You Are Invited To: A Night In the Vineyard
Hands4Hope 8th Annual Benefit Dinner & Auction
Saturday, 7 October
5:30 P.M. to 10:30 P.M.
Lakehills Church
7000 Rossmore Lane
El Dorado Hills
Tickets Going On Sale Soon . . . Watch Your Email!
Fireworks & Freedom Concert KidsZone
Join us July 3rd!
Bounce Houses, Cotton Candy, Strawberry Shortcake
Hands4Hope Kids Zone Area!
6PM - 9:30PM Target West Parking Lot
Spanish-Speaking Translator Needed for School Supply Drive
August 14th, 3:30-7:00pm at Schnell Elementary School
If interested, please contact Nicole Craine at nicole@hands4hopeyouth.org
Hands4Hope Shows Its Support at the Sacramento Pride Parade
In honor of Pride Month, Hands4Hope was invited by Blue Shield of California to walk in the Sacramento Pride Parade with their employees and float. The event was well attended by Hands4Hope volunteers, and according to both the youth and adults, was lots of fun and a great success! The Hands4Hope Executive Director, Jennifer Bassett, her family, and six high school youth walked in the parade, celebrated with attendees, and handed out rainbow flags and necklaces for anyone who wanted one.
According to the Hands4Hope representatives, the parade was a positive environment with a sense of support and community, and the volunteers were very happy with the opportunity to attend such an impactful event.
Diversity and inclusion are key values of Hands4Hope as we work to create a welcoming, engaging, and safe environment for all. Different perspectives lend to broad-mindedness, understanding, creativity, and strong teams.
Introducing the New Executive Youth Board
Hands4Hope is led by a Youth Board who is mentored by the Youth Development Coordinator. Its primary objective is to show and teach their peers how they can make a difference by leading others through the process of service learning and designing capstone projects that are carried out and impact the community on a larger scale.
The Hands4Hope Youth Board is made up of the president and vice president of our five participating high schools. Its role is to guide and give input on Hands4Hope’s leadership development and outreach programs. As a team, the Youth Board gives input on issues and ideas brought to them by the staff and Parent Advisory Council; share club successes and challenges; collaborate on activities; and plan team builds, leadership camps, and workshops.
For this month’s Youth Spotlight, we would like to introduce the new executive leaders, all of whom have been nominated by the Youth Development Coordinator to lead the Youth Board through the 2017-2018 school year.
Youth Board President
My name is Kaitlin Violette and I have been involved with Hands4Hope for 3 years now. I am head of the Kids’ Oasis Committee and this year’s new youth board president! In my free time I love spending time with my dog, Lokai, going on road trips, and listening to music.
Youth Board Vice President
My name is Kenzie Misso and I am a junior at Oak Ridge High School. I am currently a member of the Fall Festival Marketing & Fundraising Committee, a leader of the Homeless Committee, and the president of one of the Oak Ridge H4H clubs, as well as the Youth Board Vice President. I have been involved with Hands4Hope for about 5 years since I got started in the Rolling Hills Club. I play volleyball, which is how I spend most of my free time, but when I'm not doing that, I love hiking, traveling, playing with my dog, and spending time with friends. I am so excited to be a part of the Executive Youth Board this year, and I can't wait to see what we can accomplish!
Youth Board Secretary
My name is Caroline Snyder and I am a junior at Oak Ridge High School. I have been involved with Hands4Hope for six years now. I am going to be the secretary of the Youth Board and one of the vice presidents of the Oak Ridge Club. Also, I was secretary of one of the Hands4Hope clubs at Oak Ridge last year, and I have been involved in the Ryan Christopher Hersh Scholarship Committee for the past two years. In my free time I like to hang out with my friends and read. I have done cheer for the past five years but am not doing it next year in order to focus on my studies and my involvement in the community. I am thankful that Hands4Hope has given me the opportunity to help my community. Being a part of this organization has given me many skills and many new friends. Hands4Hope has pushed me out of my comfort zone and constantly pushes me to be a better person. I am so excited to be able to continue to help my community and grow as a leader in this upcoming year!
Youth Board Treasurer
My name is Joey Castellanos. I am president of the Ponderosa Hands4Hope club and treasurer of the Hands4Hope executive youth board. I have been a part of Hands4Hope for three years. I dedicate a lot of my free time to my involvement in football. With any other free time I like spending time with friends and family or playing the guitar. I am so grateful to be a part of Hands4Hope because it has given me such a new perspective on life and is accompanied with many great opportunities.
2017 Ryan Christopher Hersh Scholarships Awarded to Six Deserving Youth
NEVER SELFISH, ALWAYS LOVING AND KIND;
THESE ARE MEMORIES YOU LEAVE BEHIND.
The Ryan Christopher Hersh Memorial Scholarship Fund is a fund that has been initiated by the grandparents of Ryan Christopher Hersh in memory of their grandson Ryan, who passed away at the age of 18. Ryan was an active participant in Hands4Hope for many years, assisting with food collection and distribution, homeless outreaches, and mentoring children at a local food and clothing distribution site. Ryan was a kind and gentle young man who served with love, respect, and an open heart.
In honor Ryan and his love of serving, his grandparents Nancy and Darwin Myers and Sharon and Dick Tietgens created this fund so that others may explore needs in their community and have the opportunity to take action in their own way, as Ryan did through Hands4Hope. “It means a great deal to all of us that Ryan's legacy continues. He cared deeply for Hands4Hope and its mission in our community. He had such a profound impact on our lives, we are grateful to see that he can continue to positively impact the lives of others,” described the Hersh family.
The fund is designed to benefit youth in grades K-12 with financial hardships. A portion of the fund is specifically designated for scholarships for youth wanting to participate and serve in Hands4Hope’s outreach programs by paying the cost of registration. In addition, funds are available to be used for other summer camp scholarships that allow young people to be able to explore their own strengths, whether it be sports, art, music, leadership, or something else, through local summer camps. Recipients of the scholarships are chosen through an application process by the Ryan Christopher Hersh Scholarship Committee. .
“We truly hope that all the recipients cherish their camp experiences. Most importantly, we hope they have the opportunity to enrich their lives and grow from the experiences they all have,” the Hersh’s furthered.
Emma Burrows, the Ryan Christopher Hersh Scholarship Committee Chair, explained this year’s successes with the Ryan Christopher Hersh Scholarship. “The Committee set a budget of $2,000 to $2,500 that we felt comfortable taking from the account. With these funds, we were able to assist 6 youth in attending camps of their choosing. Their ages ranged from 6 to 14 with a variety of camps including a 4-H camp, dance camp, two selective football camps, and two all-summer day camps for children in a transition home.”
“The committee was very impacted to hear the stories of these applicants’ hardships as well as determination to enrich their lives. It was truly an honor to be able to work on this committee in Ryan’s memory these past two years,” concluded Burrows.
Hands4Hope is proud to be the facilitator of this scholarship program. Please visit our website for additional information at http://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/hands4hope-ryan-christopher-hersh-memorial-scholarship-fund.html.
Outreach Highlights: Explorability
Explorability is a special program at the Sacramento Children's Museum in Rancho Cordova for children with special needs and their family and friends. This event occurs on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month from 10-11pm. Volunteers will help lead various stations, help set and reset exhibits, and interact with the children! High School students are welcome to help with this outreach.
If you are interested in working with children with special needs, meeting new people, or just having a fun weekend experience, this is a great outreach for you! As a new event to Hands4Hope, we are always looking for more volunteers to participate in the event. We would love your help in growing the program as an outreach opportunity!
Committee Updates
Fall Festival
The Fall Festival Committee is having fun and working hard to design, organize, and create a marketing plan for a family friendly community event at El Dorado Hills Town Center. The Fall Festival will be a two-day event in October, complementing Town Center’s Fall Carnival. This youth run fundraising event is split into committees or teams (mentored by an adult lead): Operations & Finance, Games & Activities, Marketing & Fundraising, and Volunteer Management. They are currently identifying and designing fall-themed activities,seeking sponsorships, creating marketing material, and brainstorming the layout and operations for the event. More youth and adult committee participants are needed! Please email jbassett@hands4hopeyouth.org if you are interested in being a part of this wonderful project.
School Supply Drive
The School Supply Drive Committee is in full swing right now as it works to collect school materials for the Placerville School District. The committee is currently coordinating with Rolling Hills Church to host a supply drive, and is also planning a neighborhood supply blitz for the beginning of July. The committee is very excited to gather materials for over 500 children for the next school year!
Kids Zone
The Kids Zone Committee is gearing up for its one-day event on July 3rd at the Town Center Freedom Concert and Fireworks Show. The committee has been coordinating sponsorships, marketing, and the event itself, and is now in the final stages of planning. At the event, the committee will be selling Fidget Spinners, light-up toys, cotton candy, strawberry shortcakes, and hosting bounce houses to fundraise for Hands4Hope and spread the word about their involvement with the organization. More volunteers are needed to help run the bounce houses and ticket booth! To volunteer, sign up at the following link: http://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/register-for-upcoming-events.html.
Kids’ Oasis
The Kids’ Oasis Committee plans and hosts the Kids’ Oasis at Green Valley Community Church every second and fourth Saturday of the month. The committee is currently gearing up to host a small fundraiser to collect donations for more crafting supplies for the 2017-2018 program year. Their next steps will be recruiting more participants for the committee and regular volunteers to help keep the program as successful as it is. For more information or to join this committee, email Maddy Gorrell at maddy@hands4hopeyouth.org.
Homeless Committee
The Homeless Committee partnered with Blue Shield of California on June 7th to host an outreach event at Sacramento Loaves & Fishes. The youth committee led the Blue Shield team through the outreach process, and collaborated with them at the event to hand out sack lunches, toiletries, and socks to lunch guests at Loaves & Fishes. The committee is currently planning to host a booth at the upcoming Children’s Ed Fair at the Folsom Palladio to raise awareness for Hands4Hope and fundraise for their next homeless outreach. They will be offering information and a craft for participants to do at the event.
Project Birthday
The Project Birthday Committee is gearing up for the next program year, and looking for more committee participants to help develop this program at the White Rock Village Apartments. The committee is planning to host an end-of-summer birthday party for all of the children who had birthdays between May and July. For more information or to join this committee, email Maddy Gorrell at maddy@hands4hopeyouth.org.
Outreach and Service Learning Opportunities
Please note: To register for an event, you must activate your annual registration, if you haven't already.
Beary Special Playdate at
Sacramento Children's Museum
Wednesday, July 12th
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
NEW! The museum is closed to the public and only open to children with autism and their caretaker. This event occurs on the 2nd Wednesdays of every month from 5-7pm. Looking for 4 high school volunteers to reset exhibits, assist at different stations/exhibits and interact with children and their families
**High School Students Welcome**
Explorability at Sacramento
Children's Museum
Sunday, July 2nd and 13th
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
NEW! This is a program for children with special needs and their family and friends. This event occurs on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month from 10-11am. Volunteers will help lead various stations, help set and reset exhibits, and interact with the children and their caretakers.
**High School Students Welcome**
Kidszone at White Rock Village
Every Friday, July 7, 14, 21, and 28th
3:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.Come join the young residents of White Rock Village playing ping pong, video games, board games, foosball, as well as various outdoor play. Volunteers will assist with supervision, encourage teamwork and cooperation, gain leadership and communication skills, and have fun!
**8th Grade and Older Welcome**
EDH Senior Center Crafts & Games
Monday, July 10th
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Volunteers will spend time socializing, helping with arts and craft activities, and playing games with seniors with various levels of dementia, at Ramona "Moni" Gilmore Senior Center in El Dorado Hills.
**All Ages Welcome**
FOOD DONATIONS for
Mercy Senior Dinner
FOOD Drop off Tuesday, July 18th
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Donate food items to feed low income seniors at Mercy Creekview Housing.
You will receive volunteer credit for your items.
**All Ages Welcome**
Mercy Creekview Manor Senior Dinner
Wednesday, July 19th
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Come prepare and serve dinner for seniors. The volunteers will also help with crafts before dinner.
**All Ages Welcome**
GVCC Saturday Cafe
Saturday, July 8th and 22nd
8:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Hands4Hope volunteers work the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month helping distribute food and run carts.
**All Ages Welcome**
GVCC Kids Oasis
Saturday, July 8th and 22nd
8:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Hands4Hope volunteers work the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, reading books, playing games and doing craft projects with the young children in the Kids’ Oasis. The Kids' Oasis provides a safe and fun place for the children to wait while their families shop for free groceries and clothing at the Saturday Cafe.
**Middle School and Up Welcome**
Hope House
Monday, July 3rd
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Hope House is a transitional home for women, dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness through empowerment, encouragement, and love. Hands4Hope volunteers mentor the children at Hope House while their moms are in meetings and education sessions.
**High School Students Welcome**
NEW! Soccer Clinic at White Rock Housing
Monday, July 10, 17, 24, and 31st
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Volunteers will assist with a youth soccer clinic for the White Rock Village residents. Participants in the clinic will be elementary-school-aged youth. The clinic will run every Monday through July 28.
**8th grade and up are welcome**
NEW! Science Camp at White Rock Housing
Wednesdays and Fridays,
July 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28th
3:30-5:00pm
Volunteers will assist elementary aged children with science experiments lead by a H4H alumni. This event will run every Wednesday and Fridays in July.
**8th grade and up are welcome**
NEW! Art Days at White Rock Housing
Thursdays, July 6,13, 20, 27th
10:00am-1pm
Volunteers will assist elementary aged children with art projects lead by an adult volunteer. This event will run every Thursdays in July.
**8th grade and up are welcome**
Click here to find out more information or to register for any of these events.
*Please note: Elementary aged participants must be accompanied by a registered parent or at all Hands4Hope outreach events.