THE CITIZEN BLOG
THE CITIZEN BLOG
Celebrate 8 days of service!
It’s time to celebrate! Today is the 8th and final day of the 2022 edition of Hands On Atlanta Week, and it also happens to be Atlanta legend, Arthur Blank’s 80th birthday! Sign up to serve before it’s over.
It’s time to celebrate! Today is the 8th and final day of the 2022 edition of Hands On Atlanta Week, and it also happens to be Atlanta legend, Arthur Blank’s 80th birthday! We’ve been working side-by-side with our presenting sponsor, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, all week long - tackling our city’s most pressing needs.
Today is your last chance to get in on all the action. Click below to find a project and get out there and do something good!
last chance to join hands on atlanta week
Books for Africa
Volunteers help us to sort and pack books for shipment, spreading literacy and education all over Africa.
Oakhurst Community Garden
The Oakhurst Garden is our flagship greenspace. We have a mini-farm, chickens, bees, and plots for community members to grow food.
Food Sorting and Distribution
Volunteers are needed to restock inventory on pantry shelves, replenish refrigerators and freezers, and prepare emergency bags for families.
HANDS ON ATLANTA WEEK
Join Atlanta’s biggest week of service Sept. 20 - 27, 2022! Explore more in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities and events here.
The 2022 Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellows Graduate into Civic Leaders
On Tuesday, June 14 at the Wild Heaven West End Brewery and Gardens 19 Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellows, completed their commitment to making Atlanta more engaged and equitable with a graduation ceremony. Now Civic Leaders, these outstanding changemakers have developed the leadership skills to take their service and careers to the next level!
On Tuesday, June 14 at the Wild Heaven West End Brewery and Gardens 19 Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellows, completed their commitment to making Atlanta more engaged and equitable with a graduation ceremony. Now Civic Leaders, these outstanding changemakers have developed the leadership skills to take their service and careers to the next level!
The Hands On Atlanta Civic Leadership Program, powered by Constellation is 10-month, immersive professional development/leadership training program that builds community leaders while supporting the needs of nonprofit and school partners. Civic Fellows get hands-on experience and also participate in leadership training and mentoring provided by Hands On Atlanta staff, program alumni and partners.
Civic Fellows were partners with the Hands On Atlanta Disco program (working with students across several elementary schools), HOPE Atlanta, Medshare International, YMCA of Metro Atlanta, InCommunity, Out of Hand Theatre, EcoAddendum, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, and the Clarkston Community Center. The 2022 class of Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellows represent diverse backgrounds and industries including education, entrepreneurs, engineering, law enforcement, marketing, technology, and more! Get to know all of them here.
The graduation ceremony included a recap of the year and featured a memorable and inspirational keynote from the iconic, Ann Cramer. The impact created by the fellows was also a big focus on the year, looking back at what all their hard work had accomplished - like engaging over 900 volunteers and as a cohort raising more than $13,000 for Hands On Atlanta. Awards were given to the top fundraisers and the recipients of this year’s Impact Award.
We are now accepting nominations for the 2023 Civic Leadership Program and applications will officially open to the public on Monday, July 4th. Click here to nominate a fellow or here to learn more.
Make the Assist | Help1 million meals get packed
The Atlanta Hawks are rallying the Atlanta community to pack more than 1 million meals for Georgia families facing food insecurity. The Million Meal Pack happens July 16 at State Farm Arena and we need about 200 Support Staff volunteers to help ensure the meals get packed so families get fed.
It’s no secret, we’re passionate about fighting food insecurity across metro Atlanta. With more than 22% of Atlantans living below the poverty line, food insecurity is a growing concern in our community. In fact, hunger will impact 1 in 4 Atlanta children at some point this year.
The Atlanta Hawks are rallying the Atlanta community to pack more than 1 million meals for Georgia families facing food insecurity. The Million Meal Pack happens July 16 at State Farm Arena and we need about 200 Support Staff volunteers to help ensure the meals get packed so families get fed.
As a Support Staff volunteer, You will NOT be packing meals. You’ll be assisting the event, leading groups of volunteer meal packers as a Table Captain or by running food, replenishing supplies and packing boxes as a Logistics volunteer. We’ve outlined roles and responsibilities below.
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Volunteer Perks
Those in attendance will be volunteering alongside influencers from the worlds of sports, entertainment, government, and business, during a fun-filled day with music, performances, free swag and more! Everyone who completes a volunteer shift will receive a voucher for a pair of free tickets to a select upcoming Hawks home game. Exact game dates will be available following the release of the 2022-23 season schedule. Volunteers will also get an event t-shirt and a meal at the start of their shift.
Support Staff Roles + Responsibilities
Table Captains
As a Support Staff volunteer, you’ll be a part of the production team that supports and assists the 5,000 Meal Packing volunteers to ensure we hit the total meals packed goal. As a Table Captain, you’ll be assigned to a table and lead the 10-15 volunteers in packing meals. You will train the meal packing volunteers, oversee the packing process for their table for the entirety of the event and be responsible for cleanup in between meal packing shifts. You should be comfortable speaking in front of and instructing groups, comfortable with ensuring that safety protocols are followed by all volunteers (provided by Meal Pack partner), and ready to help keep energy high and atmosphere fun during packing. You’ll be on your feet and moving throughout your shift.
SIGN UP NOW —>
Operations + Logistics
As a Support Staff volunteer, you’ll be a part of the production team that supports and assists the 5,000 Meal Packing volunteers to ensure we hit the total meals packed goal. The Operations + Logistics volunteer will fill and refill meal ingredients from their bags, keep a continual supply at individual packing lines, and work with Table Captains to ensure efficient/proper packaging of individual bags into boxes and onto the pallets. This is a very active role where volunteers need the ability to lift 50 lbs and be on their feet and moving throughout their shift.
Shifts
6:30am – 1:00pm: Breakfast and training provided on-site before you volunteer
11:00am – 5:30pm: Lunch and training provided on-site before you volunteer
Impact from 2019’s Million Meal Pack
Are you ready to fight food insecurity and have some fun with the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena? Make the assist and sign up now!
A Smashing Success: Reviewing the 2022 Spring for Service
For Hands On Atlanta, spring is the season where we take time to recognize the people, the organizations and the events that make Atlanta a little more engaged and equitable and fundraise to continue our essential work. In celebration of Global and Georgia Volunteer Month, this past April, was one of our best spring’s ever! Here’s a recap of what happened.
Spring in Atlanta can be a lot of things to a lot of people. It can be a season of anticipation - the kick-off to festival season, the World Champion Atlanta Braves, and the 17’s favorite, Atlanta United and every students’ favorite - the end of the school year. Spring in Atlanta can also be pretty miserable if you’re the kind of person who’s into consistent weather and prefer to live pollen free. 😜
For Hands On Atlanta, spring is the season where we take time to recognize the people, the organizations and the events that make Atlanta a little more engaged and equitable and fundraise to continue our essential work. In celebration of Global and Georgia Volunteer Month, this past April, was one of our best spring’s ever!
In total, we mobilized close to 3,000 volunteers to serve more than 15,500 hours across metro Atlanta throughout April, 2022.
Here’s a quick recap of what happened.
As a result of the pandemic, last year we pivoted to an online, peer-to-peer fundraiser. In addition to it being safe, it was also a great alternative to the rather off-brand “gala” style events we’ve hosted in the past. We learned a lot and with the help of a huge match from our board, we smashed our fundraising goal, bringing in over $140,000 from close to 400 donors!
The dollars raised will help us continue to address food insecurity and further close the education gap by mobilizing the volunteer workforce that powers Atlanta’s nonprofit sector. In total, the campaign will generate more than $850,000 in economic impact across metro Atlanta.
Watch to learn what more volunteers mean to our nonprofit partners, Urban Recipe and Truly Living Well.
Special thanks to our Spring for Service campaign sponsors!
Throughout April, we celebrated some huge, annual days of service, and hosted a few large projects - in addition to over 1,000 volunteer opportunities on our calendar! We kicked off the month with Good Deeds Day and supported a “women’s build” event with 48in48 and settled into National Volunteer Week before closing out Global Volunteer Month with Earth Day, Global Youth Service Day and a massive skills-based opportunity at the 2022 DECA International Career Development Conference.
Other notable projects included some fun and impactful meal packs with 100+ employees from Mingledorffs and LexisNexis Risk Solutions, who packed 1,200 meals. All the meals packed will benefit students and families at our partner schools.
As if it wasn’t enough, our team also worked tirelessly to pull of a massive effort in partnership with the Atlanta Braves Foundation, to celebrate Hank Aaron Week (May 3-7). The Braves front office staff volunteered at Browns Mill Urban Food Forest, planting gardens with all kinds of vegetables, repairing the greenhouse and building little “free libraries,” all while celebrating a chance to serve the community. In addition, they installed an edible wall, where the vines of raspberries, blackberries and other fruit will grow vertically, giving Browns Mill Park neighbors more healthy food options. Learn more here.
Throughout the month, nominations poured in from nonprofits, corporations and individuals, recommending we spotlight a special volunteer who’s made a difference for Atlanta. We’ve shined a light on students, community activists, teachers and others doing good. Explore ALL of these volunteer spotlights, highlighting the incredible efforts from volunteers across metro Atlanta here!
BUILDING A BELOVED COMMUNITY WITH CAPTAIN APRILLE MOORE
KIP THOMPSONA IS RUNNING FOR INCLUSION AND INSPIRING THE NEXT GEN
Ready to do something good?
If you’re feeling inspired by the impact donations can create, the projects and events that support our community or the people doing the work, we’ve made it easier than ever to get involved. Click here to donate or explore our volunteer calendar, where we have 200+ weekly opportunities waiting for you to sign up for!
Leo Flemming on fueling Flavor Foward
Leo Flemming is passionate about fighting food insecurity as a volunteer and experimenting in social entrepreneurship through an effort called Flavor Forward. Next year, Leo will leverage his passions as a Civic Engagement Fellow at Westminster - a program that offers volunteer service opportunities on and off campus throughout the year for all ages, including special Family Service Days, an annual Habitat for Humanity build, fundraising, and special projects.
Learn more about Leo’s efforts to feed those in need and how you can help.
Leo Flemming is passionate about fighting food insecurity as a volunteer and experimenting in social entrepreneurship through an effort called Flavor Forward. Next year, Leo will leverage his passions as a Civic Engagement Fellow at Westminster - a program that offers volunteer service opportunities on and off campus throughout the year for all ages, including special Family Service Days, an annual Habitat for Humanity build, fundraising, and special projects.
Learn more about Leo’s efforts to feed those in need and how you can help.
What impact areas or pressing needs facing Atlanta do you care about most? Why?
I started our Flavor Forward program to help combat food insecurity, and that is what we care about most. Through this Flavor Forward initiative, volunteers prep meals and deliver them to various FREE99Fridge locations around Atlanta. I think that food is an absolute human right, and that everybody should have access to a healthy fulfilling meal every day.
“The COVID pandemic made me realize how many people in the community needed help when no help was able to be given to them. Part of the reason we volunteer is to make sure people get the help they need, especially in making sure they have food at home.””
What do you love most about the organization you volunteer with? Why do you volunteer with them?
I love Flavor Forward because I am in charge of what I can do, and I can see the results pretty quickly. Preparing meals for Flavor Forward is a very tangible way to volunteer and I really enjoy it.
How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your volunteering efforts?
The COVID pandemic made me realize how many people in the community needed help when no help was able to be given to them. Part of the reason we volunteer is to make sure people get the help they need, especially in making sure they have food at home.
Can you share a memorable highlight or moment you've experienced that might motivate others to volunteer?
One memorable highlight of mine was was packing 60 total meals in a restaurant and driving out to different fridges to drop them off. It was memorable because of how lots of people in the restaurant worked together to cook the food and pack it, which made me feel like we were really making a difference.
Volunteering in April? Share where, when and if others can join you or how they can get involved.
If you would like to prep meals (in batches of 25+ similar to what our friend @soupbelly_atl did), reach out to us and we can give some guidance on how. We can reimburse you for the ingredients and containers and can arrange to pick the meals up and deliver them to the fridges. If you are a student, we also can keep you busy in helping to package and deliver the food.
Inspired by Leo’s story?
Help us engage and highlight incredible efforts like his, by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta. It takes hard work AND financial support to tackle Atlanta’s most pressing needs. When you let our hands be yours, every $1 invested turns into $6 of economic impact! Donate now and help ensure a more civically engaged and equitable Atlanta.
Krista Pierce is out to prove that actions big and small can change lives
Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellow, Krista Pierce, tackles homelessness and food insecurity across metro Atlanta by volunteering with Hope Atlanta, Make a Wish Georgia, Atlanta Mission and Citizens of Georgia Power.
Learn more about Krista’s commitment to a more equitable and engaged Atlanta.
Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellow, Krista Pierce, tackles homelessness and food insecurity across metro Atlanta by volunteering with Hope Atlanta, Make a Wish Georgia, Atlanta Mission and Citizens of Georgia Power.
Learn more about Krista’s commitment to a more equitable and engaged Atlanta.
What impact areas or pressing needs facing Atlanta do you care about most? Why?
Homelessness and food insecurity. These two needs have grown exponentially over the last few years. These are two of the most basic needs everyone should have access too. My dream is that we can all work together to make this happen one day.
“That smile is why you volunteer. We are lifelines and sometimes lifesavers for those in need. No matter how big or how small the gift is, we change lives.””
What do you love most about the organization you volunteer with? Why do you volunteer with them?
During my time as a Hands On Atlanta Civic Fellow, I have been honored to work with Hope Atlanta. As mentioned earlier, food insecurity is one of my main areas of focus. Being a part of Hope Atlanta’s mission, to feed families thru the food box packing and to feed children thru their Super Pack program has been such a joy.
Knowing that so many families will not worry about having food on their table or knowing that children can leave school on Fridays with food in hand so they do not go hungry over the weekends, just makes the day brighter. Also, the passion you feel from the volunteers who give up three hours on a Saturday to help feed others is immeasurable. They want to help as many as they can during their time at the center. No words can describe that feeling of seeing all of them come together for one common goal, to feed those in need.
How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your volunteering efforts?
I had to learn how to think outside of the box. Just because the world had to pause, the needs did not. I looked for virtual opportunities whether that be simply donating to food banks close by or by participating in Zoom or Teams events where we colored pictures for senior citizen homes or wrote thank you notes to first responders. There’s always a way to give back regardless of circumstances.
Can you share a memorable highlight or moment you've experienced that might motivate others to volunteer?
Three weeks ago, Make a Wish Georgia sent me an email about an upcoming wish they were trying to grant. The 17 year old girl has a very serious auto immune disorder. Her mother, eight siblings and herself had been homeless most of her life. Despite all of that she has graduated high school early and is currently pursuing a nursing degree.
Her mother was able to purchase their first ever home in February and they were ready to move in. The wish she wanted was to set up their new home. I presented it to our chapter and everyone jumped in on it. We provided silverware, dish towels, mixing bowls, towels, and many other basic necessities one would need to make a house a home. Plus, she received two gift cards from Target so she could purchase items for her new bedroom. Seeing the smile on her face as she unwrapped this gifts was all we needed. That smile is why you volunteer. We are lifelines and sometimes lifesavers for those in need. No matter how big or how small the gift is, we change lives.
Volunteering in April? Share where, when and if others can join you or how they can get involved.
I will be working with my Citizens of Georgia Power chapter for Earth Day events in April.
Anything else you think our community should know about you, your volunteer service, or your commitment to Do Something Good!
I have been so blessed throughout my life. I have never had to know what it means to be without any basic necessity. It’s because of that, I serve. I know I can’t help everyone, but I want to help as many as I can in my lifetime.
Inspired by Krista’s story?
Help us engage and highlight incredible efforts like hers, by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta. It takes hard work AND financial support to tackle Atlanta’s most pressing needs. When you let our hands be yours, every $1 invested turns into $6 of economic impact! Donate now and help ensure a more civically engaged and equitable Atlanta.
From critical conversations to direct action, Rose Caplan uses service to engage in ATL
Rose Caplan is a regular volunteer with the Rotary Club of Atlanta West End, L.E.A.D. Center for Youth, and M. Agnes Jones Elementary School. She’s using her passion for service as a way to open the door to real connections, conversations and change.
Learn more about why Rose serves and where she’ll be volunteering next.
Rose Caplan is a regular volunteer with the Rotary Club of Atlanta West End, L.E.A.D. Center for Youth, and M. Agnes Jones Elementary School. She’s using her passion for service as a way to open the door to real connections, conversations and change.
Learn more about why Rose serves and where she’ll be volunteering next.
What impact areas or pressing needs facing Atlanta do you care about most? Why?
What I care most about is improving human equality in Atlanta, as our most vulnerable in Atlanta (our children and families) are affected by inequity, racism, including anti-Semitism, and discrimination - including against people with mental and physical disabilities and the LGBTQ community.
Researched and documented lower incomes and lack of proper resources for education, housing, and healthcare are results of inequity, racism and discrimination. Conversations about these matters, in my opinion, are many times too many put off or had in the most shallow fashion because they are hard and it take emotional energy that many people don't want to expend.
However, if we are to provide opportunities that empower all people to be able to choose a fulfilling life we must have frank and open discussions about racism, discrimination and inequity. There is no other way. One way to open the door is through community service where person to person connections can be made and mutual understanding can be initiated.
“I have the skills and time to help and it is satisfying at the end of the day to have done something good for the sustainability of our earth and youth.””
What do you love most about the organization you volunteer with? Why do you volunteer with them?
I love working with the people who make up the AWER membership. They are servant leaders, and take seriously Rotary’s Service Above Self mantra. I love member collaboration, resources available for community service, the opportunities to serve the community, and member support to come up with the best ways to meet the needs of the community through service to seeing them through the end.
I love L.E.A.D.’s mission to empower an at-risk generation to lead and transform their city of Atlanta by using the sport of baseball to teach Black boys how to overcome three curveballs that threaten their success: crime, poverty and racism. Moreover, I love the people that I work with to further its mission - Co-Founders CJ and Kelli Stewart, the Board and most importantly the young men that are working hard to create a life that they intend to have not one that is predetermined by society.
I love working with Lisa Colbert, STEAM instructor at M. Agnes Jones Elementary School and assisting her to fulfill her vision of "earth matters" and sustainability for the children. She has an executable plan that requires more hands than the two she has, and more time than there is in a day. I have the skills and time to help and it is satisfying at the end of the day to have done something good for the sustainability of our earth and youth. Lisa is probably the best volunteer manager I’ve worked with. She loves what she is doing and it filters down to those who spend time with her and her vision.
Can you share a memorable highlight or moment you've experienced that might motivate others to volunteer?
Memorable moments are made every time a young person smiles and a connection is made because of a new opportunity available to them through a volunteer effort. Additionally, every time I volunteer is an opportunity to learn something about people and the community that deepen my understanding of the need to work toward equality for everyone.
I volunteer with others to meet with high school students to discuss responses they have provided to survey questions over a specified period of time on a single topic. This is an opportunity for volunteers to go a little deeper and understand the student responses better so we can provide effective support. At each meeting, we learn a little bit more about each other, our respective families, and lives. For me, my effort is enhanced by their acceptance of someone like myself who couldn’t be more different from them in many ways. Their sincerity and genuine selves, together with their thoughtfulness, is heartwarming and enlightening. These meetings provide for impromptu yet-to-be-made memorable moments. You’ve got to put yourself in the situation, and let yourself be vulnerable.
Volunteering in April? Share where, when and if others can join you or how they can get involved.
L.E.A.D. Center for Youth and APIVEO are in the planning stages of the 8th Annual Safe at Home Game Program involving Atlanta’s youth and law enforcement. The program consists of a RoundTable discussion to provide an environment where youth and law enforcement can freely and candidly exchange their thoughts, beliefs and opinions regarding specific community and societal issues, and a baseball game between them where they find common ground to open lines of communication on and off the field. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact me.
Anything else you think our community should know about you, your volunteer service, or your commitment to Do Something Good!
Atlanta West End Rotary Club started a club project based on United Way Greater Atlanta 21 Day Racial Equity Challenge. Instead of taking the challenge over 21 Days we changed it to 21 Weeks. The challenge is turn-key and the material is focused on how racial inequity plagues Atlanta and the communities within. I recommend it for anyone who wants to start a conversation about racial equity in our own backyard. It will strengthen your volunteer resolve and enhance your experience for yourself and those you serve.
Inspired by Rose’s story?
Help us engage and highlight incredible efforts like hers, by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta. It takes hard work AND financial support to tackle Atlanta’s most pressing needs. When you let our hands be yours, every $1 invested turns into $6 of economic impact! Donate now and help ensure a more civically engaged and equitable Atlanta.
Stacey Chavis on using her time, talent, treasure and voice to make Atlanta a better community
Stacey Chavis leads a life of service. Her passion to support the needs of women, children and families in the Atlanta community makes her a regular volunteer with organizations like the United Way of Greater Atlanta, Voices for Georgia’s Children, Georgia Forward, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, Junior League of Atlanta, League of Women Voters, among several others.
Learn more about Stacey’s passion for service and where you can serve alongside her next.
Stacey Chavis leads a life of service. Her passion to support the needs of women, children and families in the Atlanta community makes her a regular volunteer with organizations like the United Way of Greater Atlanta, Voices for Georgia’s Children, Georgia Forward, Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, Junior League of Atlanta, League of Women Voters, among several others.
Learn more about Stacey’s passion for service and where you can serve alongside her next.
What impact areas or pressing needs facing Atlanta do you care about most? Why?
I care most about the pressing needs of women, children and families in the Atlanta community. I care about the human trafficking and sexual exploitations of women and children. I care about families experiencing homelessness in our community. I care about Veterans receiving much needed services. I care about literacy and education of children and young adults.
What do you love most about the organization you volunteer with? Why do you volunteer with them?
I love that each organization I volunteer with truly cares about the community in which they serve. I volunteer with them to use my time, talent, treasure and voice to make Atlanta a better community for our women, children and families.
“I want others to know that we need your service to the community no matter the size of the time you have to give. We need the volunteer that can give one hour a quarter and the volunteer that can give ten hours per week and everybody in between.””
How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your volunteering efforts?
The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly affected my volunteer efforts. Direct service opportunities were postponed for safety precautions. Many of my volunteer efforts were moved online or done in a socially distant manner. I focused on mentoring college through Zoom and telephones.
Can you share a memorable highlight or moment you've experienced that might motivate others to volunteer?
I want to motivate others to volunteer by telling them that we need their service. We need them to volunteer in service to women, children. Families, Veterans, animals, the environment, and the other issues that are important to them. I want others to know that we need your service to the community no matter the size of the time you have to give. We need the volunteer that can give one hour a quarter and the volunteer that can give ten hours per week and everybody in between.
Volunteering in April? Share where, when and if others can join you or how they can get involved.
In April, the United Way of Greater Atlanta will hold the SaturDAY of Service on April 16, 2022 with many community service projects throughout Atlanta. People can visit volunteer.unitedwayatlanta.org for more details.
Anything else you think our community should know about you, your volunteer service, or your commitment to Do Something Good!
I live by the quote from the late Muhammad Ali, “Service is the rent you pay for the room here on Earth.” We need your service to our great community.
Inspired by Stacey’s story?
Help us engage and highlight incredible efforts like hers, by making a donation to Hands On Atlanta. It takes hard work AND financial support to tackle Atlanta’s most pressing needs. When you let our hands be yours, every $1 invested turns into $6 of economic impact! Donate now and help ensure a more civically engaged and equitable Atlanta.