| Hands On Asheville-Buncombe Volunteer Newsletter June 2010 | |
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Dear Hands On Volunteer,
Welcome to the June edition of the Hands On Asheville-Buncombe e-newsletter. Hands On is committed to providing meaningful service opportunities that inspire and equip our volunteers to create positive change. In fact, many of the organizations that we partner with are willing to make accommodations for volunteers with disabilities. This is just one way that Hands On makes it easy for individuals and groups to give back to the community! |
| Hands On Managed Projects |
 Hands On Managed Projects usually last 2-3 hours, generally occur on evenings and weekends, and don't require a long term commitment. These projects are managed by Hands On and led by trained volunteer Project Coordinators. Sign up today!
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| Hands On Spotlight: Bonding Blankets |
 Hands On proudly highlights our Managed Projects and the amazing volunteers that make them happen each month. Bonding Blankets volunteers help make tiny blankets or "lovies" from soft flannel for premature babies served by Mission's NICU. Learn more and sign-up!
Bonding Blankets is led by Clare Cook. Clare started volunteering with Hands On in March 2009, and since then has been an amazing Hands On Project Coordinator for several Managed Projects, including Bonding Blankets. Clare's energy is boundless, and her generous spirit inspires her volunteers to keep signing up! One dedicated volunteer, Noora Viljanmaa, recently shared her passion for Bonding Blankets with her High School's National Honors Society Chapter which raised $250 for project supplies! Clare shares that "Noora is such a giving, dedicated volunteer. I feel incredibly lucky to have her as a Bonding Blankets participant, and Asheville is just as lucky to have her as a member of the community." Hands On thanks Clare, Noora, and the countless volunteers who have supported this incredible service opportunity!
Special thanks to Asheville Cotton Company for hosting Bonding Blankets each month, and for generously donating supplies and equipment! |
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Sponsors |
Families Together Inc.
Mission Hospitals | |
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| More Volunteer Opportunities | |
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| Partner Agency Special Projects & Events |
Our Partner Agencies are offering great ways to get involved this month. Click on "learn more" for project details and to express interest in a project.
Volunteer with Asheville GreenWorks on your lunch hour to create a healthy body and a healthy environment at the same time! Lunchtime Litter cleanups are a workout with heavy bags and distances walked, and the impact you make as you go benefits the environment and community. Cleanup supplies will be provided. Learn more.
Town of Black Mountain Parks needs volunteers to support their Community Garden. Volunteers will help with planting and maintaining crops grown for donation to families in need in the Swannanoa Valley. Tasks vary weekly and may include planting, weeding, harvesting, mulching, and other garden projects. Learn more.
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) seeks volunteers for its Family Farm Tour at farms and gardens throughout Western North Carolina. Each volunteer will be assigned to a particular farm for one day of the tour to greet and sign in visitors at the registration table, check for buttons (passes), sell buttons, direct parking, and help out in other ways as needed. Learn more. |
| Change of Plans? Please "Un-Sign Up" |  Did you know that 20% of our volunteer slots are filled up by people who never show up? We understand that plans change. We just ask that you please remove yourself from the project beforehand. When you find out that you cannot attend a volunteer event it is very important to do two things:
1. Let the volunteer leader know that you cannot attend the project. His or her contact info will be in the email you received confirming your project registration. 2. Remove yourself from the project, so someone else can sign up to take your place. It's easy. Just log in to your account, click on "My Projects" and then click "Remove me." Keeping us posted on whether you can attend your project is an easy way to help us make a 20% bigger impact in the community. Thanks! |
| BE BIG In Your Community Grant |
 Clifford the Big Red Dog's "BE BIG in Your Community" contest will award $75,000 in community grants to BIG ideas that best demonstrate Clifford's BIG Ideas which are Share, Be Kind, Help Others, Be a Good Friend, Play Fair, Have Respect, Be Truthful, Believe in Yourself, Work Together and Be Responsible. No Big Idea is too big or too small! Submit ideas through June 30, 2010. Learn more. |
| Women of Worth |
Join Hands On Network and L'Oréal Paris in recognizing, celebrating and supporting women who make a beautiful difference in their communities! Nominations will be accepted for the 2010 Women of Worth program until July 9, 2010. You are encouraged to nominate the woman in your life who sees a need around her and doesn't hesitate to get involved. Learn more. |
| Be a Local Leader |
The Asheville City Council is looking for citizens who want to get involved and make a difference. The deadline for receiving applications is Wednesday, June 2nd, so beat the rush and apply now! The following boards currently have vacancies:
- WNC Regional Air Quality Agency Board
- Civic Center Commission
- Airport Authority
- Housing Authority
- Transit Commission
To find out more about these volunteer board positions, and to download an application visit the Asheville City Council's Board & Commission website. If you need more information or just want to discuss a board with a City Council member, contact the City Clerk's Office at 259-5601. |
| LIVE UNITED |
 As the volunteer program of United Way, Hands On Asheville-Buncombe is committed to bringing people together to strengthen our community through meaningful volunteer action.
The Board of United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County is pleased to announce its investment strategy for 2010-2011. This funding decision is the culmination of two years of work to focus the efforts of United Way around the areas of Education, Income and Health - the building blocks of a good life for everyone. We are thrilled with the alignment of 2010-2011 funded programs with the needed improvements United Way wants to see in Education, Income and Health. We know our new focus on the building blocks of a better life for everyone will address the root causes of problematic community conditions and result in long-lasting change in our neighbors lives. Click here to access our media release and investment strategy document. Thank you for inspiring hope for a better tomorrow. Thank you for LIVING UNITED! |
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 Hands On Asheville-Buncombe is a program of United Way that makes
it easy for individuals and groups to give back to the community.
We invite you to take a moment and sign up for a project today!
Sincerely,
Charlie Lee and Sarah Wohlmuth
Hands On Asheville-Buncombe Staff
Be the Change. Volunteer.
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Hands On is pleased to list more than 200 volunteer opportunities managed by our Partner Agencies. With new opportunities added every month, there is sure to be one that will interest you!
View projects that are youth-friendly: 
