HandsOn Greater Richmond

A Step Forward for the Community of Richmond

During hard times many just look to another for a hand. The organization Hands On Greater Richmond does just that. Started in December 2005 as Activate Richmond, HandsOn set out with the mission to “inform, inspire, and engage volunteers through meaningful service and leadership opportunities to create positive change in our community.”

Kirsten Kaplan, cofounder and manager of the Corporate Cares program and the Interim Director, says HandsOn Greater Richmond is a way to link for everyone to join together.

“Our goal is to connect anyone interested in service to opportunities for them to make a positive difference,” said Kaplan. “Regardless of how much time, skills, or interest areas. Whatever the availability and cause, we will find a fit.”

Kaplan and cofounders Vanessa Diamond and Elaine Summerfield started the organization to people who were seeking ways to volunteer with friends and coworkers, according to Kaplan.

“It quickly grew into a web-based volunteer network where any community member interested in contributing time could sign up to volunteer,” said Kaplan.

By February 2007, Activate Richmond joined the nationwide HandsOn Network and became HandsOn Greater Richmond. Six months later, they joined the Partnership for Nonprofit Excellence, which encompasses Connect Richmond and Nonprofit Learning Point, according to Kaplan.

Tiffany Harris, part of AmeriaCorps VISTA and is the Progam Coordinator for HandsOn Greater Richmond, has been with the organization since its inception in 2005.

“When most volunteer opportunities are Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 and young professionals don’t really have the capacity to take off and volunteer,” said Harris. “So, we really wanted to develop these projects that were in a group setting, so it was a good way to meet people and also volunteer in the evenings and the weekends.”

There are two main events that are in the HandsOn Greater Richmond Calendar that serve as big volunteer service days. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and HandsOn Day. On October 17, HandsOn Day will take place all over the city. With up to 1,000 individuals serving at over 20 local projects, according to Kaplan.

“The HandsOn Day participants will provide more than 4,000 volunteer hours this October…an estimated value of $83,000 to the Metro Richmond community!” said Kaplan. “ In addition,

Some sponsors of HandsOn day include Target and Altria, who will also send volunteers for the event that is held city-wide.

“Our big thing literally is just volunteering. If you want to volunteer one time, if you want to sign up for one project, one day out of the year, you can volunteer,” said Harris. “If you’d like to search for an organization that really fits your needs and you want to volunteer with that one organization all year round we also have listings for that.”

Jennifer Miller, the Chair of HandsOn Day describes her experiences with HandsOn Greater Richmond as a “flexible way to give back to the community”.

“I am a Team Leader with HandsOn Day Greater Richmond. That means I can sign up to lead any kind of service project from leading a team at the Foodbank to doing an arts and craft projects with kids at a shelter to painting a mural at a community center,” said Miller. “I can pick the projects that suit my schedule.”

Though for most of the volunteers that work with HandsOn Greater Richmond, it is not their primary job. Miller works as a training communications manager. While when the cofounders first started out Kaplan worked for VCU’s Performance Management Group. Diamond worked for the VCU Division of Community Engagement. Summerfield continues to work for the Community Foundation. Even though the organization is mainly operated by volunteers, there are some staff members according to Miller.

Harris describes the second goal of HandsOn Greater Richmond was to get nonprofit organizations to “rethink the traditional 9 to 5, Monday through Friday volunteer model and get them to see if you reach out to see where volunteers are they’ll reach back and you’ll get more volunteers.”

Miller describes her volunteering experience as reaching that certain “helper high”.

“That feeling you get when you help someone else…hard work that just feels good,” said Miller. “You forget about all of your own problems for a while and you gain some real perspective about those living in less fortunate circumstances…when I found the one that truly touched my heart nothing comes close to that feeling.”

Volunteering is especially important in this economic state, according to Harris.

“It really gives you a chance to step outside yourself no matter how you think your situation is there’s always someone else that needs your help,” said Harris. “It gives you that sort of global perspective even on a local level.”