to elementary school students can collectively show the importance of the look of our schools by volunteering to help clean them up. It was mainly the latter group that surprised me the most though. Here were these cute, little, elementary school kids showing their love for their Briarwood Elementary School with each bag of weeds collected, handful of mulch spread, and tree branch pruned. Who knows if it was by prodding from their parents to get these kids out there or not, but these 15 children sure were throwing themselves into these tasks.

Admittedly, I don’t know if I would’ve been so “gung ho” sweeping my elementary school’s sidewalk at that age. I could easily imagine myself whining about missing my Saturday morning cartoons and my Fruit Loops. Maybe I’m admitting my childhood selfishness, but I couldn’t help but feel pride for these parents and their children doing such an admirable job on a beautiful Saturday morning. The students understood the thought that if they see nice and pretty surroundings every morning walking into school, then that’ll give them an extra positive boost to feel good about their schoolwork. It also gives them a sense of ownership. I hope that this one Saturday morning planted the seed for a lifetime of volunteering from these children.




Katie Sherman is a guest contributor to the Hands On Charlotte Blog.

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.

Tanner

It's Hands On Charlotte Day....Eve!

“Hands On Charlotte Day” has a very special meaning for me. It’s where I met my now husband in 1994. It took us another year to start dating, but that’s another story.

“Hands On Charlotte Day,” in addition to being a setting for romance, is just a great day. It’s exciting to be part of a legion of volunteers working simultaneously to improve our community. The synergy of this day is unlike any other. From the border of South Carolina to Huntersville and in between, volunteers will be sorting, landscaping, painting, building and recycling. The power of citizen involvement will be in full force.

In years past, volunteers have convened before or after their projects for a celebration event. With the fiscal challenges Hands On Charlotte - just like most nonprofits - is facing, we decided to forgo the party this year and concentrate on the volunteering. All the funds raised are going to support the projects and our year round volunteer efforts.

But fear not, you will still be able to celebrate. We are going to blanket the social media landscape and create a virtual celebration. In real time, you can follow the progress on Twitter, Facebook and our blog. Both during “Hands On Charlotte Day” projects and after, you can follow the progress, see pictures, thank our sponsors and find out how much work was completed. So when you get home after volunteering, pop open a beverage of your choice, grab a snack and your computer and celebrate with us!

Any time you Tweet or post on Facebook, attach the hashtag #handsoncharlotteday . Then we’ll all be able to chat and congratulate each other on work well done. Tell us what you accomplished and who you met. Tell us where you volunteered and what sponsors were at your event.

Speaking of sponsors, we could not do this without them. Charlotte Business Journal is our Presenting Sponsor this year. We are so proud of our partnership with the city’s premier business publication. They appreciate and help HOC promote good business also means doing good in the community. The Home Depot and Newell Rubbermaid are two companies that live that ethic and we are thrilled to have them as Transformational Sponsors as well as our good friends at Elevation Church and UNC Charlotte. We thank all our sponsors, the teams and individual donors for making this day happen. But most of all, thanks to those of you who will be out volunteering on Saturday!


Together in service,

Lisa Quisenberry
Co-founder and executive director
Hands On Charlotte

One last project, one last push

To our supporters,


We are counting down the hours until "Hands On Charlotte Day." Thank you to everyone who has signed up and donated to this year's event. There are only about 24 hours left to sign up. How about we tackle one last project? Here's the story:

We need you at Shamrock Elementary School this Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon. Shamrock is a low-resource, high-poverty school, where almost 90 percent of the students receive free or reduced lunch.

Shamrock approached us early in the planning of "Hands On Charlotte Day" and asked us to help plant a garden. We were thrilled at the challenge. The school wants the garden - which you will fill with all sorts of edible goodies - specifically to teach students about healthy living, nutrition and agriculture.

Will you help us fill the 21 remaining spots on this project? If you can't come out Saturday, then we hope you will consider making a small charitable donation. "Hands On Charlotte Day" is our primary annual fundraiser, and we depend on it to sustain our programming. Thank you for your support.


Together in service,

Rob Hammock
Director of Strategic Partnerships
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.