For those looking to do some good, this week offers plenty of opportunity. Hands On Atlanta week kicked off on Saturday and will once again be the biggest week for volunteers during the year in Atlanta. Some ten thousand volunteers will hit the streets working on hundreds of projects in different areas.
Hands On Atlanta grew out of a commitment by 12 friends in 1989 with a mission to serve but all with busy schedules and lives. They decided they would start volunteering as a group. When an agency needed a volunteer for a week, the group could work together to fill the slot. And they committed to volunteer on weekends, knowing that between the group of them, they could get enough people to volunteer their time.
Their numbers quickly swelled from 12 -60. The group was being managed in one of the co-founders Elise Eplan’s apartment and they realized they needed to get a little more formal. They were getting a few grants here and there to cover postage, phones and other costs and needed real management. A young woman with a rather famous last name, Michelle Nunn, seemed like a good candidate to lead the organization and the rest is history.
The “Hands On Network” would evolve into an international network with tens of thousands of volunteers.
The group harks back to Atlanta’s central role in the civil rights movement and the central role of civic engagement in the city’s history. And the group is explicit about the importance of service in a democrat society – “Meaningful volunteer service is essential to creating a vibrant democratic society. The power of each person taking action changes the world.” With corporate heavy hitters like the Coca-Cola Company, Delta and Kaiser Permanente, the work the group not just in one week but throughout the year has a real impact on Atlantan’s lives.
There are so many opportunities for service on so many projects, if you are interested in volunteering, there is likely something that will fit your talents. There are projects at the Five Points Garden, volunteering at Dad’s Garage, serving seniors at AG Rhodes Health and Rehab center, working with the Discovery Program at the Kindezi School, the kitchen and linen drive with the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta and many more.
To see all the service opportunities and find out more:
https://www.handsonatlanta.org/blog/hands-on-atlanta-week-2019-service-guide
