Posts for August, 2012
Hammers and rakes and gloves! Oh My! Yes, these were just a few of the tools that Points of Light employees sorted, labeled, and painted on July, 25, 2012, when we volunteered to help with the Atlanta Community Toolbank. Upon entering the toolbank, Points of Light staff received a brief orientation and tour of the warehouse from the Atlanta Community Toolbank’s Master Tool Librarian C.J. Clark. From this orientation, staff members learned about how the toolbank is impacting the surrounding community with its tool loan system.
Lauren Stock, age 13, is an eighth grader at Greenhill School in Dallas, Texas. Outside of school and High School Heroes, she dances, plays softball and is involved at her synagogue. She is a 2011 generationOn Excellence in Leadership and Service awardee, an honor that recognizes young people’s impact on local, national and global communities and inspires those around them to do the same.
When I was 9, my mom was diagnosed with t-cell lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer. My mom’s treatment included more than 600 hours of chemotherapy and extended hospital stays. In addition, the doctors said she needed a stem cell transplant to survive. I didn’t know anything about a stem cell transplant and neither did the rest of my family.
On July 26, Target launched a back-to-school education giving program, called Give With Target® in New York City with Disney Channel actress and Hollywood Records recording artist Bridgit Mendler. The program runs through Sept. 8, 2012 and is part of Target’s plans to give $1 billion for education by 2015.
Minneapolis has long been considered a bastion of civic virtue, and for good reason. With the highest volunteer rate among large cities, the city understands the impact of giving back.
HandsOn Twin Cities – the longest operating volunteer center in the country – continues to find new ways to create change. I had the chance to meet with its board members and staff, led by Executive Director Kristin Schurrer, to learn more about their evolving work.
For those looking for innovative ideas, here are two: HandsOn Twin Cities will sponsor a speed-volunteering experience (think speed dating and you’ll understand the matching that goes on!) for 10,000 people at an event at the Mall of America. And the group will also launch a skills-based, done-in-a-day volunteer expo in the fall.