There are so many great days of the week to celebrate during the year, but HOTC would be remiss in not supporting National Volunteer Week. Volunteer Week is a celebration of service and the volunteers who serve. That’s you!

The week started off with volunteer opportunities for Keep Thomas County Beautiful’s Great American CleanUp devoted to litter pickup at city gateways, Thomasville Landmarks Operation CARE, and Due South where the HOTC Volunteer Ambassadors made their debut.

The rest of the week was filled with volunteer activity at America’s Second Harvest helping prepare for the US Postal Food Drive “Stamp Out Hunger”, Keep Thomas County Beautiful which celebrated Earth Day with the Boys and Girls Club by planting seedlings for a community garden, Thomasville

Community Resource Center helping at their Step Show benefit, and more. In partnership with local Girl Scouts and schools, we also held an After-School Supply Drive benefiting local youth programs.

Local businesses offered volunteers thank you gifts (Thanks to Downtown Thomasville, Hendersons and Grassroots Coffee!), and we shared stories and pictures highlighting the many different types of volunteers in our community (visit our website at www.handsonthomascounty.org and search National Volunteer Week to read more).

On behalf of the 300+ non-profits in Thomas County, we’d like to say, “Thank You for Being A Volunteer!”

Become aVolunteer Ambassador

APRIL 20-27 WAS A WEEK PACKED WITH SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES, THANK YOUS AND SPOTLIGHTS IN CELEBRATION OF VOLUNTEERISM AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

People volunteer for many different reasons: to make a difference, to learn about community needs, and to meet and interact with new people.

With that in mind, we’ve created the HOTC Volunteer Ambassador program. Experience a more social side of volunteering while also getting a more in-depth look

at our area’s non-profits and their needs, and an insider’s perspective on fun local events!

To become a Volunteer Ambassador, visit www.handsonthomascounty.org and search Volunteer Ambassador.

Summer of YouthMake a Summer Gift to support youth volunteer and service programs. See inside for more...

CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM

May 2013

If you haven’t been to our website lately, you are missing out! We have an

event calendar to keep you posted on the latest volunteer needs and events, with the ability to register online for many volunteer opportunities. You’ll also find the latest volunteer, service and community news in our What’s Happening section including additional information on many of the stories in this newsletter. Be sure to join our email list to receive weekly volunteer alerts and updates. You’ll also find up-to-the-minute volunteer postings on our Facebook page (just search Hands On Thomas County) and Like Us!

HOTC Reaches Out Online and in the CommunityCHANCES ARE YOU’RE ONLINE...AND SO IS HOTC! VISIT OUR NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE AT WWW.HANDSONTHOMASCOUNTY.ORG. WE’RE ALSO ON FACEBOOK (LIKE US!) AND TWITTER.

EVENTSMay 18 at 10 am MacAttack 3 Charity Disc Golf TournamentAt MacIntyre Park Disc Golf Course. Register online at www.DiscGolfUnited.com

June 10-14, 8:30 am - 3 pm Project IMPACT Summer service camp for rising 6th-9th graders

October 19, 9 am - noon 10th Annual HOTC Day A giant day of community service

November 16, 9:30 am - 12:30 pmFamily Volunteer Day

Families bonding through service

Post Office Box 252 Thomasville, GA 31799 229.226.5200 info@handsonthomascounty.org www.handsonthomascounty.org

CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM

National Volunteer Week 2013— A Time to Thank All of Our Volunteers, Past and Present

2013 Summer HOTC_NewsTemp_0413.indd 2-3 5/3/2013 1:46:43 PM

MAC ATTACK 3 VOLUNTEERS Help with set-up, registration, serving lunch, judging and clean up for May 18 disc golf event, 16+. Shifts 8:00-12:30 and 12-4:30. Call 226-5200 or email info@handsonthomascounty.org.

COUNSELORS (18+) WANTED June 10-14 from 8:30-3:00 daily for Project IMPACT summer service camp. Call 226-5200 or email info@handsonthomascounty.org.

SUMMER INTERN POSITION Learn and participate in all aspects of running a non-profit. Flexible hours. Email resume to info@handsonthomascounty.org.

AMERICAN RED CROSS Volunteers are needed for a Disaster Action Team: respond to local emergencies by assisting victims in finding shelter, food, clothing, and necessary medications. Training provided. Contact Melissa Axley at 912-651-5321 or email melissa.axley@redcross.org.

MISS KITTY FELINE SANCTUARY Help needed feeding and caring for the cats, emptying the litter boxes, showing the cats love and attention, and for general facilities maintenance. For more information call 236-0167.

This relatively new sport has been sweeping the country as an inexpensive way for people of all ages and abilities to get active and enjoy the outdoors. HOTC has been lucky enough to partner with an energetic group of disc golfers from Red Hills Disc Golf club. Members of RHDG have been promoting their sport for the last three years through weekly organized events and two annual tournaments: Jingle Jangle (every December) and MacAttack (a nod to

Thomasville’s very own MacIntyre Park disc golf course, every Spring/Summer). Both tournaments are fundraisers for HOTC. The last one

raised more than $3000.

On Saturday, May 18, RHDG and HOTC will host the 3rd annual MacAttack Charity Disc Golf Tournament which will be the first one sanctioned by the

Professional Disc Golf Association. Along with the annual tournaments, RHDG and HOTC are looking forward

to adding new outreach and educational events geared toward introducing the sport of Disc Golf to the community. “We would really like to see more people, especially younger folks, getting involved in the sport locally.” Says Allen Thornhill of RHDG, “It’s a great way to be active, stay healthy, and have fun.”

To learn more about disc golf in Thomasville, register for MacAttack 3 or be a MacAttack hole sponsor, visit www.handsonthomascounty and search disc golf, call our office at 226-5200 or email info@handsonthomascounty.org.

2012-13 Board

Volunteer Opportunities

FOR RISING 6TH - 9TH GRADERS. HAVE FUN. EARN COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS FOR SCHOOL. YOUTH CAN MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM.

A UNIQUE EVENT BENEFITING HANDS ON THOMAS COUNTY’S VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS. COME WATCH, PLAY OR VOLUNTEER!

Richard A. Munroe, Chair Kha McDonald, Vice Chair Eric Ward, Treasurer Bill Fuller, Secretary Frances Parker, Past Chair Tom Everett, Incoming Chair

Nathaniel Abrams Imogene Conyers Danny Dukes Jenny Ladson JoAnn McGrotha Charlotte Mixon Jeremy Rich Allen Thornhill Todd Whiddon Brian Wortman

A fond farewell to our outgoing Board Members, Imogene Conyers and JoAnn McGrotha; and outgoing Chair, Rick Munroe who will take an Ex-Officio position. Thank you for your service!

A warm welcome to our incoming Board Members for 2013-14: Dale Aldridge Jim Carter Jay Flowers Arline Hampton Mary Lawrence Lang Jennifer Lindquist

Staff Angela Kiminas, Executive Director Joseph Newborn, Programs Director

June 10th-14, Thomas County youth are invited to take part in a week-long camp that will not only change their lives, but also the lives of hundreds of citizens in Thomas County.

Campers will spend their days learning, discussing and addressing issues such

as hunger, homelessness, emergency preparedness, animal welfare, the environment, social outreach and more.

With more schools requiring community service hours for graduation, this is a great way to expose youth to a variety of the more than 300 local non-profits that depend on volunteer support to accomplish their missions. As campers gain experience with the various types of volunteer opportunities available and learn about the issues facing our community, they will find what opportunities appeal to them and which issues they are passionate about. They will also be

able to start earning community service hours for the upcoming school year.

The overall goal of Project IMPACT, beyond helping area non-profits, is to develop life-long volunteers dedicated to making a difference in the community they live in. It is truly impactful to witness a young person as they see firsthand the problems and issues facing society and then realize that there is something they can do about it.

To learn more about Project IMPACT or to register, visit our website and search Project Impact, or call our office at 226-5200. Hurry! Space is limited.

Summer is just around the corner, and for many of you it brings thoughts of “no school!”, summer camp, beach days and family outings. For HOTC, summer signifies the end of our current fiscal year, and a time for budgeting and planning volunteer days, programs and events for the busy fall season to come.

As you make your summer plans, we ask you to consider making a Summer Gift donation to HOTC, in honor of our community’s youth, a part of those plans. Your donation will help us provide more youth volunteer services and programs in 2013-14 through Student Hands On Thomas County.

We have seen a significant increase in demand for youth volunteer opportunities. This year, more than half of our volunteers were under the age of 16. We are thrilled to see more youth

volunteering to better the community! Youth who volunteer just one hour per week are less likely to engage in destructive behavior; learn respect, confidence, compassion, and leadership skills; and establish a commitment and responsibility for the community they live in, and the people who live in it.

Help us put these future leaders and caretakers to good use in the community now through age-appropriate, meaningful and productive service opportunities. Make a Summer Gift donation of any amount using the enclosed donation envelope. Or you may make a donation online at www.handsonthomascounty.org.

Thank you for making a wise investment in our community! Angela Kiminas, Executive Director

From the DirectorWHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS SUMMER? CONSIDER MAKING A GIFT DONATION TO SUPPORT YOUTH VOLUNTEERISM A PART OF YOUR SUMMER PLANS.

MacAttack 3 Charity Disc Golf Tournament On May 18

Project IMPACT Summer Service Camp

2013 Summer HOTC_NewsTemp_0413.indd 4-5 5/3/2013 1:46:59 PM