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MAY 2026

Mark Your Calendar

• May: Remaining On-Campus Club Projects, Wrap-Ups & Club Elections
• May 6: Deadline to join Summer Committees
• May 7: Big Day of Giving
• June 18: Leadership Kick Off Day
• June 25: Youth Recognition Event
• July 17: Stuff the Bus Event
• July 8-10: High School Leadership Camp
• July 29-31: Middle School Leadership Camp
• September 26: Endless Summer Beach Party

Outreach Opportunities & Events

• May 9: GVCC Common Ground Breakfast & Essentials Distribution
• May 11: Twin Lakes Food Bank Food Distribution
• May 20: Mercy Creekview Manor Senior Dinner & Entertainment
• May 22: Sister Nora's Place Dinner
• May 23: GVCC Common Ground Breakfast & Essentials Distribution
• May 23: Upper Room Dining Hall Dinner

MAPS Peer Mentoring:

• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays

Mercy White Rock Village After-School Club:

• Thursdays: May 7, 14, 21, & 28

Donations and Drop-Off Dates:

• May 18: Mercy Creekview dinner/dessert donations due

New opportunities may be added throughout the month, so be sure to check the calendar often!

From shy 6th grader who was brand new to town to confident community leader, Avanti Ramamoorthy’s journey is anything but ordinary. With 300+ service hours and a long list of leadership roles, this sophomore has discovered that real impact happens behind the scenes—and that anyone can step up and lead. Read how Hands4Hope helped her find her voice and why her advice to other youth is to start now, not wait.

Big Day of Giving: Now through Thursday!

It's the most exciting time of year for 900+ nonprofit organizations in the greater Sacramento region, including Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference! The countdown is on to the 13th annual Big Day of Giving, now through Thursday, May 7. Will Hands4Hope once again top the leaderboards in El Dorado County? Will Hands4Hope again make the top ten in the Youth Development category? Will we be able to reach our fundraising goals and keep our programs strong? With your help, we can! Early Giving has already started.

Summer Committee Applications Open

Youth committee members, youth leaders, and adult mentors are wanted for the 2026 Kids Zone Committee and the 2026 School Supply Drive Committee! Interest surveys are open now through Wednesday, May 6. 

The School Supply Drive Committee will manage all aspects of 20+ donation drives, organization of donated items, and distribution to help more than 700 students in need receive school supplies.

The Kids Zone Committee runs one of the largest youth-led fundraisers for Hands4Hope, planning and hosting the Kids Zone Area at the El Dorado Hills Town Center Fireworks & Freedom Concert on July 3. Hundreds of families come to enjoy bounce houses, inflatable obstacle courses, entertainment, glow toys, snacks, and more. Youth plan and run the event.

Both applications close May 6.

RSVP for the Youth Recognition Event

Join us on June 25 as we roll out the red carpet to honor the true stars of our programs: our youth! We'll take time to celebrate the blockbuster achievements of Hands4Hope youth participants and the meaningful impact they have made in the community. Project demonstrations from clubs and committees will premiere from 5:30 to 8:00 pm, and then guests will take a seat for the awards ceremony and senior recognition at 6:00 pm.

Youth participants and their families are welcome! Don't miss this photo-op moment, and have those cameras ready for the spotlight!

RSVPs are due by June 15.

South Lake Tahoe Expansion Update

So much happened in April in the Hands4Hope South Lake Tahoe expansion, and we have much to look forward to in May and in the months to come! Here are some highlights:


• Youth interest surveys have closed, and leadership selection will be finalized this month, allowing newly selected youth leaders to attend summer trainings beginning in June.
  
• We met many community members at the delightful South Tahoe Earth Day Festival (pictured above).
  
• Outreach opportunities are being scheduled to begin this month, with more being added in June and July. Adult Leads are being recruited and trained to support these opportunities.

For more than a decade, Rick and Laura Fergerson have quietly helped shape the future of youth leadership in our community. Their belief in mentorship, service, and giving back comes from personal experience, and continues to fuel their commitment to Hands4Hope today. Look for their name as sponsors of keystone youth-led events like Kids Zone and Empty Bowls in 2027, as they have been in the past. Please take some time to get to know this caring family and discover why they’ve stayed dedicated since the early years to creating a legacy of socially responsible citizens for generations to come.

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!