Volunteer Spotlight: Josh Angel

Josh Angel has a quirky sense of humor, is a big Green Bay Packers fan (he’s originally from Wisconsin), is a practicing Muslim, and spends his free time volunteering in the community with Hands On Nashville.

Josh with his daughter, Jailyn. They are all smiles! “We as individuals can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone,” says Josh.

Since he first got involved with Hands On Nashville one year ago, he’s racked up an impressive 60 hours of service, helping out the community at volunteer opportunities ranging from Helping the Hungry and Thriftsmart Assistant to Home Energy Savings projects.

“My first volunteer opportunity ever was serving dinner at the Safe Haven Family Shelter,” explains Josh. “A co-worker of mine at Asurion encouraged me to try it out, and I had such an incredible experience that I just haven’t been able to stop. Volunteering is kinda like Lays Potato Chips, you can’t have just one!” (See what we mean about the sense of humor?)

Josh has a big heart for helping others. In his spare time, he also likes to read The Qur’an, spend time with his daughter and his family, and try to live an honest, humble, and wholesome life.

When it comes to advice about getting involved and helping others, Josh encourages people who may be timid about jumping in to “just try and experience new things. Get involved with your community. Especially youth – they have such a powerful influence these days… So just get out there, and lend a helping hand wherever you can, because we as individuals can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”

Josh says the best part about volunteering is the pay. (Ha! We love Josh’s jokes.) “In all seriousness,” says Josh, “the best part of volunteering is just feeling as if in some small way you’ve impacted someone’s life for the better. You’ve shown that there are still people in this world who care, who are concerned. Whether it’s a friendly smile, a warm embrace, or a hot meal.”

We would like to thank Josh and all of those who are so giving of their time, compassion, and willingness to help others. What an amazing community this is!

Celebrating Corporate Service

Emdeon and its employees believe that doing good in the community is an important part of being in business. That’s why the company remains committed to providing opportunities for employees to give back through numerous charitable organizations’ events year round.  Emdeon employees lend their time and talent to schools and many charitable organizations including Hands On Nashville, American Red Cross, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

“Because Emdeon takes corporate service so seriously, we are honored to be a part of celebrating other company’s volunteer efforts,” said Susan Byrd, vice president of human resources at Emdeon. “We look forward to presenting the Corporate Service Project Award to one of three amazing companies: Advance Financial, Deloitte, and Schneider Electric.”

Emdeon is the Corporate Service Project Presenting Sponsor for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Caring for the Community Beyond Hospital Walls

It is only fitting that HCA/TriStar Health is the Presenting Sponsor of the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards – named for a beloved community volunteer whose life work focused on caring for others. Committed to the care of human life, HCA/TriStar Health employees not only deliver healthcare services; they also improve lives through community outreach.

Every year, HCA employees choose nonprofits to support with their time and/or money through the company’s “Caring for the Community” campaign. During the 2012 campaign, HCA employees pledged $3.1M to meet nonprofits’ needs, and served 11,838 hours during HCA Community Day.

“We want to inspire each other to make a commitment to get involved with a local nonprofit,” said Joanne Pulles, president of the HCA Foundation and Hope Fund. “It’s a natural extension of HCA’s mission. We’re dedicated to the improvement of human life both inside and beyond hospital walls, and are proud to present the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards for the fifth consecutive year.”

HCA/TriStar Health is the Presenting Sponsor for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

The Engine Behind Community Impact

C3 Consulting knows that teams are more innovative and productive when they are in an environment that is designed specifically to allow teams to gather, dream, plan, and grow. That’s why the management consulting firm opened the engine, a creative collaboration space adjacent to the firm’s consulting offices in the heart of Nashville. The space is used not only for C3 to lead teams through important change, but also for any professional or community organization to use for problem-solving, strategic planning, team building, and connecting.

C3’s strong commitment to the community makes it a perfect match for the Mary Catherine Strobel Community Impact Award. “We are pleased to recognize volunteers who make a difference in their neighborhoods by presenting the Community Impact Award,” said Beth Chase, president and CEO of C3 Consulting. “Rob Crittenden (1943-2012), Susan Hatfield, and Creely Wilson have made significant contributions to the community through their work, and we are honored to recognize their achievements.”

C3 Consulting is the Community Impact Award Presenting Sponsor for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Volunteering Together for a Cause

When employees volunteer together to address an issue or benefit a cause, amazing things can happen. U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) and its parent company, Altria Group, have seen this first hand. In 2012, USSTC employees in Nashville built on their already strong culture of teamwork and caring by adapting toys for children with disabilities; building bikes for kids in foster care; supporting Metro Nashville Public Schools during Hands On Nashville Day; and more.

“Employees at Altria’s companies are committed to being involved in their communities,” said Amber Roos of Altria’s Corporate Contributions and Community Relations Department. “We foster an environment that supports our employees as they work together to contribute their time, energy and talents to our communities, and we are pleased to invest in Hands On Nashville as a Presidents Circle Corporate Partner. We are proud to honor all the volunteer groups who do incredible work in our community, and the finalists for the Civic Volunteer Group Award: Backyard Leaders, Maury Regional Medical Center, and Unity Build.”

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company is the Civic Volunteer Group Award Sponsor for the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

MLK Trivia Challenge

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is quickly approaching on January 21. In anticipation of this great day, the HON VolunTEEN Program will have a MLK trivia challenge leading up to January 21. Participate in this challenge and you will have an opportunity to win some cool Hands On Nashville t-shirts and water bottles. Here’s how it will work:

1. Questions. Starting Monday, Jan. 7 (today!!), the VolunTEEN Facebook page will post trivia questions about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at 3 p.m. each weekday through Jan. 18. The questions will be about the life and work of Dr. King.
2. Answer. If you are the first person to give the correct answer to the trivia question, your name will be entered into the drawing.
3. Win. The winner of the drawing will be announced on Friday, January 18th.

Welcome to the HON team, Alison and Adrianna!

Both Alison (left) and Adrianna (right) smile after their first month at Hands On Nashville. We’re thrilled to have them here!

Holiday gifts arrived early at Hands On Nashville with two new faces joining our special Hands On Nashville team in November. Both Alison Duncan and Adrianna Silver have entered as AmeriCorps VISTAS, a program designed to specifically fight poverty that is supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Tennessee Literacy Coalition. In this program, Alison and Adrianna are provided with very small stipends for one year of learning through service. We are honored to have them on our team.

Alison is a born and bred Tar Heel, having lived in North Carolina for most of her life. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she spent a year working on organic farms across the country, developing her passion for farming and

Allison teaches kids about garlic at the BELL gardens volunteer project. She’ll be very active in doing similar teaching at the HON Urban Farm this spring and summer.

youth education. She moved to Nashville in January 2012, soon after completing a program in sustainable agriculture. Alison is super pumped to be a part of HON’s Urban Agriculture Program and is looking forward to working with some of Nashville’s inspiring young people.

As an AmeriCorps VISTA, Alison will work to build the capacity of the Urban Agriculture Program primarily through youth programming at the Urban Farm. She oversees the curriculum development, planning, and implementation of the new Urban Agriculture Internship Program, the Summer Apprenticeship Program, and the Summer Youth Service Camp. If you want to know more about the Urban Agriculture Program and/or get involved, please visit HON.org/urban_agriculture.

Adrianna leads volunteers to apply energy-efficient upgrades in an East Nashville home.

Adrianna, also passionate about sustainable programming, joins us as the Home Energy Savings Program‘s new VISTA. Adrianna graduated from Western Kentucky University (WKU) with a BA in Philosophy and English in 2011. While attending WKU she worked for the Institute for Citizenship and Social Responsibility (ICSR), where she was involved with both sustainability and community development efforts across her community and campus. Finally working as an assistant to WKU’s Sustainability Coordinator, she was able to put her degree to good work while continuing to learn about the latest environmental efforts. After graduating, Adrianna landed in Nashville where she has worked for several local businesses, most notably as the manager of the Green Wagon of East Nashville. She hopes to continue her relationship with the Nashville community through her work with HON. If you are a homeowner who has questions about the Home Energy Savings Program, please feel free to contact Adrianna at (615) 298.1108, Ext. 422 or email her at adrianna@hon.org.

Nonprofit Partner Spotlight: Soles4Souls

Fall is in the air. And the perfect pair of shoes makes taking an afternoon stroll even more enjoyable, especially if you’re hiking those Percy Warner hills.

A child in Haiti gets a new pairs of shoes from Soles4Souls!

It’s hard to think that anyone wouldn’t have shoes, especially when being exposed to the outside elements. Step on a stick the wrong way, and you’re down for the count. Or imagine walking barefoot outside in the winter.

Thankfully, Soles4Souls knows this need and provides shoes to individuals living in extreme poverty and recovering from natural disasters. One in four adults lives on less than $1 a day, and most cannot afford proper footwear. The charity, headquartered in Nashville, has provided more than 19 million pairs of shoes to those in need since 2005.

Adrian Guetter, a Soles4Souls Cornerstone Team Member, shares her

Volunteers travel with Soles4Souls to help them distribute shoes.

testimonial: “What an incredible experience to be able to provide shoes to the students at Huruma in Kenya. One of the first things we noticed was how when students did have a pair of shoes that had any life left to them whatsoever, they were shared with other students. When we lined the students up to give out the shoes the excitement was contagious. It was Christmas in August for them. As we walked them over to their size, fitted them with the shoes and were able to see them walk away with shoes on their feet the appreciation was overwhelming. Some of the students have spent so much time without any wearable shoes. This was one of the best days we had at the orphanage.”

Soles4Souls volunteers wash every person’s feet that they distribute shoes to before placing new shoes on their feet.

With so many needs, Soles4Souls volunteers really make the difference. Soles4Souls’ biggest upcoming need is for volunteers to help with the Ragnar Relay race on November 9. The runners start off in Chattanooga and end in Nashville. Soles4Souls needs volunteers along the 196 mile course to help with passing out water, cleanup, setup, routing courses, and other tasks. For every one volunteer that Soles4Souls provides, the Ragnar Relay race donates $100 to the organization, which translates into 100 pairs of shoes that Soles4Souls is able to distribute to those in need. There are various shifts to sign up starting Friday at 4 a.m. until Saturday at 7p.m.
> Sign up and learn more here.  

If you’re looking for an ongoing need you can help fill, volunteers are needed to help with sorting shoes and processing them for shipments.
> Sign up and learn more here. 

> View all Soles4Souls volunteer needs here.

9/11 Serve To Remember Event

Join hundreds of Middle Tennesseans in honoring those who serve our country this September 11^th. “Serve to Remember” activities are particularly meaningful because local Clarksville military families – who are friends, neighbors, and co-workers – have made unimaginable sacrifices to protect America.

From helping at Salvation Army and organizing Teacher’s Warehouse to setting up City of Clarksville Parks and Recreation’s Riverfest event, there are a variety of options to fit your niche. Hands On Clarksville’s goal is to engage a minimum of 600 volunteers in various service activities from September 1-11. Help them make it happen!

> Click here to view 9/11 volunteer opportunities. 

> Click here to see the 9/11 Serve to Remember Facebook event page.

In 2011, Hands On Clarksville (HOC) participated in the Corporation for National Community Service 9/11 Serve to Remember Challenge. With more than 900 volunteers throughout Clarksville Montgomery County giving their time, treasures, and talents to honor those serving our country, HOC was awarded a Serve to Remember grant to expand volunteerism in our community and commemorate the 911 National Day of Service and Remembrance through September 2014.

HOC, a program of Hands On Nashville, meets needs directly in our community through volunteerism.

This year’s “Serve to Remember” activities will be held in partnership with various community organizations including the Salvation Army, City of Clarksville Parks and Recreation (RIVERFEST), Teacher’s Warehouse, APSU Service Learning, LEAP, Loaves and Fishes, Old Fire House Day Shelter and Resource Center, Ft. Campbell Soldier and Family Assistance Center, and other organizations and civic groups. Click here and find how to make your mark and honor our soldiers.

Check out last year’s 9/11 “Serve to Remember” video, encapsulating the great event.

Volunteer Spotlight: Will Hedgecock

Will Hedgecock has a new philosophy in life. “Wake up early on a Saturday, give four or five hours of service to your community, and be back by noon to lay out by the pool, and feel good about having helped out with the added bonus of knowing you’ve gotten at least two days’ worth of exercise under your belt!”

This 26-year-old achiever isn’t all about pool time, though. Working on his Ph. D. in Electrical Engineering at Vanderbilt, he is all about challenging himself to take on new adventures. In addition to loving the outdoors (he can often be found on a trail, riding a bike, or navigating a river in a canoe), Will is not afraid to experiment when it comes to choosing service projects on the HON Opportunity Calendar. “I’ve been very active within the organization, trying out various opportunities – some of which I knew I’d enjoy and some which were outside of my comfort zone,” says Will. From Urban Farm projects to helping with benefit concerts like the “Moograss” Festival, he’s excited to make a positive difference in the community.

Will encourages others looking to get involved to first start with some issue or place that has meaning to them. “I was excited to see a Radnor Lake volunteer day,” Will says. “This is a park several of my friends and I have visited many times, and I thought it’d be not only fun to help out there, but also to give back to a resource that I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy. Since then, I’ve found a number of Nashville non-profits that I really enjoy volunteering for that I never would have even known about without Hands On Nashville.”

Once you volunteer with something familiar, Will encourages you to “branch out and try something new. You just might find a hidden interest you never knew you had!”

“I’m definitely glad I started volunteering with HON, and I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had with the organization so far. Looking forward to many more volunteer opportunities in the near future!”

Do you have an interest in volunteering and trying out something new? Try working on the Urban Farm, helping with the Clay Shoot Fundraiser, or how about Blind Golfing?