January 2014

Dear Volunteers,

MLK Jr. National Day of Service is Monday, January 20th and once again, Hands On will be coordinating a special service event with Land of Sky Regional Council Senior Corps. MLK Jr. Day is an opportunity for our community to answer Dr. King's question, "What are you doing for others?" Hands On encourages our volunteers to make it a day ON, not a day off!

The event will include multiple stations where volunteers can participate in family-friendly projects that directly support local nonprofits and the people they serve. Volunteers will have the opportunity to create:

simple no-sew fleece blankets for Project Linus clients

bookmarks to be inserted in donated books distributed by the POP Project
"adopt me" bandanas and toys for Asheville Humane Society's shelter pets
math skills flashcards for Buncombe County School elementary students
handcrafted cards of encouragement for local Veterans and First Responders
and more!

Learn More and Sign Up Today

Make 2014 A Year of Service!

Happy New Year! As 2014 begins, many of us will be making New Year's Resolutions... to strengthen our relationships, meet new people, learn new skills, improve our health, and give back to the community. There are many benefits to volunteering.

For instance, giving back does more than just help your community. Being a volunteer has been shown to improve overall health and recently, a report by the Corporation for National and Community Service, "Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment", found that volunteers have 27 percent higher odds of finding a job while out of work than non-volunteers!

Welcome New Volunteers!

We are so glad that you have subscribed to our monthly volunteer newsletter! Hands On, the volunteer center of United Way, makes it easy to lend a hand and help others in our community by volunteering with Buncombe County nonprofits & schools.

Click here to learn more about Hands On.

LIVE UNITED

In Your Inbox

Want to learn more about the work of United Way outside Hands On?

Click here to sign-up for the United Way newsletter.

In This Issue

MLK Jr Day of Service

2014: A Year of Service

Hands On Volunteer Leader Spotlight

Asheville Scores High on Volunteerism

Hands On Managed Projects

Premium Partner Projects & Events

More Volunteer Opportunities

Project Calendar

Find Us On

Hands On Volunteer Leader Spotlight: Michelle LaRocque

Shout out to Hands On Volunteer Leader Michelle LaRocque! Michelle has been leading one of our "Pack and Sort at MANNA Foodbank" Flex projects twice a month for nearly a year. Because MANNA can accommodate large numbers of volunteers, Michelle has the opportunity to engage with a variety of Hands On volunteers - civic groups, students, families and individuals of all ages. Her background in the classroom comes in handy since this project requires managing a fast-paced project with an attention to detail while teaching volunteers a system of sorting donations. Of course, Michelle always leads with an easy smile and quick word of encouragement. And so- it was no surprise to us when we heard that Michelle was honored as MANNA Foodbank Volunteer of the Month in December. Way to go Michelle!

Asheville Volunteerism Rates- Higher than National Average

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) recently released national volunteer data for 2013. How'd we do? Turns out Asheville's volunteer rate is higher than the national average at 30.4% and ranks 34 among mid-sized cities. Kudos to Asheville volunteers!! Click here to review the data.

According to the CNCS report, 1 in 4 Americans volunteer. In fact, 64.5 million Americans volunteered nearly 7.9 billion hours last year. The estimated value of this volunteer service is nearly $175 billion, based on the Independent Sector's estimate of the average value of a volunteer hour.

Hands On helped to connect nearly 3,000 community members to volunteer opportunities that benefited local nonprofit organizations and the people they serve. It is our mission to help our community volunteer. Whether you participate in a Hands On Flex project, a special service event, or find an opportunity at a nonprofit or school listed on our online database - Hands On is your volunteer center.

Our work is made easier because there is a great culture of caring in our area! Thanks for making our lovely mountain community a better place to live through your generous service. Here's to another great year of volunteering!

Hands On Managed Projects

Flex Projects

- Flex Projects are done-in-a-day projects led by a Hands On Volunteer Leader.

- Most Flex Projects take place on evenings or weekends and last 1-3 hours

- Many Flex Projects are family friendly

- Flex Projects don't require an ongoing commitment or any advance training

Learn More & Sign Up For Flex Projects

Portable Projects

Can't make it to one of our scheduled Flex Projects? No problem!

- Portable Projects allow you to volunteer any time or place you want.

- They're easy to do on your own or with a group.

- Consider getting your family, friends, faith community, or co-workers together to help with a Portable Project.

Learn More & Sign Up For Portable Projects

Upcoming Partner Projects & Events

Our Partner Agencies offer great ways to get involved each month. We've highlighted a few below. Click to learn more and express interest or sign-up!

YMI Cultural Center

Are you looking for a way to help your community? Consider becoming a volunteer with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance [VITA] at the YMI Cultural Center. The VITA program assists seniors and individuals with low to moderate incomes, persons with disabilities and those for whom English is a second language. As a VITA volunteer, you'll provide tax preparation service to taxpayers who do not have the ability to prepare their own tax returns.

To Be Scheduled

Pisgah Legal Service

Volunteers are needed to assist families and individuals navigate the new Health Insurance Marketplace made available by the Affordable Care Act. Volunteer Navigators will meet with individuals and families and help them understand differences in insurance plans, help people determine if they are eligible for financial assistance in paying for health insurance, and provide outreach and education to the community about the Healthcare Insurance Marketplace.

To Be Scheduled

Community School At Enka Middle

Enka Middle Community School Coordinators recruit and manage volunteers throughout the year to support student success and parental/family engagement programs. The Community School Initiative's ultimate goal is to improve educational/life skills of Enka Middle students, their families and nearby neighbors. Check out all the ways to get involved in this amazing initiative!

To Be Scheduled

OnTrack Financial Education & Counseling

Want to volunteer your time and expertise to help community members receive more money back in tax returns? Are you looking for a stimulating and rewarding volunteer opportunity? OnTrack is currently looking for Voluntary Income Tax Assistance [VITA] volunteers to invest hours weekly from January 2014 - April 2014 preparing taxes for our clients. Interested volunteers MUST attend this required training.

Saturday, January 18

More Volunteer Opportunities...

Hands On is pleased to list more than 200 volunteer opportunities managed by our Partner Agencies.

* Search for projects based on your skills, interests and availability

*
View the monthly online project calendar

* View family-friendly projects: Children (under age 13), Teens (ages 13-17)

Thanks for giving back to our community through service! We encourage you to spread the word about Hands On. Tell your co-workers...share on facebook...invite your friends to join your next project. Take a moment and sign up for a project today. Be the change. Volunteer!

Sincerely,

Charlie & Michelle

Hands On Asheville-Buncombe Staff

United Way Resources Special Thanks to Our Platinum Underwriter