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.

Tell us a few of your favorite things, and enter to win a dinner at Burger Up

When we asked our staff what they love most about summer, we got some great answers: homegrown tomato/basil sandwiches (yum), reading by the pool, hanging out at the lake, cookouts, cold watermelon on a hot day, long days of sunshine. We then asked ourselves – Is it possible to find volunteer projects that align with these things? Check out this magic:

HON volunteers harvesting vegetables in a community garden.

> Tomato/basil sandwich and cold watermelon = HON Urban Farm and Richland Urban Farm

> Reading by the pool = Reading Buddies

> Hanging out at the lake = Radnor Lake Work Day

> Cookouts = Dinner at Hope Lodge

> Long days of sunshine = Blackberry Jam Music Festival

In the spirit of chasing the ice cream man (or woman) and running through the sprinkler, we’re curious if this same experiment works for you. What’s your favorite thing about summer? When you look at our Opportunity Calendar, can you find a volunteer project that somehow involves this thing? Let us know!

Post your answers* on our Facebook page by Friday, June 8, and enter a chance to win a dinner for four at Burger Up in Nashville. Ready, set, go!

*Answers must include both a favorite thing about summer AND the volunteer opportunity this aligns with. (Be sure to include the hyperlink to the project!) For example, “My favorite thing about summer is taking walks with my dog. I can help the Nashville community by volunteering with the Nashville Humane Association’s Critter Care project.” The winner will be chosen at random by HON staff.

We’ve Moved!

Hands On Nashville Joins Center for Nonprofit Management at the Trolley Barns at Rolling Mill Hill
It’s official: Middle Tennessee’s volunteer resource center has moved to the Trolley Barns at Rolling Mill Hill, joining the Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM) in one of six historic buildings that have been renovated for commercial use. We are thrilled to join CNM to provide innovative capacity-building services to nonprofit organizations – from professional development and education to volunteerism – under one roof!

The beautiful downtown view from the new HON office in the Historic Trolley Barns.

The buildings, constructed circa 1940 as a New Deal project, served the city of Nashville as office and maintenance shops for the city public works department. An example of early twentieth-century industrial architecture, the buildings have been renovated to meet the guidelines of the National Register, and an application has been submitted to list the buildings in the National Register of Historic Places. Other organizations that will be moving into the development include Emma, the Entrepreneur Center, Centric Architecture, the Metropolitan Department and Housing Agency, and Baker, Sullivan & Hoover PLC. In addition to the exciting synergy between CNM and HON, the historic character of the buildings, and our innovative and thoughtful neighbors, the HON and CNM building is seeking LEED Silver certification (read more about the sustainable features of the building below.)

Caroline, Jaclyn, Becca and Elizabeth enjoy a little jump rope to break the place in.

Please make note of our new address, and stop by and say hello if you are in the neighborhood!

Hands On Nashville
37 Peabody Street, Suite 206
Nashville, TN 37210

While our office has moved, our phone number is the same – (615) 298-1108. And, of course, you can still find 300+ volunteer opportunities every month on our Opportunity Calendar at HON.org.

More About Our New “Green” Office
A core HON value is sustainability – from offering volunteer opportunities that improve the environment to our internal office practices, we strive to be aware of the impact we have not just on our community, but also on the environment. And our new office is no exception! The developer of our building is seeking LEED Silver Certification, a green rating system for buildings that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The building provides a healthy and environmentally friendly office for our staff, which boosts staff productivity and morale so we can have a bigger impact on our community while keeping a smaller impact on our earth.

For a building to become LEED certified, the project has to achieve points in five categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality.  A few interesting LEED features of our building:
· It is a brownfield redevelopment, which means the site soil was originally contaminated. The developer used soil remediation to remove the toxins and improve the site.
· Through low impact stormwater design, more stormwater remains onsite so it   does not run off and overburden the city’s stormwater infrastructure.
· During construction, 60% of the existing building shell  was reused, which diverted 50% of construction waste from the landfill.
· Inside our office doors, most of the office equipment is Energy Star. We sourced regional and recycled furniture as much as possible.

Adams, HON's Urban Farm Program VISTA, enjoys the new lounge.

To become more involved in Hands On Nashville’s sustainable initiatives, sign up to  volunteer with one of our three environmentally-focused programs: Urban Farming, Waterway Restoration (more info coming soon on this one!), or Home Energy Savings.  We look forward to seeing you at a project soon!

Volunteer Leader Spotlight: Mario LaGrone

Mario and his team taking a break to strike a pose as they volunteer at Haywood Lane fire station over MLK Day Weekend.

Let’s face it, life gets busy. For Mario LaGrone though, that’s no excuse. Preparing for medical school, working, and raising a daughter keep his schedule jam-packed, but he still manages to find time to give back to our community and make good friends while he’s at it. This Hands On Nashville Volunteer Leader of three years consistently inspires others with his upbeat attitude and spunky spirit.

The best part about Mario is his passion to assist those in need. It’s hard to be around him and not feel inspired by his positive energy. Last month during MLK Day weekend, Mario served as Volunteer Leader for a painting project at the Haywood Lane fire station. When his group of volunteers finished their assigned work early, he was surprised when they didn’t jump on the opportunity to leave and go enjoy the beautiful day. In unity, the group told him, “we will leave when you leave.” Mario says, “I could not believe… a group of volunteers I’d only known for two hours felt so committed to me, Hands On Nashville, and the project.” This group wanted to make a difference and they stayed the entire shift to complete other improvement work. “This was one of my proudest moments,” Mario says. “I had the best team of volunteers and, more importantly, friends.”

Watch out, fire trucks. Mario and his team were busy helping Nashville's Haywood Lane Fire Station on MLK Day weekend.

Mario has always been interested in being a part of the community,  but he never anticipated having so many new relationships in his life. “When I volunteer, I feel that I am helping out my own family. … I am able to interact and meet and thank each one of my volunteers,” he says. And, he gets to do what he loves to do: “share many smiles along the way.” Mario encourages anyone who is looking to give back to “get up and get involved in helping your community. There is always a need for great volunteers who want to make a difference.”

Mario LaGrone is a special events Volunteer Leader for HON, and has led Hands On Nashville Day and MLK Day teams in a variety of service projects over the years. Watch out, though! Word on the street is that Mario will soon be making more frequent appearances as a Volunteer Leader for regular Opportunity Calendar projects.

Music: Tying People Together

Guest post by youth volunteer Jenny Sai

Music is one of the most beautiful forms of art and communication we have. It is something that can be shared between friends, loved ones, or even teacher and student. The beautiful thing is that it can connect two very different types of people together. I have formed a unique and close bond to these children I teach at Salvation Army. They have brightened my Tuesday afternoons countless times, without even one dull moment!

Hume Fogg sophomore Jenny Sai at Salvation Army's after-school program.

It has been my goal for these kids to realize that they can express themselves in a whole new way. I always encourage the notion that there is no right way to say how you feel. One way I helped them do this was by analyzing how artists communicate with audiences through their lyrics. We listened to pop songs such as Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and Justin Bieber’s “Baby.” They had so much fun discussing what they thought each artist was saying. We even had an impromptu game of “freeze dance” where I attempted to dance, but only managed to embarrass myself and have them laugh at me.

The kids with their rainmakers! (Check out the video below to see them in action.)

I also wanted them to experience all ends of the musical spectrum, so of course, they had to be exposed to classical music. We listened to excerpts from Glazunov’s Seasons: Autumn and En Bateau by Debussy. Both of these compositions contain grand imagery. I had them draw a picture of the scene they imagined in their head when I played these songs. I ended with themed music and showed them how music could make a movie scary. They had to draw a picture of that too. I saw many monsters and knives and blood. It was a great breakthrough for me seeing how integrated the kids could get with the music.

Other projects I have done with them have involved making homemade instruments. I hoped that with the actual making of the instrument, they would have a more intimate idea of where these instruments came from and how they were made. One lesson I did was musical instruments of antiquity where the kids made Greek panpipes. We also made rainmakers one day. By the end, my students all appreciated the materials we usually take for granted and had a bigger view of where instruments evolved. Not only were they exposed to a variety of cultures, they also learned that music tied people together even in the earliest of times.

Jenny Sai, a sophomore at Hume Fogg High School, is one of 12 HON Youth Volunteer Corps Interns, serving in the inaugural 2011-2012 class. Each month, she plans and leads an arts- and music-focused activity that engages the children served by the Salvation Army’s after-school program.

Nonprofit Partner Spotlight: Radnor Lake

Radnor Lake State Natural Area was designated as Tennessee’s first natural area and protected ecosystem in 1973. More than one million people visit this 1,260-acre urban sanctuary for wildlife and waterfowl each year.  Friends of Radnor Lake is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and promoting the natural beauty of Radnor Lake through land acquisition, environmental education, and park support.

Volunteers play a vital role at the park removing exotic plants, mulching trails, and planting native vegetation.  More than 1,000 volunteers helped to rebuild damaged trails after the May 2010 flood.  In 2012, park staff are coordinating a long-term volunteer project that involves clearing approximately four acres of invasive exotic bush honeysuckle and creating a new trail to the historic valve-house and caretaker residence.

Volunteers, along with the Radnor Lake Ranger Staff, meet on the fourth Saturday of each month (except December) from 8 a.m. until noon at the Visitor Center off Granny White Pike (click here to sign up and volunteer). Friends of Radnor Lake provides bottled water, insect repellant, gloves, and other supplies so volunteers can show up ready to work. Groups wishing to schedule specific days outside the monthly volunteer day should contact Park Manager Steve Ward at steve.ward@tn.gov or 615-373-3467. For more information, visit www.radnorlake.org.

Volunteer Leader Spotlight: Megan Zarling

“I may not change someone’s entire life, but I can be the change for that moment or day,” says 33-year-old Megan Zarling as she reflects on her new role as Volunteer Leader with Hands On Nashville.

This sense of purpose and mission wasn’t always so apparent, though. After working in the music business for 10 years, Megan found that she wasn’t quite as fulfilled by her work as she used to be. She was raised to believe that it’s important to “put others first,” yet she saw herself growing more and more distant from that philosophy. And trying new sushi restaurants with her husband wasn’t enough to tame the adventurer inside.

In May 2010, Megan found herself in her first volunteer experience when Nashville was hit by the flood. The volunteer relief efforts reinvigorated her spirit of community and motivated her to give back. “I could not believe the amount of work HON [volunteers] were able to take on. The results [of flood relief efforts] were mind boggling to me.” In June 2011, Megan decided to dive headfirst into the nonprofit world and make volunteering a more consistent centerpiece of her life.

After trying a few different volunteer opportunities, she found her fit at Nashville Cares where she leads volunteers making care packages for HIV/AIDS affected families. “Before we start, the wall is lined with empty shelves. By the time we leave, those shelves are packed with food bags,” she says. “It’s an amazing feeling to know the food bags we put together will feed Cares’ clients for the next several weeks.”

This busy wife, mother-to-be, workout enthusiast and dog-lover encourages anyone who will listen to integrate service into their lifestyle, too. “It only takes a little time and an open mind to volunteer. There is literally something for everyone. The best part about volunteering is at the end knowing you did something for someone else.  The feeling of being selfless for a brief period of time is priceless.”

Making CARES Packages occurs every Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.  If you want to participate, click here to sign up for this project.  HON’s Volunteer Leaders and volunteers are an integral part of Hands On Nashville’s mission to impact community needs through volunteerism.  Thank you, Megan, for your leadership and volunteerism!

Exactly Where I’m Supposed To Be

Guest Post by Benjamin Hammond

It was a privilege to partner with Hands On Nashville in November and work alongside our motivational leader, Amy Maloney, Director of Corporate Relations for Hands On Nashville. Amy not only gave us a sense of urgency during the preparation leading up to the Extreme Nonprofit Makeover, but she also grounded every volunteer involved in the purpose of our mission. In crucial moments, she reminded us that all our efforts gave the East Nashville community hope in helping East Nashville Cooperative Ministry better able to supply emergency food, clothing, and cooking education to low-income families, at-risk youth and the homeless population.

Eric enjoyed learning a bit more carpentry as he updated ENCM. Photo credit: Benjamin Hammond

The Extreme Makeover Day was amazing! The energy the Davita volunteers brought to the event was more than inspiring. They tackled the most tedious tasks with joy and determination. Without a doubt they accomplished skilled tasks with precision and left behind a fresh, bright, safe, functional facility and garden. It was a great feeling to be in the moment around such energy. The overwhelming feeling throughout the day was “I am exactly where I am supposed to be, today.”

Hands down the best memory of the week was working with a neighbor/client of the East Nashville Cooperative Ministry – Eric. On the first day Eric did not know how to use a measuring tape, had never seen a speed square and was  gun shy (to say the least!) when it came to our framing gun. By the end of the week, Eric not only was working with his own pencil and speed square, he was making his own measurements and cuts, and finished building the fence around the garden alone with a framing gun! What an accomplishment – He is a great guy, a hardworker, and someone that is a joy to get to know.

Eric constructs the entryway desk for ENCM. Photo credit: Benjamin Hammond

In mid-November, hundreds of corporate and community volunteers descended on East Nashville Cooperative Ministry, a nonprofit that helps the elderly, poor, disabled, unemployed, and disadvantaged with emergency food assistance and access to clothing. They painted, hammered, cleaned, and planted, and it resulted in an incredible makeover for the organization’s facility. This project would not have been possible without the help of several volunteers who shared their time and professional expertise. Benjamin Hammond, owner of Hammond Contracts, was one of the skilled volunteers who played a critical role in making this project a success. Benjamin served as an integral leader for the highly skilled projects, including demolition and trim work, custom shelving for the food pantry, interior and exterior tables, and a 154-foot fence around the garden. Thank you to Benjamin for his time and talent, and for sharing his experiences via this post.

ENCM is now completely remodeled, thanks to all the hard work of 200+ volunteers and several sponsors. Way to go!

Interested in learning how you can share your professional or trade skills with the community? Visit Hands On Nashville’s skills-based volunteering webpage to find out.

Need inspiration? Watch HON’s new video “Be the Change”

Check out Hands On Nashville’s new creative video, featuring incredible Middle Tennessee volunteers. If you are as inspired as we are, make plans to volunteer at a local nonprofit to start 2012 off right! Visit www.HON.org to view opportunities, including ways to serve  on MLK Day weekend Jan. 14-16.

Make your 2012 resolution to volunteer. Change your life (and your community) and see great benefits.

Volunteering is not just about doing good for others – it actually improves your health and overall well-being, too. Why not make a regular volunteering commitment this year? (HON.org makes this an easy resolution to keep! The HON Opportunity Calendar offers up more than 300 opportunities each month.) According to this article on the Corporation of National and Community Service (CNCS) website, “those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.” Check out these 5 reasons why volunteering should be on your 2012 resolutions list:

Ready to volunteer this winter? Try helping out at a local food pantry.

Skill Development: Want to learn about your home and gain a better understanding about best practices to make it more energy efficient? Volunteer with Hands On Nashville’s Home Energy Savings program and get hands-on exposure to common issues while helping improve the energy efficiency of a low-income home in Nashville. You’ll really turn some heads as you mention the “.5 GPM dual-thread sink aerator” you now know how to install. Or… Interested in learning about vegetable gardening? Volunteer with HON’s Urban Gardening program. Or check out one of the many opportunities on the HON Opportunity Calendar.

Self-Confidence: The CNCS article says it best: “Volunteer activities can strengthen the social ties that protect individuals from isolation during difficult times, while the experience of helping others leads to a sense of greater self-worth and trust.” Just the simple step of signing up for an upcoming project can seem daunting, but accepting the challenge and making that commitment will build your confidence.

Use your specific skill and help a cause you believe in. You'll see great improvements in your life, both physically and mentally.

Personal Health: Studies looking at the effects of volunteering (specifically Arnstein et al 2002) found improvements in both mental and physical heath. Patients who volunteered for six months showed decreased symptoms of depression. Arnstein attributed success to patients “finding a sense of purpose” and “making a connection.” Additional studies have found volunteering linked to lower mortality rates and other significant health benefits when individuals volunteered around 100 hours per year (or roughly two hours per week).

Relationship-building: Volunteering exposes you to all sorts of people with all different backgrounds – and you are allowed to dabble to find which opportunity is the best fit for you. Try sorting clothes at ThriftSmart or prepare hot delicious meals for the homeless in West Nashville. Different experiences will connect you and expose you to many different people. Check out the recent blog post written by youth volunteer Allyson Burgess about her experience volunteering at Edgehill Community Center.

Another popular opportunity this winter: Try regularly serving at ThriftSmart.

Impact the Community: The most incredible reward about volunteering is the difference you make with your unique talents. Try to find ways to improve the issues you care most about and you’ll find your individual spin on how to solve problems. Regularly volunteer and you’ll see a clear picture of how you helped your fellow neighbor, family, environment, or friend. Consider lending your specialized skills to an organization that has a mission you really believe in.

 

References:
Arnstein, P., Vidal, M., Well-Federman, C., Morgan, B., and Caudill M. (2002) “From Chronic Pain Patient to Peer: Benefits and Risks of Volunteering.” Pain Management Nurses, 3(3): 94-103.

Corporation for National and Community Service, Office of Research and Policy Development. The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research, Washington, DC 2007.