Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference

As a Family Resource Center Director working at a school district with an 8% homeless rate and exceptionally high low income rate, I am thrilled to have Hands4Hope close by to help our families with food, clothing, school supplies and special events. Parents have shared that these services are invaluable. Hands4Hope youth go above and beyond to help our families in need and do such a wonderful job supporting our district by communicating all of their special events to come. I look forward to many more years of collaborating with Hands4Hope to assist those who need it the most!

My name is Andrew Madigan and I’m a Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference Alumni (grad 2017). I joined Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference in high school without knowing how much the rest of my life was going to be impacted. What separated Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference from many other generous volunteer organizations for me was how crucial it was for youth to become leaders in their own community to create positive change. The skill sets we had to learn to develop our own projects, learn to listen and utilize our own unique ideas, and execute a project were not skill sets being taught in school that I now appreciate so much in my own career. In my own career today as an aerospace engineer, I utilize the same skill sets I didn’t learn until I was apart of Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference. I have to work to solve problems and create solutions with people of different backgrounds/specialties and ideas and understand how to use our strengths and communicate effectively to create the best solutions. 50% of my efforts involve taking the technical abilities I learned through engineering school, the other 50% is utilizing what I learned through Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference. This is why I’m so proud of the model Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference has developed and how they continue to make a difference for our youth and communities.

Hands4HopeYouth.org is an amazing, not-for-profit, youth-driven organization! I have been involved with H4H since it began in 2008, and I can't say enough about how passionate the volunteers, staff, leadership, and board are about fulfilling their mission statement. As a parent, volunteer, youth mentor, and eventually a board member for a time I have seen firsthand how H4H provides a safe and fun culture by empowering youth to step outside their comfort zone, develop new skills, and work together to make a positive difference in peoples' lives. Youth are given a voice to take action and create cause-driven projects that raise awareness to important issues. These cause-driven opportunities impact not only the communities but the youth volunteers themselves. It's a perfect example of the ripple effect!

My name is Gen Walk and I have volunteered with Hand4Hope since 2010. In my retirement I wanted to give back to the community, which is why I joined initially. I have seen every side of Hands4Hope; I have served as a volunteer, been on committees, and helped the staff behind the scenes. I have seen this organization help so many people, from donating food and toiletries to giving time to spend connecting with the less fortunate in our community. It also has given the youth a chance to give back, and I have personally seen kids blossom into kind, caring, and determined individuals throughout their volunteer work. I continue to do this work because I believe that Hands4Hope is a huge positive force in the community, and any support given will without a doubt be towards a good cause.

We have been dedicated sponsors of Hands4Hope since 2010. During that time we have witnessed the development and expansion of their community service youth-involved programs to include more schools and, therefore, more youth in our area. What continues to impress us is the steadfast commitment to leadership skills to which the youth are exposed. The youth in these programs are exposed to service-related projects which involve leadership in the creating of programs that are unique to the needs of their communities; coordinating the implementation of these programs; as well as effectively communicating, problem solving and managing a budget for each particular project. Truly skills that will carry on throughout the lives of these devoted young people. The money raised for the benefit of H4H through fundraising, sponsorships and donations is used in a fiscally responsible manner for the exclusive betterment of the Hands4Hope organization. In our view, Hands4Hope is a first-rate organization that is making a difference now in the present, and will continue into the future as the youth of today matures into capable and effective adults of tomorrow.

We have proudly supported Hands4Hope since moving to the area several years ago. What an amazing organization. Wonderful and dedicated adult leaders accomplishing so much on a tight budget. But the real power of Hands4Hope is the youth volunteers. They not only do an incredible volume of on-the-ground work benefiting the community but they also learn to be (and act as) real leaders. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with several Hands4Hope alums (in college and beyond) and the stories they tell of the positive impact the experience has had on them are truly inspiring. Please join me in continuing to support this great work.

I've been aware of Hands4Hope - Youth Making a Difference since its inception. What an amazing organization! When they began exploring the possibility of opening a youth center in the Placerville area, I joined their newly formed Placerville Steering Committee in 2018. The Placerville community opened its arms to Hands4Hope and the Placerville Youth Center became a reality. I'm still sitting on this Committee. I love watching the youth grow, learn leadership skills, and smile so big whenever they are out in our community doing service work. Another committee I volunteer on is the Emergency Food Pantry. The youth run this food pantry providing food and essential items to those in need in our community. The youth help individuals "shop" for canned and fresh food items once per month and provide food on an emergency basis when needed. I've witnessed shy youth blossom from being a part of the activities, service learning opportunities, and welcoming atmosphere within the Hands4Hope organization. Hands4Hope receives 5 stars from me!!

Since high school, I have volunteered with Hands4Hope–Youth Making A Difference and witnessed the transformative impact this organization has on our community. Now in college, I eagerly return every summer to contribute to this incredible cause. I have seen firsthand how the youth involved grow into strong, compassionate leaders, deeply committed to making a lasting impact. It is truly inspiring to observe the positive changes Hands4Hope brings to the community I cherish. I am excited to see how this organization will continue to evolve and make an even greater impact in the years ahead!

Hands4Hope is an organization whose many efforts help youth, families, and communities from every angle. I cannot articulate clearly enough the amount and importance of the impact they have made in our community.

As the Coordinator of Homeless Youth Services, I have seen this work firsthand. I have witnessed both the processes that the involved youth follow to reach their service skills, leadership and goals, as well as the outcomes of their efforts and the benefits of the work!

Perhaps most importantly what I have witnessed from the group is a program that grows youth into strong leaders who carry, with compassion, passion and dedication, skills that they learn today into the world! I am proud of Hands4Hope and proud to be a collaborating partner whenever the opportunity presents!

After the first presentation I heard from one of the high school students about Hands4Hope, I knew this was the non-profit I wanted to be involved with. The sincerity about the program and the commitment to building young leaders is what initially captured my attention. As a small business owner, I started out simply by placing the big blue barrels in our stores for the different drives Hands4Hope does throughout the year. I was impressed with how efficiently the drives were run. When I learned about the Nashville night last year at the Harris Center, I knew I wanted to be involved. I got to decorate and work with students and friends. What I saw and learned is how Hands4Hope gets things done. Everyone is dedicated to the success of Hands4Hope, the events, and each other. When I was asked to join the Steering Committee, it was a definite yes for me! I have had the opportunity to work one on one with a student that was President of her school Hands4Hope Club, on the Big Day of Giving. What a joy and privilege this was. We both learned from each other and plan to work on other projects together. I look forward to other events, working with the young leaders, recruiting committed people to support the growth of Hands4Hope, and making a difference. Hands4Hope has incredible leadership, teamwork, and appreciation. I have worked with a number of non-profits over the years, and what I value most about Hands4Hope is that they get the job done and make it fun. Leslie Jensen Michaylo

As the Principal of Camerado Springs Middle School, I am delighted to share my heartfelt appreciation for the incredible work done by Hands4Hope. This exceptional non-profit organization has made a profound impact on our campus and within our community. Hands4Hope stands out as a phenomenal community service group that actively engages with our students. Their dedicated team regularly visits our school, working directly with our students and guiding them in creating student-driven community service projects. This hands-on approach not only empowers our students but also instills a deep sense of responsibility and compassion in them. They have fun, learn invaluable life skills, and make lasting memories and friendships. One of the most rewarding aspects of partnering with Hands4Hope is witnessing the enthusiasm and dedication our students exhibit. They take pride in their projects, and the joy they derive from making a difference is truly inspiring. Hands4Hope provides the perfect platform for our students to develop leadership skills, learn the importance of teamwork, and understand the value of giving back to society. Hands4Hope has become an integral part of our school community. Their unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of compassionate leaders is commendable. I wholeheartedly recommend Hands4Hope to any school or community looking to foster a culture of service and civic engagement among their youth.

Being a part of Hands4Hope makes me optimistic about the future. This is truly a youth-driven organization that not only helps local communities, but also develops our future leaders. The youth participants continue to impress and inspire me with their passion and dedication to their communities.

My son was involved with H4H throughout middle school and high school. He spent a lot of time volunteering, but H4H also involves an educational arm. This educational arm provided the best real-life education from everyone at H4H, other volunteers, community partners, and the communities and people he served. The education arm is teaching youth how to go out into their community, assess needs, then plan and execute events to support those needs in the community. My son’s time and experience with H4H, the mentorship, the leadership training, has been, hands down, the single most influential thing in his life and in preparing him for college and beyond.
H4H’s ability to give youth a way to serve their community all while getting back way more than they give, is truly a gift. This is such a special organization that my entire family is now involved in.

The best part of Hands4Hope is, without a doubt, the youth themselves – watching them take interest in their community to serve others, building solid peer-to-peer and peer-to-adult relationships, and growing their confidence and skillsets to better serve them in their academic and career paths. Watching them blossom and shine makes it so easy to volunteer for this organization and reminds me that Hands4Hope is playing a critical role in fostering positive youth connections and contributing to their sense of purpose.