El Dorado County, CA – For a remarkable decade, Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference has been making a significant difference in the lives of countless families throughout El Dorado County. Their annual youth-led School Supply Drive, held over the summer, has been a beacon of hope, ensuring that students in need start the school year equipped with the essential tools for success.
A Decade of Dedication:
Over the past ten years, Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference has orchestrated a symphony of generosity and community spirit, channeling their energy into a powerful mission. Their dedicated team of 20 youths have been the architects of this noble initiative. This youth-led committee, with unyielding determination, has planned, coordinated, collected, and distributed thousands of crucial school supplies and backpacks.
The 2022 Effort:
With a keen sense of responsibility and a recognition of the increased need among the county’s students, this year’s committee embarked on an extended collection drive. For four months, the School Supply Committee tirelessly gathered backpacks and essential school supplies, securing partnerships with local businesses and organizations. A standout success was the “Stuff the Bus” event, conducted in collaboration with the El Dorado County Office of Education and El Dorado Hills Town Center, where an entire school bus was filled with necessary supplies and backpacks.
The Impact:
Margaret Lewis, the McKinney-Vento Services Coordinator for El Dorado County Office of Education, emphasized the profound importance of Hands4Hope’s annual School Supply Drive. She stated, “In the 2022-23 school year, more than 900 children experienced homelessness while attending El Dorado County schools. The distribution of school supplies helps these children have a healthy and prepared start to the school year, and allows their families to redirect their resources toward other opportunities or needs.”
Dedicated Volunteers:
This year’s committee, comprising 6 subcommittee chairs, 11 participants, and 2 staff mentors, led by a Hands4Hope alumni/college intern, displayed unwavering commitment. A total of 51 volunteers dedicated over 450 hours to plan, collect, sort, and distribute school supplies. The results were remarkable – a record 707 students received backpacks and supplies, totaling an astonishing 17,751 items, including 725 backpacks, with an estimated value of $45,375 worth of supplies.
Community Collaboration:
This exceptional endeavor would not have been possible without the invaluable support of 17 local businesses and organizations that hosted Hands4Hope collection bins. These convenient drop-off locations played a pivotal role in gathering essential supplies. Several other organizations and businesses conducted in-house collection events, further enriching the initiative.
Hands4Hope: Youth Making A Difference
Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference is a youth-driven nonprofit organization on a mission to inspire and empower youth through leadership and service. Their commitment to hands-on education and community engagement is evident in the impactful initiatives they undertake. Serving youth from kindergarten through 12th grade, Hands4Hope is a beacon of hope and support for communities in Sacramento and El Dorado counties.
For more information or to get involved, please visit hands4hopeyouth.org or contact (916) 294-7426. The spirit of youth-led change and community collaboration shines brightly through initiatives like the School Supply Drive, reminding us that together, we can create a brighter future for all.
