THE CITIZEN BLOG
THE CITIZEN BLOG
Hot Projects: Week of May 27
Check out this week’s Hot Projects that include awesome volunteer opportunities with Books For Africa, Piedmont Park Conservancy, Pajama Program and more!
BOOKS FOR AFRICA
Monday, June 3 From 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM (NW Atlanta)
Most African children who attend school have never owned a book of their own. For many children in Africa, the gift of books is truly a gift of hope. Since 1988, Books for Africa has sent over 20 million books to the children of Africa. They rely on volunteers like you to sort and pack the books for their shipments. Volunteers give two or more hours of their time by collecting, sorting and packaging books. If you’re looking for a fun and satisfying volunteer experience, this is the perfect fit for you!
GREEN TEAM – PITCH IN FOR PIEDMONT PARK!
Wednesday, June 5 From 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM (Atlanta- Midtown)
Branch out and head outside to have some fun while making a dramatic difference in Piedmont Park! Green team volunteers sustain and transform Piedmont Park by working together to make the park a more beautiful place. All projects take place outdoors and are based on the current needs of the park. Volunteers will have one of the following roles: pruning, weeding, mulching, collecting trash, and rooting out invasive species.
FEEDING AND HELPING GEORGIANS FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION
Saturday, June 8 From 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM (SW Atlanta- Sylvan Hills)
The goal of Feeding and Helping Georgians is to nurture and enhance the community where we live. Their team is dedicated to creating change in many different parts of the surrounding community in the hopes that they can improve lives, one person at a time. Their team is filled of many dedicated individuals, but they’re always looking for more help. Volunteers with be assisting with food distribution, assisting clients with food selection and registering clients for food.
PATCHWORK CITY FARMS VOLUNTEER SUNDAYS!
Sunday, June 9 From 10:00 AM - 2:00 AM (SW Atlanta- West End)
Patchwork City Farms (PCF) is a 1.2 acre independently-owned urban farm located in Atlanta. Its original inception began in the Historic West End neighborhood of Atlanta and has now moved to its permanent location of Oakland City. PCF continues to be at the leading edge of Farm to Table, Slow Food and Sustainable Agriculture movements to name a few. Volunteers will help with building the soil, weeding, planting, watering, harvesting and site beautification projects. Tools will be provided!
SHARE A STORY WITH A CHILD
Tuesday, June 11 From 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (East Atlanta- Glenwood Park)
At Pajama Program, they promote a comforting bedtime routine for children affected by instability to help them thrive. At the Atlanta Reading Center, their programming focuses on shared reading between a child and an adult volunteer. Volunteers will be paired with school aged children during a one-hour Reading Party to do shared reading. Reading Buddies may read between 1 and 4 books and engage in conversations that inspire creativity.
Hot Projects: Week of May 20
Check out this week’s Hot Projects that include awesome volunteer opportunities with Trees Atlanta, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Clarkston Community Center and more!
ATLANTA DEKALB CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL
Saturday, May 25 From 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Lithonia)
The mission of the Atlanta Carnival Bandleaders Council (ACBC) is to promote a broader understanding and a deeper appreciation of Caribbean culture among the Atlanta community by seeking the interest of carnival bands and steel bands and using the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival as a vehicle for the promotion of Caribbean culture. Volunteers will have one of the following roles: Set-Up and Take-Down Crew, Patron Service Attendants, Cleanup Crew, Runners, Gate Monitors, Parking Attendants, Marketing and Social Media Specialist, and Kids Corner Assistants.
Trees Atlanta Forest Restoration Invasive Plant Removal
Saturday, May 25 From 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (West Atlanta)
Trees Atlanta is a nationally recognized non-profit citizens’ group that protects and improves Atlanta’s urban forest by planting, conserving, and educating. The vast majority of Trees Atlanta’s work is accomplished with the help of volunteers including all the trees planted and much of the invasive plant removal! Volunteers will be working on removing large Chinese privet that's across the stream from the walking trail. Rain boots will be available so that all the volunteers can cross easily.
InCommunity: Memorial Day Cleaning
Saturday, May 18 From 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (East Point)
InCommunity partners to enrich and sustain the lives of individuals who have developmental disabilities, their families, and their communities. This volunteer opportunity helps InCommunity carry out its mission by bringing awareness within the community of the mentally disabled and bringing a sense of normalcy for our individuals that are treated differently. Volunteers will assist in cleaning floors, stairs, kitchen tables and dressers and organizing pantries.
Movie Event Volunteers Needed
Saturday, June 1 From 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM (Atlantic Station)
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scout's Cookie CEO Movie Premier is an event to celebrate girls during the 2019 Cookie Program. The event is being held at Regal Theaters Atlantic Station on Saturday, June 1 and we are looking for adult volunteers from 9:00am-11:30am (volunteers can stay to enjoy the premier of Aladdin after the shift if they choose). Volunteers would be needed to assist with check-in, as greeters and as ushers.
Caring for Clarkston Food Pantry
Saturday, June 1 From 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Clarkston)
The Clarkston Community Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission of creating a place for Clarkston residents to come together for art, education, recreation and community building. Volunteers are needed to assist with mantaing the inventory of the food pantry, communicating pantry stock levels to ensure proper ordering/purchasing for pantry, help assemble food boxes for clients, assist with tracking client visits, performing interviews with clients to determine food security status, and family size.
Hands On Atlanta Week to Shine a Light on Community Changemakers
Hands On Atlanta Week will take place from Saturday, Oct. 5 through Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. Get your company, organization, or event involved, and/or serve with your family and friends!
Hands On Atlanta, with presenting sponsor Delta Air Lines, will inspire an impactful week of service, highlighting the people, organizations, companies and events doing good across metro Atlanta.
For over 25 years, the first Saturday of every October has become synonymous with Hands On Atlanta Day, the city’s largest, single day of service. For 2019, the first Saturday in October will kick-off the largest week of service, with a goal of engaging 10,000 Atlantans to do something good.
Whether you’re a part of an organization or event in need of volunteers, a company with a passion to create positive impact, a changemaker with a desire to change your community, Hands On Atlanta Week wants to elevate your reach to maximize the impact.
“Civic engagement is at the core of the Atlanta culture, it’s in our DNA. We believe Hands On Atlanta Week will become the open platform for the next generation of changemakers to solve the growing, complex challenges facing our communities and inspire everyone across metro Atlanta to do something good,” said Jay Cranman, Hands On Atlanta President and CEO.
There will be over 150 service projects happening from Oct. 5-12, 2019, “pop-up” projects at community hotspots along the Atlanta Beltline, at the tailgate of the GSU vs. Arkansas State football game, and more. Delta Air Lines will host a KABOOM! playground build for employees and members of the neighboring community. Volunteers can support festivals like Atlanta Pride or the A3C Festival and Conference, seniors during the Second Annual Senior Day at the Home Depot Backyard. Volunteers can serve with their skills during a “hack-a-thon” for good at 48in48 and for those wanting a more intimate experience, you can host or attend a meaningful conversation through Civic Dinners. These are just a few of ways the Atlanta community can participate in Hands On Atlanta Week.
Hands On Atlanta Week will take place from Saturday, Oct. 5 through Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. Get your company, organization, or event involved, and/or serve with your family and friends!
Hot Projects: Week of May 13
Check out this week’s Hot Projects that include awesome volunteer opportunities with Atlanta Carnival Bandleaders Council, AID Atlanta, Open Hand and more!
ATLANTA DEKALB CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL
Saturday, May 25 From 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Lithonia)
The mission of the Atlanta Carnival Bandleaders Council (ACBC) is to promote a broader understanding and a deeper appreciation of Caribbean culture among the Atlanta community by seeking the interest of carnival bands and steel bands and using the Atlanta Caribbean Carnival as a vehicle for the promotion of Caribbean culture. Volunteers will have one of the following roles: Set-Up and Take-Down Crew, Patron Service Attendants, Cleanup Crew, Runners, Gate Monitors, Parking Attendants, Marketing and Social Media Specialist, and Kids Corner Assistants.
PHONE BANKING
Thursday, May 16 From 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Midtown)
AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run will be held on September 29, 2019. Produced by AID Atlanta, AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run is the largest AIDS-related fundraising event in the Southeastern United States. AIDS Walk Atlanta & 5K Run continues to raise much needed funds for AIDS Service Organizations throughout the metro-Atlanta area. Volunteers will make calls to our past participants to register for this year’s event. These calls are very important to the event.
OPEN HAND MEAL DELIVERY
Saturday, May 18 From 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Various Locations)
Open Hand helps people prevent or better manage chronic disease through Comprehensive Nutrition Care, which combines home-delivered meals and nutrition education as a means to reinforce the connection between informed food choices and improved quality of life. Volunteer drivers are a critical part of the service Open Hand provides to the community, since a majority of the organization’s clients are homebound. Volunteers will pick-up meals, deliver meals to clients using their own vehicles and gas, and return the delivery list and delivery bags back to the Open Hand site.
FIVE POINTS GARDEN VOLUNTEER DAY
Saturday, June 1 From 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Downtown Atlanta)
Mayor’s Office of Resilience works to make Atlanta better prepared to physical, social, and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century. Join Five Points Garden for their monthly volunteer day on the 1st Saturday of every month! Help get dirt off the ground and plots setup before Earth Day! There is work being done with raised beds and prepping them for Spring.
LIVABLE BUCKHEAD'S BUCKHEADRUNS! 5K RACE
Saturday, June 1 From 6:00 AM - 10:00 AM (Buckhead)
Livable Buckhead is hosting it's very FIRST 5K race in Buckhead. This 5K race is intended to be a wrap-up event to the walk challenge, meant as a celebration of the hard work put in for the walk challenge. Volunteers are needed to assist with handing out waters, cheering on runners and general assistance with setup & breakdown. .
Hot Projects: Week of May 6
Check out this week’s Hot Projects that include awesome volunteer opportunities with Keep North Fulton Beautiful, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, Atlanta BeltLine Partnership and more!
Sandy Springs Household Hazardous Waste Event
Saturday, May 11 From 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM (Sandy Springs)
Keep North Fulton Beautiful is an environmental non-profit that provides education and conservation programs to the communities of Johns Creek and Sandy Springs. Sandy Springs Household Hazardous Waste Event will kick off with the help of EcoFlo, a company that specializes in the proper handling and disposal of hazardous waste such as fluorescent tubes, pesticides, herbicides, fire extinguishers, paint, etc. Volunteer roles will include checking customers' registration and identification, directing traffic, distributing snacks and water to other volunteers, and helping to set up and break down the event.
West Atlanta Watershed Alliance 2ND Service Saturdays
Saturday, May 11 From 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM (SW Atlanta)
This program facilitated by the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance and made possible by a grant from USDA Forest Service for our Atlanta Children’s Forest Network, provides the opportunity for youth 10 years and older to participate in meaningful activities encouraging conservation, stewardship and experiential learning on the second Saturday of every month (excluding January and July). Tasks: Trail building and maintenance, Invasive Plant Eradication, Habitat Restoration and other activities needed to manage the facility and grounds of this unique urban resource!
Atlanta Beltline Jamboree, Washington Park Centennial Celebration!
Saturday, May 11 From 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM (Washington Park)
The Atlanta BeltLine is sparking a fun culture of health, activity, and community in Atlanta. Kick off of the spring season with the Atlanta Beltline as they introduce their free fitness classes fun activities, music, games and more. Volunteers will help with set up, directing and answering questions form festival goers, and handing out water. Volunteers will also help with clean up and take down.
Keep Our Farm Pristine
Tuesday, May 14 From 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (East Point)
TLW works to engage the community in developing local food systems through education and food production. TLW hast spent five years creating rich soil used at both farm sites and for sale to community gardeners. Volunteer with Truly Living Well to keep their farm pristine. Volunteer tasks include clearing all weeds and overgrown debris with rakes and shovels, creating rock borders with “found” rocks provided on site, establish space on west side of building (marked) for future herb garden, apply fresh coat of paint on herb benches, adding mulch to defined areas, and more.
C3 Ministries’ Food Pantry Distribution
Thursday, May 16 From 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM (Marietta)
Serves families in need with C3 ministries so that these families can become whole, independent and able to return to serve others. With the help of volunteers, C3 distributed over 471,508 pounds of foods this year. Volunteers are needed to help serve the community by restocking food shelves, preparing food boxes, and loading and expediting food boxes to expecting vehicles. Sign up now to impact the needs of families in the community.
Hot Projects: Week of April 29
Check out this week’s Hot Projects that include awesome volunteer opportunities with Atlanta Food Forest, Atlanta BeltLine Partnership, Margie’s House and more!
Thrift Store Associate
Thursday, May 9 From 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Morrow)
Through respecting the dignity of each person, St. Vincent de Paul Georgia brings hope and help to those in need so they may achieve stability and move toward self-sufficiency. The thrift store associate assists in the retail operation of the thrift store. Thrift store associates help process donations and assist customers. Primary Responsibilities: assist customers by accepting donations and issuing receipts, sorting and pricing/tagging donations to be placed on the sales floor, maintain the cleanliness and organization of the sales floor, create merchandise displays that attract customers and entice them to purchase items from the store, answer customers questions in regard to purchasing merchandise and donating merchandise Placed approved donations on the sales floor, work closely with clients who have vouchers to ensure they receive the correct amount of items stated on the voucher and stocking book shelves.
Food Forest Grow-And-Learn
Saturday, May 11 From 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (SE Atlanta)
Help grow the Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill: largest food forest in the U.S. This 7.1 acre site is located in the heart of one of Atlanta's largest food deserts. South Atlanta residents worked with designers and partners for 1.5 years on a community vision plan. You are helping the community implement and steward their vision and future food oasis! How: Food forest "grow and learns" are held monthly at this site. Grow and learn opportunities include: planting and caring for the orchard and community garden, composting, bees, invasive species removal, trail building and more! The food forest ranger and guest speakers will share lessons along the way!
Margie’s House Monthly Giveaway
Saturday, May 11 From 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Fairburn)
Margie’s House mission is to bring food and assistance to the communities around South Fulton. Join us in our monthly food distribution! Food sorters will be responsible for removing food off trucks as well as organizing, sorting, and packing food in bags. Volunteers will ensure the quality of the food, provide the quantity of food to each client as instructed and break down the boxes in which the food was delivered. Other jobs that may be required include taking out trash, assist clients with carrying food to their transportation, set up, break down and clean up.
Atlanta Beltline Jamboree, Washington Park Centennial Celebration!
Saturday, May 11 From 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM (Washington Park)
The Atlanta BeltLine is sparking a fun culture of health, activity, and community in Atlanta. Washington Park is a frequent setting for our programming, this festival allows Atlanta BeltLine to introduce their free fitness classes and engage the local community for the kick off of the spring season. Volunteers will help with set up, directing and answering questions form festival goers, handing out water. Volunteers will with clean up and take down so we leave the park clean for everyone.
Mobile Food Distribution
Thursday, May 16 From 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (SW Atlanta)
Southwest Ecumenical Emergency Assistance Center (SWEEAC) serves more than 48,000 families & distributes over 1,000,000 pounds of food to the families in Atlanta. Volunteers will include set up and breakdown of distribution area, unpacking and organizing food to be distributed and bagging or boxing of food for recipients and assist recipients to their vehicle or help them carry food.
Hot Projects: Week of April 22
Check out this week’s Hot Projects that include awesome volunteer opportunities with InCommunity, Dream Big Dance, Trees Atlanta and more!
Incommunity: Board Games & BINGO
Friday, April 26 From 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM (College Park)
InCommunity partners to enrich and sustain the lives of individuals who have developmental disabilities, their families, and their communities. This volunteer opportunity helps InCommunity carry out its mission by bringing awareness within the community of the mentally disabled and bringing a sense of normalcy for our individuals that are treated differently. Volunteers will play board games and BINGO.
22nd Annual Community Health Fair
Wednesday, May 15 From 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM (Westside)
Sadie G. Mays Health & Rehabilitation Center is a 206-bed, skilled nursing facility that provides short term rehabilitation, long term nursing care, respite and hospice care to our patients. The 22nd Annual Community Health Fair is their major community outreach event of the year. Attendees will be active seniors from throughout metro Atlanta. Volunteers are needed to help set-up, decorating, directing vendors and attendees, passing out raffle tickets, lunches, etc.; making smoothies, breaking down, and more!
Soil Festival Prep At Collegetown
Friday, May 3 From 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (SW Atlanta)
Join Truly Living Well in preparation for the 5th Annual Soil Festival! This event features farm fresh food, chef demos, live music, garden workshops, an amazing plant sale, children’s activities, a petting zoo, exhibits, and more! Volunteers are needed from April 30 – May3rd to mulch as needed, weed garden beds, put up signs, and farm arrangement (ie straw bales, tables, etc.)
Hawk Hollow Weekday Volunteering
Wednesday, May 8 From 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Oakhurst)
The Wylde Center's mission is to cultivate vibrant greenspaces and inspire communities of environmental stewards. Hawk Hollow, their native plant restoration site offers many unique opportunities for digging in the dirt. Although it is hard to predict what will be done each work day, be prepared for hard work and getting a little dirty!
Share A Story With A Child
Friday, May 3 From 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Glenwood Park)
At Pajama Program, we promote a comforting bedtime routine for children affected by instability to help them thrive. At the Atlanta Reading Center, our programming focuses on shared reading between a child and an adult volunteer. The shared reading experience is aimed to give children a sense of comfort and belonging, so that they feel better prepared for a good night’s rest.
Looking Back at the Hands On Atlanta 30th Birthday
Over the years, we’ve learned a thing or two about our community. Y’all love volunteering and will go to great lengths to support our work, y’all care about making Atlanta better for all of our citizens, and y’all most definitely know how to party! Take a look back at the Hands On Atlanta 30th Birthday Party!
From left to right: Mayor Shirley Franklin, Jay Cranman, Danny Shoy.
Way back in the spring of 1989, 12 friends got together to try and figure out a better way to solve some of the challenges facing our city. After a few drinks and a few ideas, this gathering led to the start of Hands On Atlanta. 30 years later, on Saturday, April 13, more than 300 long-time (and new) friends packed into Manuel’s Tavern for an evening of celebration and fundraising at our 30th Birthday.
We celebrated visionaries like Elise Eplan, Kent Alexander and Michelle Nunn who helped make Hands On Atlanta one of the largest community engagement organizations in the world. How big? Since 1989, we’ve engaged 500,000 changemakers to serve more than 4 million hours in communities across metro Atlanta!
We celebrated changemakers like Ms. Genora Crooke, who spent 24 years as a teammate at Hands On Atlanta, and Mayor Shirley Franklin, our 2019 Holly Palmer Rhodes Changemaker of the Year. With the help of guest emcee, WSB-TV’s Fred Blankenship and Mayor Franklin, and the support of our sponsors and attendees, we pulled in $150,000 in donations!
Our history, our community, our impact, and those who continue to support our work… now, that’s worth celebrating!
Mayor Shirley Franklin, accepting the 2019 Holly Palmer Rhodes Changemaker of the Year award!
Capping off the night of fundraising, Fred and Mayor Franklin announce our raffle winner!
All-in-all, it was a throwback party we’ll be talking about for years to come. Thanks to all who came out in support of 30 years of service to the Atlanta community. Thank you to all of our Civic Fellows for volunteering and to our team for producing such a fantastic event! Thank you to all of our host committee members and all of our generous donors and sponsors: The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Publix, The Coca-Cola Company, UPS, Points of Light, Cognizant, Datum Sofware and BBDO Atlanta. Our work does not exist without your help. THANK YOU.