Prepping for Florence and the Machine

Hurricane season has become the “new in-laws” here in the south east. You know they’re coming, but you could really do without them. To help prepare for the inevitable, we caught up with with our Family Literacy Programs Manager, Amanda Bisgaard, for an interesting convo about how volunteers can best help during a disaster.

Amanda is a former Volunteer Coordinator at the Red Cross and an AmeriCorps Alum, who’s forgotten more about disaster preparedness and relief efforts than most of us will ever know. Check out our Q&A to ensure you’re ready to help if and when duty calls. Hopefully, Florence turns around and goes home, but just in case, get prepared. 

TIM: What is the most important thing volunteers need to know when it comes to hurricane or disaster relief?

AMANDA: First and foremost, if you’re interested in volunteering, go through a trusted organization (Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Team Rubicon, Salvation Army, United Way, All Hands, etc.) aligning your specific skills to which organization can leverage most - working with people, admin tasks, long term in the field, moving and cleaning, etc. Try to avoid what disaster relief organizations call “self-deploying”.  A lot of times you will put yourself in danger and add to some of the main issues (traffic, booked up hotel rooms, and evacuating people from an area) local communities face during critical times of a disaster. In addition, everything will most likely be blocked off to people who are not authorized personnel, so this isn’t the smartest way to help, especially in the first few days.

During a hurricane, the first few days are kind of a waiting game. Waiting for the water to go down, waiting for trained emergency responders to evacuate people from houses, waiting to see what the damage is, etc. There isn’t much you can do during the storm and immediately after.

TIM: What about donations? I often feel compelled to things people need.

AMANDA: If you are interested in donating, do not donate supplies! Everyone has the best intentions by collecting clothes, or food, or items to donate to people who were impacted, however this is not an effective way to help victims.

A quick story about that, after the Sandy Hook shooting, thousands of people had the idea to send teddy bears to the town of Newton, the donations filled an entire warehouse where there were over 65,000 teddy bears collected - which is amazing! But in reality, this was not at all helpful. It took thousands of hours to sort and ultimately donate to someone other than the families impacted. The same thing happens in a disaster. It takes many hours and many hands to sort items and a lot of organizations have requirements of what can be donated. (must be new, must be unopened, etc.)

Donate money that can be given to families who have lost everything, so they can choose what they need.

TIM: Got it, donate money. It’s the most helpful. What’s up with the acronym VOAD? I’ve seen this more and more with our efforts to support disaster. Should volunteers know what it is?

AMANDA: VOAD stands for Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters. Most cities have a VOAD that meets regularly so that they can be prepared when disaster strikes and knows what each organization’s part in the relief is. For example, they’ll determine who will shelter and where, who will do casework, who will help muck and gut houses, etc. When a disaster does strike there is always a disaster operation center set up where there is a representative from every organization to give updates on what everyone is doing. So VOAD is a great resource for nonprofits to help, but also for volunteers to know where they support.

TIM: VOAD is a good resource then. I’ll check that box. Any other resources or suggestions to those thinking about volunteering during a disaster?

AMANDA: I think most importantly, you need to be prepared yourself. After working in the disaster relief field, I have realized how apathetic so many people are, including myself. It is so easy to say “oh I will change that smoke alarm next week” or “that will never happen to me.” Don’t be that person. Look into what you can do to be prepared for a disaster (like reading and sharing this blog).

For hurricane specific preparedness, don’t drive through standing water! Every year people die from doing this. Just 2 feet of water can sweep your car away. You can also make a preparedness kit. You don’t need to be an all-out “prepper” with a basement full of supplies, but a backpack with water, a flashlight, nonperishable food, etc. is a great idea.

Download the American Red Cross Emergency app. I love this app! It tracks hurricane progress, wind speed, and where all American Red Cross shelters are. It also includes what to do before, during, and after a disaster, and a first aid kit if you encounter an emergency and don’t know what to do.

Here’s a quick recap of how you can get involved and help when disaster strikes:

1. Be prepared yourself.

2. Figure out what type of volunteer work you’re able to do/help with.

3. Find the organization that best fits your skills. Do NOT self-deploy.

4. Donate money, not supplies.

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Points of Light put together this fantastic list on Twitter that showcases real time updates from all the major and local parties involved in the Florence preparedness efforts. How are you preparing? Let us know on Twitter and we’ll share with our network.

All Things Hands On Atlanta Day 2018

We're going big

Every year, on the first Saturday of October, ATLiens come together for the city's biggest, single day of service - Hands On Atlanta Day presented by Delta. On just one day, more than 2,500 volunteers will:

• Work on 50+ service projects

• Serve 10,000+ hours in the community

• Support programs that will give over 10,800 kids safe places to learn

• Plant over 100 trees

• Serve over 570 seniors and

• Provide over 15,500 pounds of food and medical supplies for those in need.

For our 29th edition of Hands On Atlanta Day, we're also introducing some new ways to get involved. Thanks to our friends at Delta Vacations, we're bringing "pop-up" projects to the Atlanta Beltline for a bench and bike build (and more). Plus, we're partnering up with 48in48.org for a "Design Day" to create an awareness campaign, and we're also offering online volunteering through CareerVillage.org! 

Y'all, it's going to be awesome. Learn more and sign up to be the first notified when public registration opens the week of Sept. 17!

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Tune into our latest episode of The Weekly High 5, where our Director of Development, Julianna Cagle, sits down for a fun convo to talk all things Hands On Atlanta Day, and a whole lot more!

Still not sure what it's all about?

Check out this recap of last year's Hands On Day and Kick-Off Party.

Starbucks Service Fellows Rise and Grind at Hands On Atlanta

Starbucks and Points of Light team up to pilot an innovative, employer-led nonprofit capacity-building program, providing select Starbucks retail partners (employees) the opportunity to serve with a local nonprofit in their communities

We recently added 2 new friendly faces to the office, thanks to a partnership from Points of Light and Starbucks. The Starbucks Service Fellows is an innovative, employer-led service program inspired and informed by national service. In total, 36 Starbucks retail partners (employees) in 13 cities across the United States will serve with a Points of Light affiliate, collectively providing more than 17,000 hours of community service. Hands On Atlanta was selected as one of the affiliates to help with the initial six-month pilot!

“We believe this bold program, designed in partnership with Starbucks, will redefine corporate engagement and the private sector’s ability to support civic engagement,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO of Points of Light.

Listen to our conversation with Maya, Julie and Elaine on this week's episode of The Weekly High 5 to learn more about this program and to catch a few coffee secrets from the baristas!

For this pilot, we're aligning with one of Starbucks’ global social impact priorities: hunger. The Starbucks Service Fellows will be working about 20 hours per week for the next six months helping build volunteer capacity at 10 food pantries as part of our partnership with the Atlanta Community Food Bank. In addition, they'll also be helping with our Meals4Kids program.

"The Starbucks Service Fellows are not just doing direct service, but they are building something Hands On Atlanta is going to use for years to come," said Elaine Hudson, Associate Director of Nonprofit Services. 

The program is a win-win all around. Starbucks worked with Points of Light to match partner volunteers with local affiliates, giving participating organizations the talent and support they need to maximize their impact locally, while enabling partners to serve their communities and gain experience and skills in the nonprofit sector, such as project management, volunteer recruitment, community engagement and stakeholder relationship management.

“Starbucks partners have a passion for service both in and out of their stores. The Starbucks Service Fellows program powers that passion through philanthropy and partnerships to have the greatest impact” said Virginia Tenpenny, vice president of global social impact at Starbucks and executive director of The Starbucks Foundation. 

Left to right: Maya Tannenbaum, Elaine Hudson, Julie Terlemezian

Meet the Hands On Atlanta Starbucks Fellows

Maya Tannenbaum (left)

Maya is a junior at Georgia State University pursuing a degree in Social Work. Georgia has been her home for her entire life, but she hopes to eventually travel and live in another major city to help other communities in need. Maya has always had a fascination with society and its inner workings, and can't wait to experience all of the adventures the next six months will bring. She's excited to be working with such a talented team at Hands On Atlanta! 

Julie Terlemezian (right)

Julie Terlemezian has been dedicated to helping others and making the world a better place since her teens, when she spent five years in a leadership role for her youth group in Marietta, Georgia, and later in the Southeast Region. When she attended The Evergreen State University in Olympia, WA, she helped inform and educate the student population as the managing editor for the student newspaper, The Cooper Point Journal. Currently, Julie works as a Shift Supervisor for Starbucks in Sandy Springs. Julie is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the community as the Starbucks Service Fellow in the Points of Light pilot program with Hands On Atlanta. She resides in Smyrna with her beloved cat Luna.

The Weekly High 5: Getting Ready for Kick-Off

College football season isn't the only thing getting ready to kick-off.

Join the Hands On Atlanta team, corporate and nonprofit leaders, and plenty of changemakers on Wednesday, October 3 at the Monday Night Brewing Garage for a fun evening to kick-off Atlanta's largest, single day of service!

Come for the tasty brews and scenic views of the Atlanta Beltline westside trail, and stay to connect with a nonprofits to learn more about the challenges facing our community and how you can help. Plus, we'll have food and treats from a few of our partners, and unveil our volunteer t-shirt design winner!

$20 gets you in the door, 2 beer tickets and complimentary high fives!

Don't know about Hands On Atlanta Day? On Saturday, October 6, thousands of volunteers will layer fresh paint, landscape, plant gardens, read with kids, work with seniors, build meal kits, and more at 50 schools and nonprofits across metro Atlanta. It's going to be awesome!

The Weekly High 5: We Got That Beyoncé Upgrade

Better than the feeling of an all new, unlimited data plan, we've upgraded our office with a fresh focus on creativity and connectivity.

It was long overdue, but this week our team moved back into our office after a 6 week renovation project. We moved to an open atmosphere (no offices) with the hopes of breaking down silos and creating more communication and connection between our teams. The goal of the renovation was to give our team (one of the hardest working collective of changemakers in the ATL) a little love with an inspirational, comfortable and accommodating place to call home - at least from 9-5. 

We're only one week in, but it's already been a dramatic change. Our leadership team has moved out onto the floor, working side by side with their respective teams. The offices are now meeting and huddle spaces - perfect for phone calls or hyper productivity time. We have a huge couch, several bar height tables to stretch the legs a bit, several new white boards, new signage, and even new picnic tables outside for catching some rays over lunch. But that's just the start of it...

We welcomed in new carpet, flooring, work stations, an awesome new mural (featuring some of our favorite changemakers), all the furniture (huge high fives to sponsors, supporters, and friends at PGI for the generous donations), chairs, lighting, a brand new conference room, an updated kitchen, a new delivery truck, a library and soon we'll have a full out café up front with booths, a mini fridge and more! We added a new door to more easily access the warehouse and made several key improvements to the warehouse to increase productivity and organization. 

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While the past several weeks have been rough (our team likes each other so much, we often get FOMO when we're not together), we've had some incredible help to make sure that volunteers find opportunities to serve. Our friends at The Gathering Spot welcomed our team to use their club. Of all the awesome things about working from there (convenience, complimentary breakfast, all the amenities) my favorite thing was the on demand Beyond Meat Veggie Burger from the in house restaurant. It made this vegan one happy gatherer! I also want to recognize our neighbors at Points of Light, who graciously allowed our team to run amok throughout their office, being loud, filling meeting rooms, hogging the microwaves... Their support was incredible. It truly takes a village and we couldn't have survived the renovation without the help of these 2 organizations.   

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All of this and the renovation still isn't even complete! We're still putting the final touches on everything and plan to have an official open house sometime in mid October. Stay tuned for those details and if you like what you see, maybe you should think about being here all the time by joining our team! Head over to our Careers page to view and apply for all of our open positions.

The Weekly High 5: Americorps Gets it Done in Atlanta

The Americorps gets things done.

You probably know Hands On Atlanta as the volunteer hub of the city, right? When you want to do something good, you give us a look. But, did you know we also run one of the largest Americorps programs in the south?

This week we kicked of our 2018 Americorps class, hosting 28 members for a week of learning and inspiration. These changemakers will each serve over 1700 hours inside and outside of the classroom at  5 Title 1 partner schools and 1 Centers of Hope. They'll be hands, helping over 1,000 elementary children with math, literacy and social emotional learning (SEL).

Learn more about our Americorps program and this week's Hot Projects on The Weekly High 5. 

Now Playing: The Weekly High 5 Podcast

I remember a time when the only question on anyone's mind was, "Is Adnan Sayed innocent or guilty?" In fact, I've been told this was an ice breaker for many first Bumble dates... Anyways, Sarah Koenig and Atlanta's sweetheart Mailkimp brought the world of podcasts out of the basement and into your living room, your car, your commute, and everywhere you went with "Serial." If you don't know what I'm talking about, surely you've heard someone mention "Serial" or maybe you've heard of "This American Life" or even Atlanta's own podcast empire, "How Stuff Works." Atlanta is also home base to one of my faves, Crazy Good Turns. Whatever your interests, guilty pleasures, or preferences to pass the time, chances are, there's a podcast out there waiting for you to press play.

If you're reading this, I'll assume your interests lie in doing something good, specifically here in Atlanta. Maybe you've volunteered in the past, or you're looking for the next, best service project? Whatever reason you're here, we're introducing a new way to stay engaged and to get involved. Introducing The Weekly High 5 presented by Hands On Atlanta! 

Starting today, we'll be releasing a weekly show full of Hot Projects, team news and notes, community events, interviews with Atlanta changemakers and more! I'll (Tim Adkins) be your host for each bite sized, 15-30 minute show - perfect for any commute! Click the icons/links below to subscribe to The Weekly High 5 wherever you listen.  

Apple Podcasts

Google Play

Spotify

Stitcher

Breaker Audio

Pocket Casts

Radio Republic

Overcast

In the way Netflix allows for endless streaming, podcasts do the same to attract your attention and keep it. Once you're hooked on a good podcast, it's hard to kick the habit. I know from personal experience, chasing Guy Raz around every corner of the internet. Here's a few of our staff favorites to subscribe to:

Jay Cranman, President and CEO

• Akimbo - Akimbo's a podcast about our culture and about how we can change it. About seeing what's happening and choosing to do something.The culture is real, but it can be changed. You can bend it.

• Reply All - A podcast about the internet, that is actually an unfailingly original exploration of modern life and how to survive it.

• The Moth - The Moth Podcast features re-airs of all new episodes of The Moth Radio Hour, plus additional stories from our vast archive recorded over the past two decades. Episodes are released every Tuesday.

Lara Wagner, Corporate Partnerships Manager

• Unladylike - Cultivating our best selves and dreamiest lives is un-equally accessible for women, girls and gender-nonconforming folks everywhere. But by better understanding our unique identities, diverse lived experiences and underlying injustices, we can claim our space and make more room for others as well. That's our Unladylike mission: To make inclusive, credible media that moves.

• Cocaine and Rhinestones - Cocaine & Rhinestones is a podcast about the history of country music made in the 20th century…

Candice White, Discovery Program Manager

• Skimm'd from the Couch - The gals from Skimm are talking to female entrepreneurs on a, yup, couch, to hear the real version of how they got off it. No BS, no cry. Actually, it’s fine to cry. We know some good spots for it around NYC if you’re interested.

• Oprah's SuperSoul Conversations - Awaken, discover and connect to the deeper meaning of the world around you with SuperSoul. Hear Oprah’s personal selection of her interviews with thought-leaders, best-selling authors, spiritual luminaries, as well as health and wellness experts. All designed to light you up, guide you through life’s big questions and help bring you one step closer to your best self.

Sara Dowdle, Salesforce Administrator

• Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People aka Beautiful Anonymous - 1 phone call. 1 hour. No names. No holds barred. That’s the premise behind Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People, hosted by comedian Chris Gethard (the Chris Gethard Show, Broad City, This American Life, and one of Time Out’s “10 best comedians of 2015”). Every week, Chris opens the phone line to one anonymous caller, and he can’t hang up first, no matter what.

• Dr. Gameshow - Jo Firestone and Manolo Moreno play listener-created games with their comedian friends and listener call-ins.

Tim Adkins, Director of Marketing + Communications

• How I Built This - Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.

• The GaryVee Audio Experience - On his global top 100 iTunes podcast The GaryVee Audio Experience, you’ll hear episodes of Gary Vanyerchuck's mix of highlights from the DAILYVEE documentary video series, #AskGaryVee Show episodes, keynote speeches on marketing and business, interviews, fireside chats, and any of his new and current thoughts recorded specifically for this audio experience!

Want more? Our friends at ChooseATL put out a solid list of awesome podcasts created right here in the ATL. What podcasts do you listen to? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook and be sure to subscribe to The Weekly High 5!

Announcing the Hands On Atlanta Shop

Volunteering, serving your community, being an engaged citizen... these are not things you do on a Saturday morning. These actions are not simply, "scheduled time for good" before carrying on with your weekend. It's a lifestyle. It's a choice you make every morning when you wake up, confirming "Today I'm going to do something good."

To help celebrate you and your lifestyle, we're excited to announce the Hands On Atlanta store! When you shop with Hands On Atlanta, you'll find fun and meaningful swag that helps express your inner changemaker to the world. Sounds good, right? There's more, with every purchase, 100% of profits will go directly to supporting our impact programs! Every shirt you buy can help provide a day of snacks for 1 student OR provide that student with a literacy kit at one of our partner Title 1 schools. With each accessory you pick up, it can provide 2 basic hygiene kits for a child or adult. These are just a few ways in which your purchases have power!

Think about TOMS Shoes, Warby Parker, Patagonia, and even our local, Atlanta friends at Alternative Apparel. All of these brands make quality products, but I'm willing to bet you buy them over a competitor because you know, with each purchase you're doing something good - AND THAT'S AWESOME. It's that little angel over your right shoulder, nudging you in the right direction.

Do good and look good doing it! We hope you enjoy this little experiment and would love your feedback. What products would you like to see? How can we help you and your changemaker lifestyle? Give us a shout on Instagram or Twitter and let us know! 

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Special shout out to our summer intern, Heidi Risher for helping pull the shop together and prep it for launch! If you're interested in learning how we did it, let us know.