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This month’s Youth Spotlight is Meghna Sehrawat!

This month’s youth spotlight is Annabel Maguire.

anybody reading this to get involved, either as an adult volunteer, an individual donor, a company sponsor

How long have you been participating with Hands4Hope? I have only been volunteering with Hands4Hope since this May 2019. Why did you join Hands4Hope? I joined it to show my support for my daughter, Alyssa. I’m so proud of the numerous hours she has spent volunteering and dedication she has put into it. What outreaches do you usually volunteer with? Which do you enjoy the most? I was involved in the School Supply Drive and currently help with the Kids Oasis. I also try to make a point of helping to spread the word about any special event or outreach that is happening with Hands4Hope at the current time. I really enjoyed helping with the School Supply Drive, seeing all of the supplies coming in to be passed on to the children from all of the work of the teens was so rewarding. Marketing for donations is not an easy task and seeing these teens take charge and just go do what was needed was inspiring. What is your impression/experience with Hands4Hope youth? Seeing how the teens continuously come together to make the next big event or all the different monthly outreaches successful gives me hope for the future. They choose to spend their time helping others, that is what this world and community needs more of. They are selfless and at the same time building so many skills for their own future. I wish that more adults could see how hard they really work. Thus, making my experience with Hands4Hope very positive. Overall, what has your experience been like since joining? To me Hands4Hope helped bring things from my childhood full circle to my adult life. I don’t like to talk about it, but feel it’s important to help express my thanks. I lived in housing supported by New Morning Youth and Family Services as a teen when my parents divorced. Hearing how Hands4Hope raised money to help New Morning personally meant so much to me, especially being able to share this with my daughter in such a positive way.

Tell us about your family. My husband Don and I moved to Camino in 1967 after serving with the Peace Corps in India. We raised our two daughters here and continue to enjoy the beauty and friendliness of El Dorado County. What does giving back to the community mean to you? Our community was always very kind to our business. When we sold our business in 1994 we were quite ready to return this kindness in ways that would benefit the area’s population. What is your reason(s) for donating to Hands4Hope? I believe Hands4Hope is blazing new territory in helping young people understand what philanthropy is. By Hands4Hope projects and education, a generation of kids are being exposed to the importance of charitable giving and volunteerism. Is there anything else that you would like to add? Keep up the good work. Every year you seem to be able to break new ground in your work assisting young people in learning the importance of work and giving in order to assure a more stable and healthy community.

What is your school and grade? Also, how long have you been involved with H4H? I am a junior at Ponderosa High School. I have been involved with Hands4hope for 3 years now. Why did you join Hands4Hope? I joined Hands4Hope because my friend told that it is a really fun club, a great opportunity to learn the needs in our community, and help you learn important skills you can use later in life. How has Hands4Hope helped you in school, with your friends and family, and in life? Hands4Hope has helped me improve my public speaking abilities and take a step out of my comfort zone. I have become more confident in myself and my ideas. It has also helped me get a better understanding on how I can impact others. What has your experience been like since joining? My experience has been really good; I have been given the opportunity to take on more roles in Hands4hope and each role has taught me something new. What does Hands4Hope mean to you? Hands4hope is a place for youth to learn how they can change the world and help others at young ages, and it also helps them apply the knowledge they have learned into the jobs they want to be when they are older.

Tell us about your company/organization. Our family fund was created by and honors William A. Lordge, my uncle, who was a school teacher and life-long learner. How did you hear about Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? My good friend, Meredith Wharton who is a director on the Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference board. What is your reason(s) for providing Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference - Youth Making A Difference with a grant this year? My brother and I direct our family fund, and we look for organizations that match the spirit of who our uncle was. He loved being a teacher and working with his students and other young people in his community. Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference empowers youth to be the best that they can be. This is what my uncle tried to impart on his students in all the years of being a teacher.

Reneta 1. How long have you each been participating with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? We have been participating since November 2018. 2. Why did you join Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? We joined because we want to give back to the community and help people in need. 3. Which outreaches do you usually volunteer with? Which do you enjoy the most? We volunteer at the Winter Boutique and at the Mercy Housing for seniors food delivery. We love and enjoy both - the Winter Boutique is a holiday season volunteering opportunity and the Mercy Housing for seniors meal prep and delivery is ongoing, year-round volunteering. We enjoy both a lot! 4. What is your impression/experience with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference youth participants? I am very impressed with the youth, they are so responsible, kind and willing to help. This gives me a great hope that we are raising a great next generation that cares about other individuals and the community. I enjoy seeing them grow their leadership skills and develop other skills that will be great for them in their adult lives. 5. Overall, what has your experience been like since becoming involved with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? Our experience has been wonderful and we would love to volunteer more. The staff is super great, kind, and well organized and they make it so easy for us to participate. 6. How has Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference helped your child in school, with friends and family, and in life? Hands4Hope has helped Jasmine in boosting her confidence, developing her initiation and leadership skills, and organization skills. She invited a friend to participate with us and they have been volunteering together. I think it can potentially create better friendships at school with like-minded youth. 7. Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experiences with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? Since I moved to the US from Israel, 12 years ago, I was looking for many years for a way to volunteer and when I came across Hands4Hope I fell in love with the organization! They make it so easy for us to volunteer, after a simple and quick registration, there are many options to volunteer in different events. They also support local business, and during the pandemic, they helped my business by adding it to their newsletter. Thank you so much for making it possible for us to be a part of the organization! Jasmine 1. Why do you volunteer with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference? I volunteer at Hands4Hope because I like to help people and give back to the community. 2. Which school do you attend and which grade are you in? I go to Oak Ridge High School and I’m in 10th grade. 3. What do you like best about volunteering with Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference and how long have you volunteered with us? What I like best about volunteering with Hands4Hope is meeting new people and being a part of helping. I have volunteered with Hands4Hope for two years. 4. Please share your favorite memory/experience, so far, with Hands4Hope. My favorite experience with Hands4Hope has been the Winter Boutique because we had a lot of hands-on time and everyone was super nice!

Hands4Hope has selected Liv Craine as this month’s youth spotlight!

Board Member Spotlight - Estee Horn 1. How did you hear about Hands4Hope? Board Member Spotlight - Meredith Wharton 1. How did you hear about Hands4Hope?

Hands4Hope has selected Niagara Pal as July's Alumni Spotlight!

This month, Hands4Hope would like to recognize one of our very hard-working and dedicated volunteers, Gen Walk! Gen has been volunteering with Hands4Hope for almost 10 years and is always such a joy to be around. Whether it's driving back-and-forth from our storage unit, organizing binders and T-shirts in the office, or preparing meals for the Mercy Senior Dinner, Gen does it all. We have no idea what we would do without her and we are so thankful to have her on our team, we love you Gen! How long have you been participating with Hands4Hope? I have been involved with Hands4Hope since spring of 2010. Why did you join Hands4Hope? I joined Hands4Hope because I retired and I wanted to be able to give back to my community and work with youth and adults to help others. My wife found Hands4Hope through Blue Shield while searching for volunteer opportunities and they were running a Food Blitz at the Safeway in Placerville that next weekend. We both signed up to run a shift and had a great time. Following the Food Blitz, I met with Jennifer for coffee and she explained the different ways I could get involved. What outreaches do you usually volunteer with? Which do you enjoy the most? I pretty much volunteer for all of them but the two monthly outreaches I volunteer for are the Sister Nora’s Dinner and the Mercy Senior Dinner. I also help in the office almost once a week with anything that staff needs. I do a lot of the “behind the scenes” work to help with whatever event is going on at the time. We just finished Fall Festival and before that it was the School Supply Drive, there is always something to help with. It is hard to say what I enjoy most because I really enjoy the youth and the adults that we work with but I also love working with those that we serve. I really can’t say that I enjoy one over the other, I love it all. What is your impression/experience with Hands4Hope youth? We have a lot of youth that are kind, thoughtful, and go out of there way to help others. They are fun and funny and some of them are quite shy until they go out and work with people less fortunate and it completely turns them around. I really see the kindness, love, and devotion they have for helping others. Overall, what has your experience been like since joining? I really just love what I’m doing and who I’m working with. My experience has been filled with pure enjoyment, love, and fulfillment of helping others, whether it’s the youth or adults of Hands4Hope or the ones that we are serving.