Georgia ranks among the bottom ten states in measures of voter registration and participation, trusting of neighbors, and confidence in the media. These discouraging findings should not be  an admission of defeat, but rather a call to action! This study included rates of volunteerism in their measures of civic engagement; thus, by increasing rates of volunteering, we as a state can take steps towards improving these disappointing findings and improving the overall civic health of our state.

As it happens, the summer months are particularly hard on organizations that utilize volunteers in their everyday operations, as many students abandon school-mandated projects and fundraisers dwindle until the fall brings about charitable holidays. Organizations such as food banks and homeless shelters struggle to keep up with increased summer demand with a lighter volunteer support system, making it the perfect time to step up to the proverbial plate and use some free time to give back to the community.

According to the research cited (see link below),  ”strong civic health has been linked to better public health outcomes, including improved child development and adolescent well-being, improved mental health, lower violent crime rates and youth delinquency, and reduced mortality”. Thus, by taking small steps towards improved civic engagement, such as volunteering as little as once a month, one person can take steps towards sweeping, positive social change in the community. From there, who knows?

For now, all that matters is what we as individuals, as a community, and as a state choose to do with the findings of this study.  Instead of being discouraged, we should rally around the need for improvement and begin to take steps towards bettering our community by simply being aware of the needs that must be met and participating in community programs. For some ideas on how to get started, check out HandsOn Northeast Georgia’s calendar of volunteer events as well as a list of ongoing opportunities. Remember, every little bit counts, and you never know what good will come of it!

Read the original article here.

We traveled out to Bethlehem Elementary School in Barrow County and met with Ms. Grant, the principal. She was so excited and so humbled to have this corporate partner giving back to her school. 

HandsOn NEGA’s role in this project was to make sure the supplies were available and ready, instruct the volunteers on their projects, keep them motivated (and fed!) and to help them work efficiently as a team. Shameless plug – if you want to experience this for your own company, check out our TeamServe program! I’d love to set up a project for you!

As you can see the volunteers did WONDERFUL work! We’re very thankful and proud of them.

Ms. Grant, the principal, and Ms. Marz, the art teacher, wanted to express their thanks to Belk and HandsOn NEGA for coordinating and implementing this project.

Hooray!

To accomplish this amazing feat, Belk partnered with Points of Light, who in turn activated their affiliates (that’s us!) to locally manage the projects. HandsOn NEGA was asked to work with the employees from the Athens and Bethlehem stores to engage them in a project at a local Title I school.

Yesterday, I met up with an AWESOME team of employees from the Athens’ Belk store to conduct a service project at Timothy Road Elementary School. In less than three hours, they constructed and finished a picnic table, painted 20 canvases that can either be used collectively as a mural or separately, and constructed two bookshelves! We are very thankful for their contribution to the Athens community and look forward to having them volunteer with us again!

Ms. Elder, Assistant Principal of Timothy Road, also wanted to thank Belk for their great work!

Stay tuned for a recap from our project at Bethlehem Elementary School tomorrow!

• Bicycles can be purchased at many locally-owned stores, such as Sunshine Cycles, The Hub, or Ben’s Bikes.
• While cyclists are advised to remain in the far right hand side of the lane, they are permitted to ride in any part of the lane in order to avoid debris, rough pavement, storm drains, parked cars, or other objects which threaten the bicyclist’s safety.
• Bicycles being operated at night must have a white light on the front, which is visible up to 300 feet, and a red reflector on the back. A light emitting red light can also be used on the back.
• Helmets must be worn by riders 16 and under.
• Bicycles being operated in the road must be given at least 3 feet of space on either side by cars. Driving too close to a bicycle is scary for the cyclist and dangerous for both parties.
• The League of American Bicyclists namedAthens-ClarkeCountya bronze level bike friendly community. This recognizes the safe accommodation and encouragement of bicycling made by our community.
• Athens Transit is equipped with bicycle racks on the front of their buses, allowing bicyclists to bicycle, catch a bus, and continue their ride, whether for leisure or to or from work.
• From 2000 to 2010, bicycle commuting grew by more than 40% in theUnited States.
• 1.6% ofAthens-ClarkeCountyreported bicycling as their form of commuting in 2010. This is over three times the national average of 0.53%. This is also the highest rate inGeorgia.
• Bicycles can legally be ridden on sidewalks, permitted that there are no signs prohibiting the act, such as downtown. On sidewalks, right of way is given to pedestrians.
• The average annual cost of a bicycle is $120, versus $7,800, the average annual cost of a sedan

Here at HandsOn Northeast Georgia, our focus is not on monetary resources but rather the invaluable resource of people. There are numerous opportunities available every week that need volunteers to weed plants, usher a theatre performance, mentor children, and much more. Even many of the large fundraising events mentioned in the article require large groups of helpers in order to be a success. Volunteering time and talent is one way to give back to the community without spending a dime. Still, the issue of competition arises. How should you donate your time, given the multitude of diverse opportunities available?

There are many ways that people make this decision. They can choose to support a cause that they believe in, or perhaps one that is better suited to their own interests and hobbies. Alternatively, they can simply choose an opportunity that’s available during their free time. No matter what the motivation, the fact remains that time and talent are as critical as monetary resources for the survival of these non-profits and the work that they do. Even if you believe that there are too many organizations operating within Athens-Clarke County right now, consider researching a couple that you might be interested in. Focusing in on a cause or organization certainly makes the berth of choices less daunting. Working and volunteering with an agency and it’s staff is also a great way to decide if you want to give money to that organization as well.

Check out our Calendar on events as well as the Ongoing Opportunities to scratch the surface of some of the areas that need people to donate their time. Remember – don’t be overwhelmed. There will always be problems is the world that need fixing, and if anything it is encouraging to see so many willing and ready to help others against the odds.

5 am on a cold Saturday morning isn’t exactly the ideal time to be outside or even awake for that matter, but we still had over 50 volunteers come out to help with the Taste 10K, even with a chance of snow in the forecast! We were set up in record time and cleaned up faster than ever and our runners couldn’t be happier with the registration and packet pick-up process. Thank you to everyone who helped facilitate this event  as well as our runners for braving the cold and donating your time and energy to support our cause!

On Sunday, set-up for A Taste of Athens began bright and early  at 9 am, and our volunteers were a crucial part of that process! Throughout the day and evening, we had over 180 volunteers come out to help set-up, pour alcohol, sell tickets, greet patrons, and much more! Through sponsorship, ticket sales, and silent auction proceeds Community Connection was able to raise a significant portion of it’s annual budget!

The success of these events would not have been possible without the efforts of our volunteers, and we at HandsOn NEGA and Community Connection could not be more grateful. Thank you to everyone for coming out and supporting Community Connection! We hope that you keep up with our Volunteer Calendar  for more opportunities to give back to your community and that we will see you at our next event!

• Pay for the coffee/meal of someone behind you in a drive-through line
• Let someone cut in front of you in line
• Donate toiletries, diapers, cleaning supplies, or kitchen supplies to help the survivors of domestic violence at Peace Place, Inc.
• Donate blood to the American Red Cross at one of many local blood drives (go to www.redcrossblood.org to see listings)
• Exercise a hyperactive dog at Animal Control. Stray and surrendered dogs can sometimes go days without time outside of their enclosure and they appreciate being able to run and get attention.
• Provide a meal to feed the homeless individuals at the Athens Area Homeless Shelter.
• Donate clothing, furniture, appliances, books, or shoes to a local thrift store.
• Pledge to act as a mentor to a needy youth in theAthensarea with the Clarke County Mentor Program.
• Donate gas cards or bus passes to The Cottage to assist sexual assault victims in getting to their therapy sessions.
• Donate food to the Food Bank ofNortheast Georgia.
• Donate old computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, mice, or office supplies to Free ITAthens, which provides free and low-cost computer equipment and computer-related services to members of our community.
• Donate to the Make A Wish Foundation, which grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
• Donate school supplies like markers, glue, scotch tape, pencils, erasers, or notebooks to local schools.
• Work in community gardens for an afternoon at The Cottage, Southern Care Hospice, a local elementary school, or park.
• Write a letter to a deployed soldier. An internet search can find many organizations that send letters or care packages to soldiers missing a piece of home.
• Donate books, videos, audio books, or periodicals to the Athens-Clarke County Regional Library.

In addition, volunteer opportunities, both one-time and ongoing, can be found at www.handsonnega.org. If you create a username and password, you can browse through available volunteer opportunities, commit to events, and log each service you complete. For every five service jobs you log, HandsOn will send you a coupon for one free 12 oz handmade drink from Jittery Joe’s (Athens and Watkinsville locations only). Doing good for our community can feel good and taste good too!

Established in 1987, the AIDS Memorial Quilt began with a single 3 x 6 foot panel created in San Francisco. Today, The Quilt is composed of more than 48,000 panels, each one commemorating the life of someone who has died of AIDS. These panels come from every state in the nation, every corner of the globe and they have been sewn by hundreds of thousands of friends, lovers and family members into this epic memorial, the largest piece of ongoing community art in the world.

“AIDS Athens is happy to showcase The AIDS Memorial Quilt as part of our 25 Year Commemoration Days. It is 25 Years of AIDS Athens and 25 Years of The Quilt. It is a time to remember. To grieve. To anger. To hope. To inspire. To celebrate the lives in the quilt and AIDS Athens’ 25-year presence in the Athens community,” said Olivia Long, Executive Director of AIDS Athens.

We hope that you, your family, and friends can join us for this commemorative event. You can also find more information at www.aidsathens.org or sign up to volunteer at http://handsonnortheastgeorgia.com/special-events/.

Volunteers worked to restore Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery, which was the first MLK Day project site in Athens, GA 11 years ago!

This year, we hosted 37 different projects all throughout Athens. Over 1,200 volunteers came out to give back to others from planting an orchard at Cedar Shoals High School, clearing out trails along the Athens Greenway, to sorting salvage at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.

Community Connection board member Stacy Conner volunteered with other Georgia Power staff to paint the Guest House at Athens Regional Medical Center.

I was lucky enough this year to travel to a few of the sites to take pictures, talk to the volunteers, and see for myself the amazing things being done in this city. There were entire families who came out to serve – bringing their two-year-old kids in tow to teach them the importance of volunteering at an early age. There were entire Greek organizations from UGA that stepped outside their college bubble to be a part of something so much bigger than themselves. Then, of course, there were the organizations. 37 amazing non-profits and public organizations around Athens whose lives were all greatly impacted that day.

Volunteers worked to recycle 40 bicycles with BikeAthens.

I saw a lot of people and a lot of hard work. Everyone was braving the cold, constantly removing thorn bushes from their clothes or branches from their paths, and not stopping to rest. There was one thing I never saw, though – complaining. Smiles were abundant and Martin Luther King’s spirit of peace and hope was in the air. The day truly was as amazing as the man who inspired it all.

So, thank you so much to all of our amazing volunteers and everyone who helped make the day such a success. MLK Day of Service may only come once a year, but we hope you were inspired to continue Dr. King’s legacy of service throughout the rest of your year and the rest of your life.

The American Red Cross collects and processes 40% of the blood supplied to over 3,000 hospitals across theUnited States, and they hold blood drives all over theAthensarea yearlong. Each year, the American Red Cross collects from over 4 million donors, totaling to over 6 million units. Every day, more than 44,000 units of blood are needed throughout theUnited States, which evens out to someone in need every 2 seconds. People battling cancer through chemotherapy typically require regular blood transfusions, some needing a transfusion every day. Donated blood is also used in transfusions for car accident victims, trauma victims, and those with sickle-cell disease. One donation can save the life of up to three people.

Donating blood is becoming easier and easier. The process includes four steps: registration, medical history and mini-physical, donation, and refreshments. In the registration process, a staff member will review eligibility requirements and check an ID. Eligibility requirements differ depending on the type of donation, but the donor must be healthy, at least 17 years-old (or 16 years-old with parental permission) and weigh at least 110 pounds. After registration, you will meet with a staff member privately to go over your medical and travel history. Afterward, he/she will check your temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin levels to make sure that your body is healthy enough to give blood. The donation process involves insertion of a sterile needle into the crook of your arm while you relax in a comfortable chair. For blood donation a pint of blood is taken, which usually takes 8 -10 minutes. After donation is complete, you will be given juice and cookies. After a rest period of 10-15 minutes, you will be free to leave and continue through your daily activities. After donation, it is recommended to remain hydrated and avoid heavy lifting or strenuous physical activity.

For all listings of blood drives in your area, visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter your zipcode into the search box on the right side of the screen. Each pint you donate can save the life of up to three people, and each donor can donate red blood cells every 58 days. Donating blood is a fast, easy way to show compassion to those around you, and every drop counts.