HandsOn Central California

Week 1 & 2 of our ROAR Summer Camp is Dino-mite!!! 🦖🦕 Students in the West Fresno area are enjoying summer-learning, while having fun and staying cool. Shoutout to our amazing Street Saints team and partners Fresno Unified School District for being Rexcellent!

Attention childcare workers: Our friends @ Central Valley Community Foundation are in need of childcare support for an upcoming meeting on Thursday, July 18 from 2-7pm.

This is open as a volunteer opportunity and also a paid position with a pay rate of $25/hour. CVCF will provide all materials needed.

Central Valley Community Foundation occasionally hosts meetings where onsite childcare is needed. Ideal candidates are adults with childcare/daycare/early ED experience and students pursuing a degree in early childhood education.

If you're interested in this opportunity or would like more information, please contact BLANCA WILLIAMS @ (559) 286-9786

Happy Fourth of July! Let freedom ring!
Just a reminder our office will be closed Thursday 7/4 & 7/5. We will be back to our normal business hours on Monday. Have a fun and safe Fourth of July!

THANK YOU to all amazing AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who are out there getting things done for their communities serving with the RSVP program. Even this Central Valley heat can’t stop these incredible volunteers.

Happy Monday!

We have a few adjustments to our schedule in regards to our operating hours.

Congratulations to Leah Fondse for completing her AmeriCorps VIP fellowship this week! Leah has spent the last year supporting all things volunteer engagement at HandsOn Central California. Her willingness to jump feet first into this work, positive attitude, creative energy and passion for helping others get connected has made her an incredible asset to the team. We are excited that she will be joining our staff full time as an RSVP Coordinator at the end of this month! Please join us in congratulating her and officially welcoming her to the team! 🎉

“Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes.”
-Peter Drucker

Congratulations to Cohort #3 of the First 5 Merced County & Central Valley Community Foundation of Merced - Sustainability Project! These nine community based organizations completed an intensive ten month nonprofit boot camp. Learning everything from board development, nonprofit accounting, grant management, outcome measurement, data tracking, partnership development, public relations, marketing strategies, volunteer engagement, fund development, and social media. Last week was a celebration of there work and an opportunity to present a sustainability plans to a panel of experts in their fields, decision makers, funders, and community leaders. These organizations are walking away from this experience with knowledge, partnerships, resources, confidence and grant funding that will help them to implement those plans and increase capacity. We are so very proud of each organization and are looking forward to the opportunity to continue coaching them through the Sustainability Project alumni group.

Congratulations to:
Steady Studios
Los Banos Arts Council
Her Yonisty Feminine Wellness
Valley Crisis Center
The Isaiah Project
Love Faith Hope
Sharing the Love Ministries
Mujeres Adelante

Special thank you to:
• First5 Merced
• Central Valley Community Foundation of Merced
• Merced Multicultural Arts Center - the MAC
• El Capitan Hotel Merced
• Workshop Presenters
• Our incredible Panel

Congratulations to HandsOn Central California staff member Elizabeth Gonzalez for acceptance into the Central Valley Latino Leadership Academy Cohort 6! Liz is an amazing emerging leader, and we cannot wait to see her shine!

Central Valley Latino Leadership Academy The Central Latino Leadership Academy aims to build the capacity of the next general of Latino/a Professionals.

June 19 is Juneteenth or also known as Freedom Day, where we celebrate the end of slavery in the US. Find out more about the history of Juneteenth, check out these resources:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/06/17/remarks-by-president-biden-at-signing-of-the-juneteenth-national-independence-day-act/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Juneteenth

https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth

It is with a heavy heart that we share the sudden passing of Board Treasurer, Tony Reyes. Tony, served as a HandsOn Board of Director for six years, sharing his finance expertise and incredible sense of humor. He was also a dedicated leader with the Clovis Clovis Country Lions Club Club and an avid cyclist that participated in the 400 Mile Ride to Fight Kids Cancer. His contributions to the community will leave a lasting legacy of compassion and service to others.

We would like to thank Tony for his tireless efforts and dedication to our organization and the community as well as his wife Diane Ramirez Reyes for giving him the grace to robustly serve at that capacity.

Please join us as we extend our deepest sympathies to all who knew and loved him.

It’s going to take teamwork to beat the heat, California!

Don’t forget to take your breaks, slow down and avoid too much sun during the hottest parts of the day.

Check out ready.ca.gov for more extreme heat tips.

In the month of June we celebrate Pride month, in which we honor the achievements and commemorate those who identify as LGBT+. Below are some of our community partners that serve the LGBT+ community and are always looking for more volunteers!

Valley Crisis Center:
https://valleycrisiscenter.org/

The Source:
https://www.thesourcelgbt.org/

The Central California LGBTQIA+ Collaborative:
https://www.lgbtqcollaborative.org/about-us

Find out more about Pride month by going to:
https://time.com/6985045/why-pride-month-is-in-june/

Rancho de Rodney will be working to help put on the Organic Stone Fruit Festival and Small Farm Expo, which will be June 22, 2024 at Kingsburg Historical Park from 4:00 to 7:30. Volunteers get their admission fee waived and a bag of fresh, organic stone fruit.

Happy Memorial Day!

We would like to take a moment to thank all that a have served! Just a reminder that our office will be closed and will open back up Tuesday 5/28.

Every day, all-over Central California seniors 55 and better are volunteering and making a difference in their community. These AmeriCorps- Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) volunteers serve in a variety of ways. They distribute food to families, provide administrative support for local nonprofits, work with children providing literacy mentoring, serve as board members, provide assistance to travers at the airport, and so much more. If you want to make difference, stay active, meet new people, and give your time and talents please contact our office at 559-237-3101 or check out our website handsoncentralcal.org. We would love to help you connect to an organization!

Giving Back is your Second Act!

Find a volunteer experience near you by visiting https://www.handsoncentralcal.org/or by downloading our app. Available both for apple and android.

When you choose , you choose to create a greener and cleaner planet, earn money for college, and kickstart your career.

Follow and find out how you can combat climate change through service.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Mental Health does not just affect our emotions or mood. It can affect our overall well-being, physical health and our lifestyle. Take a moment to check in with yourself and remember to be kind to your mind!

For more information and resources check out these links:

Why Mental Health Matters:
https://www.verywellmind.com/the-importance-of-mental-health-for-wellbeing-5207938

National Alliance of Mental Illness - Fresno
www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month/
https://namifresno.org/

Valley Crisis Center
ww.valleycrisiscenter.org/

Happy Mother’s Day! 💐

In honor of National Prevention Week, Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services recognizes Mental Health Awareness. It is important to recognize that Your Mental Health Matters just as much as your Physical Health. If you or anyone is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the Crisis & Support Access Line at 1-888-376-6246, available 24/7.



En honor a la Semana Nacional de Prevención, el Departamento de Servicios de Salud Mental y Recuperación de Adicciones del Condado de Stanislaus reconocen la Concientización sobre la Salud Mental. Es importante reconocer que tu salud mental es tan importante como tu salud física. Si tú o alguien que conoces está atravesando por una crisis de salud mental, por favor llama a la Línea de Acceso para Crisis y Apoyo al 1-888-376-6246, disponible las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana.

Choose AmeriCorps and choose to transform your community and your life. When you volunteer, you make a positive impact on your physical and mental health, boost your mood, and create new lifelong connections. Whether you want work experience or are retired, anyone can make a difference in communities.

Follow and find your inspiration to serve!

Today is National Fentanyl Awareness Day (NFAD). Our partners @ Stanislaus County Opioid Safety Coalition remind us that we all have a vital opportunity to amplify the efforts in combating the fentanyl crisis. The impact of drug-related poisoning and overdoses on families and communities is profound, leaving behind significant loss and enduring consequences. Let us remember that these losses have forever changed our community.

May 3rd, marked the beginning of empty chair display at Vintage Faire Mall, which will continue through May 7th. In Center Court, 213 chairs, along with representations of our StanHOPE family members, will serve as a poignant reminder of those affected by fentanyl-related tragedies. Attached are A-frame inserts detailing the significance of the empty chairs and inviting the community to join us on NFAD, May 7th from 5pm-8pm for community resources, Narcan, and FTS kits. If you find yourself at the mall during this period, we encourage you to take a selfie and share it on NFAD.

Together, we can make a meaningful difference in our community.

Stanislaus County

We are so excited to be partnering with MuddyEyes! They are an organization that serves the needs of families that live in motel row.

To find out more information about their organization or to sign up for one of their many volunteer opportunities check out https://www.handsoncentralcal.org/opportunity/a09Uo000001Bh64IAC/muddyeyes-food-distribution-volunteer or search Muddyeyes on our app!

Spending time today with our friends Madera Chamber of Commerce at the annual Madera Senior Celebration talking about AmeriCorps Seniors Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) opportunities in Madera County.

Did you know that May is National Older Americans Month? Declared in 2022, This month is set aside to recognize the tremendous work that seniors have done to make our nation better.

R.S.V.P. (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) is a National Service program designed to recruit skilled, experienced, active adults ages 55 and older for volunteer activities that work towards meeting the needs of their communities. The R.S.V.P. helps connect Seniors to rich volunteer opportunities based on their talents, skills, and experiences. Some of the various activies that R.S.V.P members do to help their community include:

For more information about RSVP or get signed up today, please visit:
https://www.handsoncentralcal.org/retired-senior-program

Are you interested in serving your community in a way that suits your schedule, skills, and interests? Serve as an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer in our RSVP program.

At HandsOn we pair hundreds of RSVP Seniors age 55 and better with organizations making an impact. To see how you can get connected call our office @ (559) 237-3101 or visit handsoncentral.org

Check out these ways to stay happy and active this winter season. Brought to you by the CDC.