Hands On Nashville announces 2023 Strobel Volunteer Awards recipients

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 12, 2023) – Middle Tennesseans were honored today for their volunteerism during Hands On Nashville’s 37th annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards presented by Jackson National Life Insurance Company (Jackson^®). Recipients were announced at Marathon Music Works in a ceremony that was also live-streamed on social media.

The Strobel Awards honor volunteers of all ages and backgrounds for their inspirational service to their communities, and celebrate Mary Catherine Strobel, a Nashvillian who displayed an outstanding dedication to service throughout her life.

“It’s easy to see the challenges that face our community every day when you look at the news. Rising housing costs are contributing to homelessness, unsupported youth are engaging in crime, and people are facing injustice in our community. It’s important to see the flip side of that, too, — the incredible work that volunteers are doing every day to make our city better, said Lori Shinton, president and CEO of Hands On Nashville.

One of our nominees has been volunteering for more than fifty years, but we also see young people who are just getting started creating change. Some people wonder what can be done to fix the issues that we see every day. These volunteers are showing us how, and I hope that featuring their stories through the Mary Catherine Strobel Awards will inspire others to join them.”

Community members nominated more than 160 volunteers who demonstrated the spirit of service. After the public voted for their favorite stories, a panel of judges selected the seven award recipients, who will each receive $1,000 to donate to the nonprofit of their choice. The other 13 finalists will receive $250 to donate to an organization they care about.

“Volunteers, more than most, are acutely aware of the deep community that is cultivated through service, and how important volunteers are to the impactful work of nonprofits,” said Susannah Berry, corporate philanthropy director at Jackson. “I’d like to express my gratitude to each of these honorees for their incredible commitment and to everyone who has resumed their own volunteerism after the pandemic. With every hour and day, volunteers are rebuilding our community.” 

The award recipients are as follows:

• Capacity-Building Volunteer Award presented by Regions: Ingrid Campbell
• Direct Service Volunteer – Youth Award presented by Asurion: Mary Meacham
• Direct Service Volunteer – Adult Award presented by Piedmont Natural Gas: Hugh Trimble
• Direct Service Volunteer – Older Adult Award presented by Advanced Financial: David Joseph Weir
• Disaster Preparedness and Response Award presented by Kroger: Sherry Nicholson
• Group Volunteer Service Award presented by Frazier and Deeter: Give Black, Give Back
• Social Justice Impact Award presented by HCA Healthcare: Emily Jenkins

For more information on this year’s Strobel Awards and the award recipient stories, visit hon.org/strobel2023.  

About the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards

The Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards are named in memory of the late Mary Catherine Strobel, known for her extensive and charitable efforts toward improving the lives of Middle Tennessee’s unhoused, underserved, and disenfranchised communities. The annual awards ceremony celebrates her service and recognizes those who continue her legacy. For more information, visit HON.org/strobel_awards.

About Hands On Nashville

Hands On Nashville (HON) builds capacity for individuals and agencies to meet needs through service. Its programs connect volunteers to opportunities supporting 200-plus nonprofits, schools and other civic organizations; help these partners reimagine volunteer potential; and bring awareness to the challenges facing the people and places in our community. HON also partners with the city to coordinate volunteers whenever there is a disaster. For more information, visit HON.org or call 615-298-1108.

Thank you to our generous sponsors!

Jackson returns as 2023 Strobel Volunteer Awards Presenting Sponsor

Hands On Nashville is thrilled to welcome back community-champion Jackson® for its fourth consecutive year as our presenting sponsor for the 37th Annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards. 

As a financial services organization, Jackson is committed to clarifying the complexity of retirement planning. However, there’s more to Jackson than helping Americans achieve financial freedom for life – the organization has been a longtime supporter in addressing Middle Tennessee’s greatest needs. 

“Volunteerism is a core value at Jackson, and we pride ourselves on our employees’ commitment to their communities. Our associates volunteered more than 16,700 hours last year, and each year we’re excited to see their efforts reflected in the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards nominees,” says Niya Moon, corporate philanthropy manager at Jackson. “We are honored to support this celebration of service and highlight the important stories of these volunteers.” 

Hands On Nashville is incredibly grateful for Jackson’s commitment to service and promoting volunteerism in the community, as well as in the workplace.  

In addition to funding nonprofit causes, Jackson’s philanthropy approach calls employees to action. Recently, Jackson’s corporate philanthropy team undertook its largest service project ever, with more than 170 volunteers supporting five local nonprofits: Special Olympics Tennessee, Shower Up, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, Youth Villages, and the Oasis Center. The team assembled more than 5,000 program kits that provide hygiene supplies for individuals experiencing homelessness, welcome items for women entering the Weaver domestic violence shelter, snack packs for youth outreach, healthy athlete materials and much more. The next day Jackson associates delivered these kits across Nashville, supplying their nonprofit colleagues with fresh program supplies for the spring.  
 
This volunteer event is just one of the many ways that Jackson’s employee engagement program, Jackson in Action, empowers team members to donate their skills and time through volunteerism. Through Jackson’s renewed approach to philanthropy, Jackson is forming meaningful partnerships with nonprofits that build the foundation for helping people achieve financial freedom for life.  The organization is increasing its investments in financial education and coaching with Financial Empowerment Centers across the country, including its local partnership with United Way of Greater Nashville. This support is bolstered by related service projects. In 2022 alone, more than 160 associates volunteered 884 hours to support financial education with 31 nonprofits. Of these volunteer hours, 436 volunteered with Junior Achievement chapters across the country to provide direct financial education to K-12 students.

Jackson team members assemble hygiene kits at a recent service project. [Photo submitted by Jackson]

It’s corporate philanthropy like Jackson’s that drives our community forward. Thank you, Jackson, for creating positive change in our community and celebrating volunteerism! Together, we can serve the broader Nashville nonprofit community and ensure our community’s needs are met for the long term.  For more information about Jackson and their dedication to service, click here. 

We know that the work isn’t done yet though. Like Jackson, your company can also make a difference. To learn more about employee volunteer opportunities, visit hon.org/CorporatePartnerProgram. 

Jackson’s Impact:

• Annually, Jackson’s community impact totals more than $5.3 million.  
• Jackson has given more than $80 million since 2007. 
• In 2022, the company and its generous associates contributed more than $2.15 million through the associate matching program. 
• Jackson supports more than 170 charities annually in its local communities.  
• Annually, Jackson invests nearly $1.2 million in Middle Tennessee nonprofit and community causes through its award-winning corporate philanthropy program.  
• 33% of associates volunteered through Jackson’s employee volunteer program. 
• Associates volunteered more than 16,700 hours in local communities in 2022. 
• 77 associates currently serve on nonprofit boards (as of December 2022). 

Stories of Service: Teresa Hargrove, volunteer instructor at W.O. Smith Music School

This feature celebrates Global Volunteer Month, a movement to recognize volunteers who actively support their communities through volunteerism. Hands On Nashville is honored to highlight volunteer stories across Middle Tennessee, and celebrate the changemakers in our communities. Have a story you’d like to share? Email us here!

“When you teach, you also get so much in return. It’s all about passing on what you know to the next generation.” 

—Teresa hargrove

Teresa Hargrove has been a volunteer violin, viola, and piano instructor at W.O. Smith Music School since 1984. For almost 40 years, she has consistently donated at least an hour a week to two students a semester. Teresa is a wonderful teacher and has even kept close relationships with several of her W.O. students over the years. She has high expectations for her students, but they are always well-prepared and motivated for whatever challenges she may present.  

Teresa has taught several generations of families at W.O. Smith. Her newest student is the child of a former violin student she taught during the mid-1990s. When the former student heard that Teresa was still teaching at the music school, she changed her schedule entirely to ensure her daughter could take lessons with the instructor who had taught her so much.  

During the COVID-19 quarantine, Teresa seamlessly transitioned all her lessons onto Zoom. This was a very challenging time for everyone, especially teachers with no former training in virtual education, but she simply rolled with the program and made accommodations wherever needed.   

During this virtual COVID programming, a shy, young student Teresa had been instructing for three years began to affirm his gender. Teresa understood the student’s need for support and worked hard to remember his new pronouns. His relationship with the school and Teresa’s acceptance helped him evolve into a delightful, proactive, and expressive young man who takes every music class he can find.   

This is just one example of how Teresa has impacted the lives of countless students in her nearly 40 years with W.O. Smith. Many students studied their instruments with her typically for two to four years, and now excel in their understanding of music, and consistently perform in recitals.  Very few volunteers could top the number of years or match the hours of service Teresa has committed to educating Nashville youth and giving back to her community. 

Are you interested in joining the global volunteer movement of volunteerism? Sign up for a volunteer project today at hon.org. 

Please note: Hands On Nashville is committed to developing our organization and programs to reflect our belief that Nashville is powered by people of all ages, races, ethnicities, skin tones, sexes, genders, sexualities, religions, abilities, and socioeconomic statuses engaging in service together. Any comment disrespecting volunteers or the communities they support will be removed.  

April 22 marks the 53rd annual Earth Day! How will you celebrate?

Since 1970, Earth Day (April 22) has been recognized as the birth of the modern environmental movement — sparking a day of action across the globe to create positive change and give back to our Earth at a local, nationwide, or even continental level.

It is a day to recognize environmental achievements and raise awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for the coming years. Whether it is reusing and recycling, planting trees, or conserving water, It is essential for each of us to do our part in bettering the Earth. Remember, a little goes a long way!  

Are you ready to clean up the only home we have? Whether it’s this weekend, later this month, or even later this year — we encourage you to sign up for a volunteer opportunity that focuses on giving back to the environment!

Check out this list of opportunities for a few ways you can get involved:  

Volunteer at the Nashville Earth Day festival at Centennial Park 
Organization: Centennial Park Conservancy
When: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 22
Help vendors set up and tear down, attend registration, assist with table fundraising, and help with other tasks as needed during Nashville Earth Day’s annual celebration at Centennial Park!  

Help beautify Radnor Lake
Organization: Radnor Lake State Natural Area
When: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 22
Spend a day beautifying Radnor Lake by building trails, removing invasive species, and mulching trails for future generations. 

Garden with families during Inspiritus’s annual Plant Day 
Organization: Inspiritus
When: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 22
Inspiritus is seeking volunteers to help clean out garden beds at the Cheatham Place community garden, plant new gardens, add soil, and do other activities in celebration of Plant Day,.

Preserve the city’s natural green spaces 
Organization: GROW Enrichment
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29
Learn agroforestry techniques, transplant trees, and help keep vegetation away from trees at GROW Enrichment during their Silvopasture Work Day!  

Teach patrons basic computer skills at the public library 
Organization: Nashville Public Library
When: Ongoing
Teach patrons how to create an email, use Microsoft Office, and even apply for jobs through the Nashville Public Library.  

Tutor GED students at Begin Anew 
Organization: Begin Anew
When: Ongoing
Tutor adults in math, reading, science, and other subjects to help them pass their GED exams at Begin Anew.  

Give swimming lessons at the Nashville Dolphins 
Organization: Nashville Dolphins
When: Ongoing
Teach children and adults with special needs swimming lessons and techniques so they can practice water safety. (Experience not necessary!)

Interpret communication between patients and staff at Siloam Health 
Organization: Siloam Health
When: Ongoing
Interpret patient communications with staff members at Siloam Health to help overcome cultural and language barriers and insure patients’ needs are being met. Volunteers must be fluent in English and bilingual in Spanish or Arabic.  

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Looking for more ways to give back this earth day? See our full volunteer opportunity calender here.

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Strobel Finalists 2023: Capacity-building Volunteer

Congratulations to these three finalists in the Capacity-building Volunteer category of the 37th Annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards! Vote for your favorite story of service until April 15 at the button below!

Click here to vote!

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Charu Balamurugan 
Volunteers with Dismas House

Charu Balamurugan is a volunteer at Dismas House, a residential reentry program for men leaving Tennessee state prisons and county jails. The men who arrive at the organization have experienced trauma, either due to their incarceration or from their lives prior to incarceration. Using her talents, Charu built a curriculum for a Music and Wellness Program that guides residents through the creative process in order to promote healing. The impressive program she created accommodates participants’ varying levels of musical and technological experience and structures the class so that residents with no musical ability would be able to not only participate but succeed.  

“It gives our residents the opportunity to create something truly unique that they can share with others. Residents are always beaming in the class and are proud to show off their finished song,” Charu’s nominator said about the Music Program. 

In addition to her work on the course, Charu has made great administrative contributions to Dismas House. She has helped to streamline its documentation process, creating an easy-to-use system for checking program attendance for individual residents. Through trial and error, she has refined the previous documentation system by doing the difficult and tedious task of identifying where data has been duplicated in the system and correct it. This has saved case manager’s precious time that could be better spent with residents. In conjunction with this, Charu also helped develop a handout for residents to help ensure that they stay on track for graduation from the program. 

“Charu is always supportive to our residents, has an amazing attitude every day, and has truly gone above and beyond in her service to Dismas,” Charu’s nominator said. 

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Ingrid Campbell 
Volunteers with McNeilly Center for Children

Ingrid Campbell is an integral part of the team at McNeilly Center for Children. Since becoming a board member, she has taken the organization to new heights. Not only does she attend every single event, but her commitment and enthusiasm have inspired others to get involved with the clients the Center serves. Whether she is dropping off a pair of shoes, helping coordinate tree plantings, reading with children or lighting a fire under the community for McNeilly, she consistently holds steady and true. 

With Ingrid’s guidance, McNeilly Center for Children has been able to partner with several organizations throughout the community to increase involvement and double its fundraising. Ingrid connected McNeilly with Patchwork Nashville to provide 200 meals to families per week and worked with Root Nashville to plant 75 new trees on the organization’s campus. She helped McNeilly reach new levels of excellence, introducing new partnerships that doubled fundraising and helped bring diversity to the board. The organization is also in the process of becoming recognized as a historical site with Ingrid’s help. “Ingrid is the most humble, hardworking and dedicated person I have ever met,” Ingrid’s nominator said. “She is passionate about her community, is clear on her goals, and is consistent. She uses her platform to help elevate every person in her community. She makes me believe that the work I do matters to those we serve and the community at large.”  

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Click here to vote

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To see a full list of the nominees for the 37th Annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, click here.

Strobel Finalists 2023: Group Volunteer Service

Congratulations to these three finalists in the Group Volunteer Service category of the 37th Annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards! Vote for your favorite story of service until April 15 at the button below!

Click here to vote!

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Give Black, Give Back
Volunteers with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee

Kia Jarmon and Lisa Swift-Young have redefined the concepts of philanthropy and charity through their roles as co-chairs at Give Black, Give Back, a nine-member volunteer philanthropic initiative at The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The organization’s mission is to motivate and involve Black philanthropists in efforts to maintain the vibrancy of communities of color.  

With Kia, Lisa and the entire advisory council leading the charge, Give Black, Give Back strives to achieve this by acting as a resource to amplify Black-led funds, encourage new collaborations between Black philanthropists, and provide access and education to the community at large to assist in bridging the racial gap. In the past year, through their work at Give Black, Give Back, Kia and Lisa alone have donated more than 264 hours of their time to local nonprofits and civic organizations. This initiative has managed to link the past, present and future of Black philanthropy together not only for Nashville but also across the state. The group also sheds light on topics and conversations that are usually avoided by the public, by creating a platform to document stories in their own words through online discussions titled “Changemakers.” The Changemakers platform honors exceptional people so that their truths and stories can be told and amplified. 

“Give Black, Give Back was and is a resource of information to the Black community!” A colleague said. “Kia, Lisa and the entire council’s work on Give Black, Give Back sets it apart to give voice to this valuable constituency in our beloved community. Give Black, Give Back was and is a resource of information to the Black community!” 

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Ravenwood Girls Cotillion
Volunteers with The Next Door

More than 100 young women from Ravenwood Girls Cotillion have been consistently great volunteers for The Next Door nonprofit organization, a treatment program for women struggling with addiction, mental illness, trauma and/or incarceration. The volunteers from Ravenwood are deeply rooted in Next Door’s mission to educate people on the dangers of drugs and the growing epidemic of fentanyl. 

The girls constantly go out of their way to help this organization in any way they can, from cleaning out the organization’s closet to helping them raise over $30,000. They also interact with the clients and make them feel heard, seen and even loved. 

“This group could have chosen any nonprofit to work with,” a team member from The Next Door commented. “They have soaked up what they’ve learned with us and are applying it in their lives by sharing with their high school friends the dangers of drugs, the growing epidemic of fentanyl and also changing lives through their volunteering.” 

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Trish Smith and Nancy Hopwood 
Volunteers with Agape Animal Rescue and Training Center

For 25 years, love and passion have driven Trish Smith and Nancy Hopwood to continuously volunteer with Agape Animal Rescue and Training Center. They dedicate their work to helping animals find their forever homes and last year helped connect 46 animals with families.  

Trish and Nancy are always the first ones to step up and fill in whenever they are needed. The dedication Trish and Nancy have for the dogs in Agape’s program, for the organization itself and for the people they touch in the community is unparalleled by any other.   

For example, Trish and Nancy had a significant influence on the adoption of Leo, a very special dog who was saved in 2022 during Hurricane Ian. He was rescued by Agape from a flooded shelter in Orange County, Fla., and traveled 13 hours to Nashville to start his new life. Trish and Nancy were by his side at every step of the adoption procedure. This is just one example of the many lives these women have impacted by volunteering at Agape Animal Rescue and Training Center.    

“Trish and Nancy were, and always have been, superstar volunteers,” claims their nominator. “These two women are invaluable to the Agape Animal Rescue and Training Center, and we are honored to have them on our team.” 

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Click here to vote

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To see a full list of the nominees for the 37th Annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, click here.

Strobel Finalists 2023: Disaster Preparedness and Response

Congratulations to these three finalists in the Disaster Preparedness and Response category of the 37th Annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards! Vote for your favorite story of service until April 15 at the button below!

Click here to vote!

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Nissan of North America 
Volunteers with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

For more than 30 years, Nissan of North America has partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee to provide food to those in need. During this time, they have donated more than 7.6 million meals – and in the last three years alone, Nissan employees have dedicated more than 2,400 service hours. Since they began funding Mobile Pantries in 2017, they have fed more than 10,000 people and sent 30–40 employees to each Mobile Pantry to help distribute food. 

Nowhere was Nissan’s dedication more apparent than in their response to Hurricane Ian. When the hurricane struck Florida, Nissan immediately answered the call. In response to relief efforts, FEMA requested that Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee provide 70 truckloads of disaster relief boxes to Florida. Fortunately, the nonprofit was able to rely on Nissan to accomplish this herculean task quickly and efficiently. Within 10 minutes of the storm’s hitting the coast, Nissan of North America had already committed to their first volunteer shift. Ultimately, they ended up filling six shifts – each with 20–30 volunteers – and packed 3,484 boxes. 

“When we needed their help for disaster relief,” a colleague at Second Harvest said, “whether at home or in another part of the country, Nissan responded. This goes beyond just making a donation; clearly community service is part of their culture.”  

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Sherry Nicholson 
Volunteers with YAIPak Outreach

Sherry Nicholson, founder of YAIPak Outreach, an organization that impacts communities across the nation through providing basic life necessities, has led her organization in impacting over 810,000 people in 2022, with 258,100 of those individuals impacted because of disaster relief efforts. Since YAIPak is a mobile organization, Sherry and other volunteers were able to set up mobile units for operation and distribution sites around Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida.  

After the flash flood of August 2021, YAIPak Outreach was the first organization on the ground in Waverly, Tenn. Sherry still has a strong presence there, and over the last few years, she has donated rebuilding supplies, coordinated “muck out” teams and equipped local organizations with what they need to rebuild over 487 homes.  

Sherry founded YAIPak Outreach after going through a difficult life experience. After a domestic violence situation left her and her two small children homeless, Sherry was determined to provide the very best for her kids. She was inspired by her homelessness, and after seeing miracles in her own life, she started Project Rebuild Hope. Project Rebuild Hope was YAIPak’s disaster relief arm, created after encampments were destroyed by Nashville tornadoes.  

“There are so many stories I could share of the faithfulness, compassion, generosity and kindness of Sherry,” said a colleague. “She honestly goes above and beyond what could ever be asked of her in any moment.” 

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Sonny Nichols 
Volunteers with Disaster Recovery Connection

For three years, Sonny Nichols has been working with Disaster Recovery Connection as a volunteer in several roles. He has volunteered during community walkabouts, worked as a third party between disaster case managers and survivors, and called identified survivors when a disaster struck to learn their needs and connect them with community resources.  

Sonny volunteered at the first walkabout in Wilson County in July 2020 following the March 2020 tornado. He returned for the October 2020 walkabout and continued to volunteer after the March 2021 and August 2021 floods. Most recently, Sonny worked for the Long-Term Recovery Groups after the December 2021 tornadoes, an extensive process that has continued into 2023. Part of Sonny’s job is also to call survivors and identify their needs. In a short amount of time, he has reached out to nearly 650 individual survivors, offering them assistance and compassion.  

Through his work in these myriad roles, Sonny has been identified by colleagues as one of their strongest case workers, ensuring that survivors’ needs are always met during times of crisis and chaos.  

“We know Long-Term Recovery Groups and the community are in good hands and stronger with Sonny Nichols volunteering,” said a colleague.  

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Click here to vote

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To see a full list of the nominees for the 37th Annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, click here.

Thank you, mentors!

January is National Mentoring Month, a great time to thank our local role models for dedicating their time to bettering the community. Hands On Nashville is very fortunate to have a great group of mentors serving alongside our AmeriCorps members as they complete their term of service. Below you’ll find a few highlights from our members, who took the time to praise their mentors. THANK YOU AmeriCorps mentors, for your patience, encouragement, and care of not only your mentees, but the community as a whole.

Interested in becoming a mentor?

Through mentoring, volunteers share their experiences with those interested in a similar career field, or who are looking for some life guidance or ways to succeed. By volunteering, you can help inspire others to become successful, no matter their age.

Browse our mentorship volunteer opportunities here

 

Mentor name: Katherine Dennis 
Organization: Friends of Mill Ridge Park 
Quote from mentee: “Katherine is an excellent mentor. Her background, both academic and in the workplace, means that I’m often learning better methods to approach problem-solving, running “experiments”, and program management. She is caring and empathetic in all her communications with the public and in private when I have something to gripe about. I am very thankful to have her as my service mentor and I hope she knows how much I respect her!” – Caleb Trotter  

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Mentor name: Mira Hanna 
Organization: Nurture the Next  
Quote from mentee: “Mira is a program officer at NTN and is one of the first people you would meet if you came to the office or a NTN event. As a mentor, she has gone beyond just supervising me by passing on her years of experience and wealth of knowledge to me. This challenges me academically in this family intervention field, aiding me to help further develop program curriculum for Nurture the Next.” – Helena Fisher  

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Mentor name: Drew Himsworth 
Organization: Hands On Nashville 
Quote from mentee: He is a very understanding mentor who is always willing to talk about any questions or concerns I may have. He has shown support in every step of the way as I learn and try to discover what I want my future/life to look like. As I started the program, he was a very hands-on mentor who showed me everything I needed to know. Now he allows for much more autonomy while still providing support.” – Dapheny Sequeira  

Hands On Nashville announces new Americorps Manager, Amiee Sadler

Amiee Sadler is the new AmeriCorps Manager for Hands On Nashville.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 5, 2023) – Middle Tennessee’s Hands On Nashville (HON) recently announced the addition of their new AmeriCorps Manager Aimee Sadler to the team. A graduate of the Nashville Young Leaders Council class of 2020, Sadler was recognized as one of the Nashville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2022.

In this new position, Sadler will help HON drive impact in the Nashville community through matching national service participants to community partners. She will maintain a positive program experience for AmeriCorps by providing ongoing support to its members and host sites.

Sadler, a graduate of Columbia State Community College with a degree in sociology, is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in social work at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville. She brings with her a significant background in social work and community involvement, having served on the Tennessee Board of Regents and as chief justice of the Tennessee Intercollegiate Student Legislature while at Columbia State. She was also appointed as the first student school board member for Metro Nashville Public Schools in Tennessee and served as an international officer for the United Methodist Youth Organization. She currently serves on the board for the Nashville Launchpad and in|tn Inclusion Tennessee.

“At Hands On Nashville, we take pride in bringing ambitious, dedicated and collaborative minds onto our team,” said Hands On Nashville CEO Lori Shinton. “Aimee Sadler is not short of any of these qualities, and we are excited to see how she uses her passion for justice to serve the Nashville community alongside us.”

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For More Information

Savanna Maue: savanna@hon.org; 615-298-1108
Julia Stough: jstough@mpf.com; 615-259-4000

About Hands On Nashville

Hands On Nashville (HON) builds capacity for individuals and agencies to meet needs through service. Its programs connect volunteers to opportunities supporting 200-plus nonprofits, schools and other civic organizations; help these partners reimagine volunteer potential; and bring awareness to the challenges facing the people and places in our community. HON also partners with the city to coordinate volunteers whenever there is a disaster. For more information, visit HON.org or call 615-298-1108.

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Combating hunger and homelessness in our communities

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is an annual program across the country that draws attention to the problems of hunger and homelessness in our communities. November 12-20, participating organizations are coming together to promote resources, programs, and volunteer opportunities for you to help. It is also a time to share our compassion with those who see themselves in these circumstances. 

Did you know:

• In 2021, 12.5 percent of households with children faced food insecurity in the U.S. In 6.3 percent of those households, only adults experienced food insecurity.  (Via the Economic Research Service with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)
• The 2021 the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) found more than 300,000 people experienced sheltered homelessness in the U.S. on a single night.  

These statistics show the ongoing work needed to combat these social issues. Here are a few ways you can help make a difference in our community’s vulnerable populations. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit our calendar at hon.org/calendar.

Distribute food at apartments in North Nashville 
Set up tables, organize food, take names, and help with clean-up as Dream Streets distributes food to the community members at Cheatham Place Apartments. This opportunity is available from 2:15 to 3:45 p.m. on Wednesdays.  
Sign up here: https://www.hon.org/opportunity/a0C5a00000iOIHFEA4/free-grocery-distribution-at-cheatham-place-apartments 

Help sanitize showers and hand out hygiene supplies with Shower The People 
Check-in guests, hand out hygiene supplies, and distribute food as Shower The People uses their mobile shower bus to shower unhoused people in the community. STP needs volunteers from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays.  
Sign up here: https://www.hon.org/opportunity/a0C5a00000iOFliEAG/mobile-shower-volunteer 

Prepare food boxes to be distributed  
Sort, stock, and prepare food at The Branch of Nashville. The Branch of Nashville is a faith-based organization that dedicates its efforts to supporting families who face food insecurity. Flexible shifts are available.   
Sign up here: https://www.hon.org/opportunity/a0C5a00000iOJ5zEAG/help-fight-food-insecurity 

Pack foster bags and food for foster animals   
Looking for a way to support homeless pets in the community? The Nashville Humane Association is looking for support with its foster program. Volunteers pack foster bags, prep food bags, clean the foster bin, and more! If you’re lucky maybe one of NHA’s foster pets will adopt you!  
Sign up here: https://www.hon.org/opportunity/a0C5a00000iO43NEAS/foster-program-support 

Looking for more partners who support hunger and homelessness? Click here