Raise Your Hands, Charlotte!
The walls of the Hands on Charlotte offices are filled with handprints of many of the volunteers that the organization has placed on different projects around Charlotte. For 25 years Hands on Charlotte, part of the international Hands On network, has worked to provide nearly 100,000 volunteers a way to assist the community in which they live.
This Saturday, April 16 is this year’s Hands on Charlotte Day, a daylong fundraising and service event held as part of National Volunteer Week which has recognized our country’s volunteers since 1974.
In support, SHARE Charlotte would like to recognize Hands on Charlotte as our Nonprofit of the Week and we had the opportunity to meet with Executive Director Eric Law — a Charlotte native — whose enthusiasm and passion for Hands on Charlotte was contagious.
“Hands on Charlotte Day is the one day that makes the other 364 possible,” Law said with a smile.
While there is a lot more competition in the volunteer space, Hands on Charlotte provides between 100-150 volunteer opportunities each month and works with both corporate groups and individuals looking to put their time and talents to good use.
“We provide the organization and connections to not only do the job, but to do it well,” Law said.
Hands on Charlotte offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities and facilitates both ongoing and one-time projects for many different causes throughout the community. But Law said there is one area Hands on Charlotte strives to improve: educational support.
“Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has been one of our most important partners. We do a lot of school improvement projects, but what we need the most help with is tutoring. We’re trying to bridge the gap between the number of students who need assistance and volunteers.”
All are welcome to participate this Saturday for Hands on Charlotte Day. Registration fees are $25 for adults and $10 for children under 18.