2011 A YEAR INREVIEW

Hands On Asheville-Buncombe is our community’s one-stop shop to find short- and long-term volunteer projects that fit both a person’s schedule and interests.

Hands On manages an online, searchable database that lists volunteer opportunities that are

• run by area non-profits, schools and other public entities, as well as

• projects developed and run by Hands On.

Our database allows individuals to fine-tune their searches in a lot of ways - by time, location, skills, kid-friendly and now projects that can done from home.

Hands On also manages large one-day events like Day of Caring (1,100 volunteers) and coordinates projects for businessess, such as volunteer based staff development retreats.

3,000 volunteers participated in...

16,600 volunteer hours that supported...

2011 BY THE NUMBERS 3,000 volunteers participated in...

145 nonprofits, schools and public entities benefited from that volunteer support.

$355,280... That’s the estimated financial value these volunteers

provided community-based organizations.

846 projects coordinated or promoted by Hands On Asheville-Buncombe. Those volunteers gave...

WHAT’S OUR IMPACT?

WHAT’S OUR IMPACT?

1,230meals were

served to homeless veterans, families

served by Hospice and women working toward

better lives for their families.

HANDS ON FLEX PROJECTS Many folks want to give back, but they are worried about making a long-term commitment. Hands On organizes projects like these to make it easy for them to be involved. Short-term, small-time commitment: BIG impact.

4,500 people benefited

from financial

1,300 people had fresh-

baked cookies to come “home” to after a long day with sick family at

the hospital or hospice.

Here are a few select accomplishments...

education packets prepared by OnTrack

flex project volunteers.

5,549 literacy and

math games and flashcard packets were assembled and given

to kids in area schools through the Teachers Pet

project.

965 hand-knit hats were made for infants

served by the Department of Health and homeless men and women served

by area shelters.

PORTABLE PROJECTS So many in our community are home-bound but would love the chance to be more involved. For others, especially those with small children, volunteering can be a logistical challenge. Portable projects can be done from a home or office, based on the volunteer’s time constraints and mobility.

50 draft

stoppers helped our elderly

neighbors stay warm and save

money.

600 fully-stocked

backpacks were assembled and distributed

to students.

SEASONAL AND SPECIAL GROUP PROJECTS Hands On promotes projects by season or holiday such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Resolutions, 9/11 Rememberance, etc. For a fee, Hands On also organizes group projects for businesses and others.

BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVEEach summer Hands On coordinates the Back-to-School Supply Drive to support low-income families. 2011 donations benefited elementary and middle school students served by programs of Children First/Communities In Schools, The Salvation Army, Literacy Council, Mountain Area Child & Family Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the YMCA’s 21st Century Afterschool Program.

170 hours...that’s how long it took to sort, assemble and distribute the

backpacks.

1,100 volunteers

from 59 local businesses and

the public at large participated

Day of CaringSeptember marked our 20th Annual Day of Caring! Day of Caring, the largest community-wide service event coordinated by Hands On, uniquely mobilizes and equips workforce volunteers to strengthen our community by matching these groups with service projects to benefit Asheville and Buncombe County nonprofits, schools and public entities.

64local organizations

benefited from3,400 hours,

and 71 volunteer projects were completed!

82%want one-time/short-term projects

IN 2011....the “Volunteering in America Report” ranked Asheville 16th in volunteerism out of 75 mid-sized American cities. Below are statistics based on our own volunteer survey respondants:

97% felt their experience was meaningful

77%used our online calendar to find opportunities

23%searched our database using “match my skills”

want a long-term committment12%

“This was a wonderful experience to give a little something back to our Veterans! I would love to partipate in this type of volunteer activity again. Thank you!”

“This was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. My daughter and I left feeling so wonderful inside knowing we helped in feeding thousands of hungry children... I highly recommend everyone get involved.”

“I really enjoyed Teacher’s Pet. The project was worthwhile, well-organized, began and ended on time, and I had the opportunity to talk with interesting folks and learn more about Hands On Asheville-Buncombe.”

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

be the change.

give an hour. give a saturday.g i v e yo u r b e s t .when you give. advocate. volunteer.you live united.trust us. you are needed.

volunteer.

www.handsonasheville.org828.255.0696  •  info@handsonasheville.org

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Mission Health System

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