November Newsletter | Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference

“You really can make a difference, and even though you’re not an adult and you feel like you don’t really have much of a say in things, sometimes [as a youth] your voice speaks even louder because you’re the future and when you say something confidently,

people will listen.”

Haley Lehtola, Hands4Hope alumni

UPCOMING EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS

Nov. (Multiple) | Winter Boutique - Sorting Days (Visit Cervis for dates)
Nov. 12 | Annual Blanket Making Party (Time/Location TBD)
Nov. 19 | Family Volunteer Day
Dec. 3, 10, 17 | Winter Carriage Rides at EDH Town Center
Dec. 8 | A Christmas Experience Fundraiser
Until Dec. 31 | Vote Hands4Hope - Target Circle Non-Profit Partner!
Financial Literacy Workshop - RSVP (Rescheduled to Jan. 11, 2023)

WHAT'S INSIDE:

5th Annual Hands4Hope Fall Festival Committee Wrap-Up!
Warm & Fuzzy Drive kicks off Season of Giving; Winter Boutique Committee begins prepping for Blanket Making Event & December Distribution Days
Youth & Alumni Spotlights: Jacob Wylie & Haley Lehtola
Nov. 19 | 5 Benefits of Family Volunteering and how you can get involved!
Join ASPIREKids Outfitters & Emergency Food Pantry Committees

If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more

than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers.

-Kofi Annan, Ghanian Diplomat

and former Secretary-General of the United Nations

"Working with this leadership planning team and their committee members was the best part of this whole process. The growth and confidence that I witnessed in the leaders as they grew into their roles and became more confident was incredibly rewarding.

I can honestly say the skills they take away in this event planning will stay with them forever. I loved working with this group and am so proud of them."

Kathy Gerstle, Hands4Hope Staff Mentor

Fall Festival Planning Committee

Thank you to everyone who supported our 5th Annual Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference Fall Festival that took place on October 8-9 along the beautiful waterfront of the El Dorado Hills Town Center.

Managing the complexity of a large-scale project like the Fall Festival challenged our youth to communicate, collaborate and broadened their leadership skills. As a team, they navigated through obstacles they encountered along the way.

Their hard work paid off as they raised over $18,000 through sponsorships and ticket sales for the Hands4Hope Education & Community Engagement program!

READ THE FULL WRAP UP FROM OUR FALL FESTIVAL COMMITTEE!

Thank you to all of the local schools and businesses

who collected new and gently-used items for our

13th Annual “Warm & Fuzzy” Drive!

In November, the youth-led Winter Boutique Committee will begin

sorting, counting, and organizing donations. Youth will also be decorating

the space and setting up for the Winter Boutique.

In addition, we’ll be hosting our Annual Blanket Making event

on November 12! Watch for more information soon!

Keep an eye out for opportunities to help!

https://bit.ly/Hands4Hopeevents

For more information,

please call our office at 916-294-7426 or contact:

Warm & Fuzzy Drive: Yoko Kono ([email protected])

Winter Boutique: Melissa Placek ([email protected])

Blanket Making: Kerri Schull ([email protected])

"If not for Hands4Hope, I'm not sure that I would even consider

taking on the task to lead the Hands4Hope Club at Camerado,

let alone becoming the Club President there."

Camerado Springs eighth grader, Jacob Wylie, wasn’t quite sure what he was getting into when he signed up for Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference but he knew he wanted to get involved in some way at school.

Two years later, Jacob is now his school’s Hands4Hope Club President,

the Middle School Representative for the Youth Board Executive Committee,

and he has participated in multiple Hands4Hope events

including the School Supply Drive and Fall Festival.

Youth who join one of Hands4Hope during middle school

often stay involved throughout high school! Those who take on leadership

roles expand their opportunities for personal growth that allows then to make

an even bigger impact on their community!

Visit our blog to read more about Jacob and what he would say

to a youth thinking about joining Hands4Hope!

“I'm not exactly sure what I want to be when I grow up, but I know that

I want to help people. Hands4Hope has really helped me realize my

passion for wanting to help others.”

Haley Lehtola, Hands4Hope Youth Leader (Age 13)

As part of our ongoing Alumni Series, Jacob Bassett,

one of the founding members and inspirations for Hands4Hope -

Youth Making A Difference, interviewed Haley Lehtola (now 25)

who was involved from eighth grade through her senior year in high school.

After graduation, Haley continued to make a difference through her work

serving disadvantaged populations both in her community and overseas,

and in her role as a leader in Volunteers of Around the World.

As a teaching fellow, she’s taught groups as large as 250

and credits Hands4Hope for giving her the space to hone her

public speaking skills and develop confidence in her abilities.

Find out more on our blog about how Haley’s experience in Hands4Hope

inspired and empowered her to lead and serve

while she completes her mission of becoming a doctor!

DID YOU KNOW? Family Volunteer Day is November 19!

Family Volunteer Day raises awareness about the power of families

who work together to support their communities and the people in it.

Five Benefits of Family Volunteering:

Source: Points of Light

Family volunteering teaches children about your values as a family
Family volunteering helps you spend quality time together while having fun
Family volunteering helps children learn empathy.
Family volunteering teaches children that learning happens outside of school, too.
Family volunteering helps children learn important skills.