In the 2022-23 program year, 434 youth (368 youth participants and 66 youth leaders) are currently involved in Hands4Hope’s Service-Learning Clubs on 13 middle and high school campuses in Folsom, El Dorado Hills, Shingle Springs and Placerville.
Clubs meet regularly to plan for their service-learning project for the year using the service-learning strategy referred to as “IPARD” - Investigation, Planning & Preparation, Action, Reflection, and Demonstration.
Learn more about what our Middle & High School Service-Learning Clubs are up to below!
MIDDLE SCHOOL SERVICE LEARNING CLUBS UPDATE:
As we welcome 2023 and a more normal club experience, with all meetings being in person we are also celebrating our Middle School Service-Learning Clubs. Currently, there are 185 active participants in on-campus clubs led by 32 Hands4Hope -Youth Making A Difference Youth Leaders. All clubs are actively engaged in the service-learning model planning stage, which includes more research into specifically what is needed from the agency they are partnering with, as well as project selection, setting goals and creating a timeline. Each club will break into committees for marketing, operations, finance, and public relations.
Leading into the holiday season some clubs hosted team building activities with a purpose. Sutter and Folsom Middle School collected needed toiletries and bundled them in stockings for Loaves and Fishes. They collected and donated over $350 worth of items. Also, Hands4Hope was represented in the Hangtown Christmas Parade again this year by 18 high school and middle school club participants and leaders from the service-learning clubs at four Placerville Schools. The youth added holiday notes to 3,000 pieces of candy and passed them out to promote awareness of Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference in the Greater Placerville Area. Finally, Rolling Hills and Marina Leaders took some time to get to know their leadership teams better through games and gingerbread house decorating.
Herbert Green and Markham have both chosen to benefit partner agencies that support animal rescue and adoption. They include Animal Outreach of the Mother Lode and El Dorado County German Shepherd Rescue respectfully. Look for more information on their web pages coming soon.
Folsom voted to support seniors and selected Brookdale Senior Center to bring some much needed companionship to the residents. They hope to do a team build or two by visiting the seniors for various events such as Bingo and Storytelling by the residents. Sutter has decided to direct their efforts to a local chapter of Guide Dogs for the Blind. They will start with a team build by making needed fleece dog toys while they work through the planning stage for their larger project in the spring.
Marina, Rolling Hills and Camerado will focus on children. Marina Village chose to support youth battling cancer and heard presentations by Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance and Images of Hope. They voted and will design a project to support teens receiving support through Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance. Rolling Hills Middle School has chosen to focus their efforts on children with disabilities. So far they have heard presentations by A Touch of Understanding and WeEmbrace, and voted to support WeEmbrace. Camerado chose to focus on pediatric patients and heard from Images of Hope and Shriners Children’s Hospital and will vote at their next meeting.
HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE-LEARNING CLUBS UPDATE:
Our High School Service-Learning Clubs are off to a great start in 2023! All seven on-campus clubs with a combined total of 183 participants led by 34 Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference Youth Leaders are all actively engaged in the service-learning model planning stage. The planning includes more research into specifically what is needed from the agency they are partnering with, as well as project selection, setting goals and creating a timeline. Each club will break into committees for marketing, operations, finance, and public relations.
Before Winter Break some clubs were already busy with team building activities that also gave back to the community. Union Mine participated in the Adopt-A-Family project through The Center, and provided 45 new items including clothing, jackets, shoes, and toys for Christmas for a mother and her four children. Folsom collected needed toiletries and bundled them in stockings for Loaves and Fishes. They collected and donated over $175 worth of items. Also, Hands4Hope was represented in the Hangtown Christmas Parade again this year by 18 high school and middle school club participants and leaders from the service-learning clubs at four Placerville schools. The youth added holiday notes to 3,000 pieces of candy and passed them out to promote awareness of Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference in the Greater Placerville Area.
Ponderosa, Oak Ridge Empower and Oak Ridge Inspire Clubs all chose to work to benefit children in need this year. The Oak Ridge Inspire Club heard from the Sacramento Children's Receiving Home and Sweet Dreams Foundation and will vote at their next meeting. Oak Ridge Empower Club also welcomed a speaker from Sacramento Children's Receiving Home, as well as one from UC Davis Children’s Hospital, and will vote at their next meeting. Ponderosa High School has decided to benefit New Morning Youth and Family Services, specifically the Ashby House Youth Shelter. More details on projects to come.
Folsom and Vista del Lago have decided to benefit animals. Folsom has decided to direct their efforts to a local chapter of Guide Dogs for the Blind. They will start with a team build by making needed fleece dog toys while they work through the planning stage for their larger project in the spring. Vista del Lago will work to support All About Equine.
El Dorado has turned their focus this year to supporting the unhoused, and will design a project to support Green Valley Community Church’s outreach program. Union Mine will be working to support The Center in the area of human trafficking awareness.
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