Volunteers are people who give and receive. If you are one of those people who would like to give more but can’t quite figure out how to do it, then this column is for you. April is national volunteer month and the people, places, and events all around you will eagerly accept your interest, abilities, time and talent.
But it all starts with you and what you’d like to do. Are you passionate about working with people, communities, wildlife, the environment or preserving our national parks?
On the local level, you can find out about needs in your own backyard through the Points of Light Institute www.pointsoflight.org
They believe that each person is able to make a difference and contribute to creating healthy communities. Their HandsOn Action Centers enable you to search for volunteer opportunities in your local community if you are interested in using your skills to help people or causes that are important to you, want to meet people who share your interests, and learn how to get involved, visit www.handsonnetwork.org, go to Action Centers and click on your state to find an affiliate. Volunteer opportunities will be listed by city and organization with a key that provides links to directory information, Web sites, online volunteer matching, and volunteer management training.
Another way to find local things is through your United Way Chapter and through 1-800volunteer.org and the volunteer match programs. Also contact your friends to see if they volunteer and also a great way is your church family they are always needing good volunteers.
Volunteering can also be spontaneous. Walk around your community to see if anyone needs some help - or go to a community bulletin board, often found in the post office, town hall or library. Go to the local supermarket and see what they do to help in the community search the web find your passion!
HERE IS GREAT NEWS Bewteen Points of Light - HandsOn Network and Starbucks Partners and Customers such as yourself - This just makes me want to volunteer more so I challenge you to step out of your confront zone - find your passion for something and GO Volunteer encourage your friends and family to help! Once you do there is no better feeling in the WORLD knowing that you have helped someone in need! Remember you never know you may be the next person needing a helping hand!
Points of Light Institute's HandsOn Network brings volunteer opportunities to Starbucks Partners and Customers across the country.
HandsOn Network Works with Starbucks to Host Community Service Activities as Part of April Global Month of Service Initiative.
Contacts:
Anne O'Neill
Points of Light Institute
(404) 844-5360
aoneill@pointsoflight.org
Johanna Clark
Allison & Partners
(310) 496-4452
johanna@allisonpr.com
ATLANTA - March 24, 2011 - HandsOn Network, the volunteer arm of Points of Light Institute in the United States, announced today that it will work with Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) to host service activities across the country in April as part of a global month of service dedicated to engaging Starbucks partners (employees) and customers in meaningful service opportunities.
Earlier today, Starbucks announced that the company is partnering with nonprofit organizations around the world to host a global month of service throughout the month of April 2011. Starbucks continues to celebrate its 40th anniversary this year and the global month of service is part of its company-wide commitment to inspire and invest in community service around the world. The company's goal is for 200,000 hours of community service to be volunteered globally this month alone.
HandsOn Network will work with Starbucks to host three large-scale service events across the country during the month of April, including:
On April 9 in Los Angeles, volunteers will make a real difference for the students and residents of Hyde Park and Vermont Square by participating in clean up and refurbishment efforts that will give their neighborhood schools and a local park a much-needed makeover
On April 23, volunteers will come together in New York City to make improvements to P.S. 180, update landscapes at Morningside and Riverside Parks, help renovate Abby House, YouthBuild and Abyssinian Towers, and assemble gift baskets for local residents in need
On April 30 in Seattle, volunteers will update and improve local schools, parks and community gardens in the city's Mount Baker neighborhood including painting, landscaping and renovation projects
In addition to these events, the HandsOn Network and its 250 local action centers across the U.S. will work with individual Starbucks stores to help identify and organize service activities in communities across the country.
"Starbucks' commitment to creating thriving neighborhoods everywhere it does business is a powerful example of how a company can mobilize its scale, reach and, most importantly, the passion and energy of its people to be a force for good," said Amy Smith, president, HandsOn Network. "Points of Light Institute and HandsOn Network are proud to partner with Starbucks and offer our network of volunteer resources to help create change by bringing the global month of service initiative to life across the U.S."
"Involvement in our communities and neighborhoods is something Starbucks has been passionate about since our inception," said Vivek Varma, executive vice president, Public Affairs, Starbucks Coffee Company. "By working with HandsOn Network and tapping into its network of community-based resources, we are able to provide unique opportunities for our partners and customers to make a difference."
In addition to working with HandsOn Network here in the U.S., Starbucks has partnered with Volunteer Canada, UK Youth in London and Charyou in Shanghai, and will coordinate with other organizations around the world to identify and organize partner-led service opportunities that address local community needs.
To learn more about Starbucks Global Month of Service and to register for service projects in the U.S. and Canada, visit www.starbucks.com/communityservice. Customers can also learn more about volunteer opportunities in their neighborhood by visiting a local Starbucks store.
More information about the many different ways HandsOn Network is working to connect volunteers with service opportunities is available at www.handsonnetwork.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @HandsOnNetwork.
About Points of Light Institute Points of Light Institute inspires, equips and mobilizes people to take action that changes the world. The Institute has a global focus to redefine volunteerism and civic engagement for the 21st century, putting people at the center of community problem solving. We are organized to innovate, incubate and activate new ideas that help people act upon their power to make a difference. Points of Light Institute operates three dynamic business units that share our mission: HandsOn Network, MissionFish and the Civic Incubator. For more information, visit PointsofLight.org.
About HandsOn Network HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, is the largest volunteer network in the nation and includes 250 HandsOn Action Centers in 16 countries. HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are answering the call to serve and creating meaningful change in their communities. Annually, the network delivers approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service valued at $626 million. For more information, please visit www.HandsOnNetwork.org.
About Starbucks Corporation Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest-quality arabica coffee in the world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com.
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