|
-
Ongoing - November 14: Warm & Fuzzy Drive
-
November 10: High School Financial Literacy Workshop
-
November 15: Blanket Making Party
-
December 4-13: Winter Boutique Distribution
-
December: Carriage Rides Youth Board Fundraiser (Dates TBA)
-
February 15, 2026: Empty Bowls Dinner
-
February 27, 2026: Nashville Songwriters Live Benefit Concert
| | |
-
November: Winter Boutique Clothes Sorting & Counting (multiple events)
-
Nov 8: GVCC Common Ground Breakfast & Essentials Distribution
-
Nov 10: Twin Lakes Food Bank Food Distribution
-
Nov 15: Blanket Making Party
-
Nov 19: Mercy Creekview Manor Senior Dinner & Entertainment
-
Nov 22: GVCC Common Ground Breakfast & Essentials Distribution
-
Nov 22: Upper Room Dining Hall Dinner
-
Nov 23: Powerhouse Ministries Community Thanksgiving Dinner
-
Nov 28: Sister Nora's Place Dinner
-
December: Winter Boutique final set up, distribution days, and clean up
Ongoing:
Donations and Drop-Off Dates:
-
Nov 18: Mercy Creekview dinner/dessert donations due
-
Dec 2: At home blanket-making projects due
-
Dec 2: Powerhouse Ministries Build-A-Bag for Seniors due
New opportunities may be added throughout the month, so be sure to check the calendar often!
| | This month, the spotlight is on Jacob and Kalen Wylie, two dedicated juniors at Ponderosa High School who have grown into inspiring leaders through their years with Hands4Hope -Youth Making A Difference. Between them, they’ve logged nearly 600 service hours and held multiple leadership roles in both middle and high school Hands4Hope Clubs. From organizing fundraisers and community events to mentoring peers, Jacob and Kalen exemplify the unique Hands4Hope experience of being inspired and empowered to lead change in their own way. | | |
An update from the Winter Boutique Marketing Subcommittee:
The 2025 Winter Boutique youth committee participants have been hard at work on the Hands4Hope Warm and Fuzzy Drive and Winter Boutique. We have been working with local schools, businesses, and organizations to collect new warm clothes, including socks, blankets, and pajamas, among other items. These items will be given out at the boutique in order to support low income families in our community.
| | |
Donations are still needed to make Winter Boutique a success! New clothing of all sizes and genders are needed. In addition to dropping off items at Hands4Hope bins available through November 14, here are other ways to contribute:
-
Shop our Amazon Registry to have items shipped directly to Hands4Hope
-
Let us do the shopping for you by making a direct donation through our form or by texting "warmfuzzy" to 50155.
-
Shop our Walmart Registry to provide material for the Blanket Making Party, where youth will make cozy blankets to then distribute at Winter Boutique.
Volunteers Needed: We have numerous days and shifts available for sorting clothing, setting up Winter Boutique, and helping on distribution days. Both youth and adult volunteers are needed.
| | |
The Empty Bowls Committee has formed, and will have their first full committee meeting this week! Meanwhile, the leaders have already begun the process of identifying beneficiaries for the event. This year, organizations serving the western slope El Dorado County that have projects that address food insecurity, promote nutrition, healthy eating, agriculture, or increase education or awareness around these topics are invited to apply to become a recipient of a portion of the funds raised at Empty Bowls Dinner 2026.
Applications are due November 14.
| | Save the date for the Empty Bowls Dinner:
Sunday, February 15, 2026
at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds! | | Food insecurity is on the rise in our community, and youth have the power to do something about it. Youth in 6th-12th grades are needed to join the Hands4Hope Essentials Committee. This year-long Committee meets on the first Thursday of the month at the Hands4Hope Placerville Youth Center to plan their projects, and on the third Thursday of each month, a rotation of Committee participants directly serve those in need by distributing food and other essential household items from the pantry, refrigerator, and shelves of the Youth Center. Youth participants will also plan drives and assist with filling other partner agency needs. Best of all, youth can participate no matter where they attend school! This Committee offers youth the chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of others in their own way, with just a few hours per month. | | We’re thrilled to introduce Randy Mintz as our latest Adult Volunteer Spotlight! For the past three years, Randy has poured his passion for music and community into volunteering for Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference, leading the Nashville Songwriters Live fundraiser at the Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom. His creativity, generosity, and positive energy have helped raise vital funds and inspired youth to lead with confidence and purpose. Read more about how Randy combines his love of music with his commitment to empowering the next generation. | | Doug Veerkamp General Engineering is a mid-sized family owned and operated construction company with a strong history of support for Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference, as well as other local causes. In addition to their generous financial support for Hands4Hope programs, Doug Veerkamp Engineering has provided the antique tractor-pulled hayrides at previous Hands4Hope Fall Festival events, and has also set up their own Hands4Hope fundraiser on Placerville's Main Street, donating their proceeds from their Christmastime tractor-pulled hayrides to Hands4Hope. Read on to learn more about how they show their generous love for our community, and our youth. | | |
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!
| | | | |
