The Hands4Hope after school committee program is gaining momentum as the year progresses. We currently have 4 year long committees: Project Birthday, Kids Oasis, Homeless Outreach and MAPS. We also have 5 seasonal committees: Ryan Christopher Hersh Scholarship (Spring), School Supply Drive and KidZone (Summer), Fall Festival (Fall) and Winter Boutique (Winter). Each committee was selected because of their unique mission to provide service in different areas of need in our community. These committees are currently meeting via Zoom and are open to new members.
The Project Birthday Committee creates, plans, and hosts fun and interactive birthday parties for youth living at an affordable Mercy Housing complex in El Dorado Hills. The committee works together making cakes, shopping for and wrapping gifts, decorating and selecting games and other party activities.
The Kids’ Oasis Committee members host a bi-monthly children’s program at Green Valley Community Church (GVCC) in Placerville during Green Valley’s weekly Common Ground outreach. The committee collaboratively designs crafts, coordinates games, regularly attends and runs the program, and mentors the children who attend Kids’ Oasis.
The MAPS Committee is a Hands4Hope partnership with Montessori Autism Programs and Services (MAPS) in El Dorado Hills. This committee is currently focusing on building a sensory garden at the MAPS campus. The garden will serve to create a place for autistic youth to discover new sensory experiences in a safe place. This committee is open to youth of all ages.
The Homeless Committee researches the needs of homeless people in Sacramento and El Dorado counties and plans and implements projects based on these needs. The committee also leads the planning and implementation of the Hands4Hope Homeless Outreaches which occur 6 times a year, making and serving 400 sandwiches to distribute to homeless individuals at Loaves and Fishes.
The Ryan Christopher Hersh Scholarship Committee has started working on this year's project. This committee is responsible for drafting, releasing, marketing, and reviewing scholarship applications to give underprivileged youth the opportunity to attend the summer camp of their choice. They are currently creating this year’s marketing campaign, stay tuned to learn more in the coming weeks.
Summer Season Committees:
We are currently in the planning phases for both summer season committees. These committees are a great chance to learn project planning, business communication, marketing, budget management, and time management skills while having fun with a group of local youth!
The School Supply Drive Committee will work with local businesses and organizations to secure donations for the 2020-2021 school year. This committee is entirely youth-led (with the help of adult mentors), and will develop advertising, market for and host the School Supply Drive, as well as collect and distribute all donated supplies to the Placerville Union School District. Participants must be 7th grade or older.
The Kidszone Committee will help plan and host the Kidszone Area at El Dorado Hills Town Center’s Freedom and Fireworks Show. KidZone Committee participants, select bounce houses and entertainment, organize volunteers, secure sponsorships, create a marketing plan, manage an event budget, and oversee ticket sales and concessions at the event! Participants starting 8th grade or up welcome!
The Fall Festival Committee will also start to meet in May. It is organized to mimic a functioning event planning/production company with the end product being an entertaining and family friendly Fall Festival (think Apple Hill in EDH) - the management and staff being youth, the goal being to raise funds, build project planning and management skills, and have fun! The committee will meet 1-2 times per month with youth 8th grade and up welcome to join.
All committees are currently looking to add more youth members and adult mentors. If you would like to learn more about or join a committee please contact Melissa Placek at melissap@hands4hopeyouth.org