Today, civic participation occurs at many levels. We make impactful decisions about our community every time we make a purchase, vote, post on social media and, of course, volunteer. We think any awareness we can bring to the many resources that might spur individual action for good, falls right in line with what we’re up to at HandsOn.
September 16, 2021
Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15th kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month. Like community specific months, this is a great way to intentionally spend time learning and celebrating the history and impact of Hispanic citizens. Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15th, the independence day for Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, through October 15th.

The Children's Museum of Phoenix is hosting events all month to celebrate, including a performance by a local all-female mariachi band! Check out Fuerza Local, a part of Local First Arizona that supports hispanic owned businesses.

Some great, easy ways to incorporate Hispanic Heritage Month into your day to day life can be through the books you read, music you listen to, or instagram accounts you follow.
Thank You 9/11 Day Volunteers!
A huge thank you to all those who volunteered on 9/11! This was the first large-scale volunteer project we've led since 2019. It was wonderful to see volunteers who have been with us for 20 years and volunteers who joined us for their first project.

Together we spent time remembering the tragedy from 20 years ago, honored the fallen, shared stories, danced together, and packed 200,000 meals that will help feed Arizona communities.
Remembering Les
With both sorrow and gratitude, we bid farewell to our friend Les Rubenstein.

Les was a retired math teacher from New York who was passionate about education, especially for kids who did not have the same privileges and access to opportunities that many of us do. He was a long-time Your Experience Counts volunteer. When his health no longer allowed him to serve, he provided substantial financial support for our program each year, so that his “many kids” would have opportunities to thrive educationally.

Les’ support allowed us to purchase mobile maker spaces, giving students access to robotics, coding, electrical circuitry, engineering, forensic investigation labs and more. Thousands of kids have been able to explore and create thanks to his contributions and commitment that ALL students have the opportunities to explore their wildest dreams.

Thanks Les for being a volunteer, a donor, and an advocate for not just HandsOn Greater Phoenix but for kids throughout Maricopa County. You have been a gift to us all!
Community Corner

  • Teaching Beyond September 11th, is an initiative from the University of Pennsylvania to help high schoolers and college students to learn more about the ongoing effects 9/11 has had on our society.
HandsOn Greater Phoenix
Physical Address: 1125 E Southern Ave | Suite 200 | Mesa, AZ 85204
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4107 | Mesa, AZ 85211
602-973-2212