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January 24, 2026: Middle and High School Leaders Mid Year Retreats
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February 15, 2026: Empty Bowls Dinner
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February 27, 2026: Nashville Songwriters Live Benefit Concert
| | Outreach Opportunities & Events | | |
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Jan 10: GVCC Common Ground Breakfast & Essentials Distribution
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Jan 12: Twin Lakes Food Bank Food Distribution
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Jan 21: Mercy Creekview Manor Senior Dinner & Entertainment
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Jan 24: GVCC Common Ground Breakfast & Essentials Distribution
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Jan 24: Upper Room Dining Hall Dinner
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TBD: Sister Nora's Place Dinner
Ongoing:
Donations and Drop-Off Dates:
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Jan 20: Mercy Creekview dinner/dessert donations due
New opportunities may be added throughout the month, so be sure to check the calendar often!
| | Lenna Moore, a senior at Vista Del Lago High School, has spent four years growing as a leader through Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference, contributing more than 185 service hours along the way. From serving in on-campus Hands4Hope Club leadership to holding co-chair positions within the Winter Boutique and Kids Zone Committees, Lenna’s journey shows how youth-led service builds confidence, skills, and a sense purpose. Read her inspiring story to see how Hands4Hope helped her find her voice, and why she encourages other youth to get involved. | | Become an Adult Volunteer | | |
Have you considered becoming an adult volunteer with Hands4Hope? There are many ways for adults to participate and deepen their connections to the community. Parents, college students, retirees, and those who just enjoy mentoring young people are among those who serve as volunteers. Adult volunteers fill essential needs at Outreach Opportunities & Events, including providing check-in/out, supervision, liaison with the on-site contact, and photos. They also join after-school Hands4Hope Committees, to mentor youth as they plan and implement a project from start to finish. Adult volunteers can participate as much or as little as they like, and there is no fee to participate. Fingerprinting and an orientation are required.
Did you know: Fingerprinting fees can be reimbursed! And, here's a small perk—youth participants whose parents are Adult Leads have their annual registration fee waived!
In the 2024-25 program year, Hands4Hope had 30 Adult volunteers participate regularly in youth outreach events. We are grateful for each and every one of our volunteers, and as our programs grow, we find we could really use a larger pool of Adult Lead Volunteers. Help us meet our 2026 resolution of increasing that number to 40!
| | Empty Bowls Committee Update | | |
The Hands4Hope Empty Bowls Committee has been hard at work planning the upcoming Empty Bowls Dinner on February 15, 2026, bringing youth leaders, community members, and local partners together to fight hunger locally and internationally. Student and community artists are busy handcrafting ceramic bowls that guests will take home as a meaningful reminder of the impact they are making.
The committee will soon be recruiting volunteers for set up, clean up, serving, and recycling support on the day of the event with sign-ups opening in mid-January.
Tickets are on sale now. Sponsorships starting at $150 are available and include event tickets, offering a great way for individuals and businesses to support this youth-led effort to address hunger locally and beyond. We hope you will join us to support this important cause!
| | New Staff Spotlight: Irene Johnson | | Please welcome Irene Johnson, who has joined the Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference staff team as our new Outreach Program Coordinator. In this role, Irene will oversee the Outreach Program, where youth are provided with hands-on opportunities to directly serve those in need through partner agency relationships. Irene will build and maintain partner agency relationships, recruit & support youth and adult participants, and empower youth to grow as leaders and civic minded citizens. | | We're Hiring: Donor Relations Coordinator | | Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference is hiring a Donor Relations Coordinator, and we’d love your help spreading the word.
Please share our post on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.
We’re looking for someone who is organized, collaborative, and energized by connecting people to a cause. This role supports fundraising communications, campaigns, and events; manages donor data and engagement strategies; and builds relationships with youth participants, donors, volunteers, sponsors, and partners. If you know someone who would be a great fit, please share this info with them! | | |
We are so excited that tickets are now available for the third annual Nashville Songwriters Live: Performances and Stories of your Favorite Hit Songs. Join us for an intimate show with a full band, acoustic moments, and unforgettable storytelling, with all proceeds benefiting Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference.
This year the lineup includes 3-time Emmy winner Greg Barnhill, top 3 finisher on The Voice! Morgan Myles, and returning favorites hit singer-songwriters CJ Solar and Mark Mackay. They're coming together to create this live show, just to support Hands4Hope, at the Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College on February 27.
| | We will have some special announcements about local talent joining the stage soon. Stay tuned! | | From hometown sweethearts to community champions: Chris and Cindy Nicholson returned to El Dorado Hills after 30 years away, inspired to give back to the place they’ve always called home. As longtime Visionary Sponsors of Hands4Hope, they share why investing in youth and future generations matters so deeply to their family, and why they believe Hands4Hope is a true “win-win-win” for youth, the community, and supporters alike. Read their full story and discover what inspires their lasting commitment. | | |
Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference
is a youth-driven non-profit charitable 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to inspire and empower youth in leadership and service.
Our vision is to develop a community of civic-minded and socially responsible citizens for generations to come.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY!
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