Each month Hands on Charlotte receives information on a wide variety of volunteer opportunities in addition to our monthly volunteer projects. Many of these opportunities do not fit our guidelines for monthly projects or are only one-time events. If you are interested in volunteering, please call the contact person directly.

These projects are not managed by Hands On Charlotte and do not have a project coordinator in charge. To post a volunteer need, please send an email with your volunteer listing to Dougm@handsoncharlotte.org

SPECIAL EVENTS:

First In Families provides assistance to individuals with developmental and/or mental health disabilities. They will be distributing various items, i.e., food, clothes, cleaning products, household items, toys, etc., to families in need on Thursday, August 28 at 10 am. To volunteer contact Contance Finch at cfinch@rssweb.org or 704-536-6661 ext 437

Festival in the Park is organizing an inaugural Youth Talent Showcase to be held at Charlotte's Freedom Park on September 18-21, 2008. We need volunteers now and up until the festival to help plan the event, which will involve collaborating with school systems, local arts groups and others to help Charlotte see the talent our local kids have. If you are looking for a fun and creative volunteer opportunity, this is it! To learn more about Festival in the Park, which has been part of Charlotte's history for over 40 years, see . (http://www.festivalinthepark.org/) For more information about how to get involved, contact Anne Irwin Ward at 704.996.5649 or anneirwinward@gmail.com.

Hearts and Hands Playground Build: From September 29 through October 4, Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation is building an accessible playground for children with disabilities. The playground will be located at Nevin Park in north Charlotte, and hundreds of volunteers are needed each day to help with its construction. Group opportunities are available for several volunteer shifts every day. For more information, contact Lori Saylor at Lori.Saylor@mecklenburgcountync.gov.

The Charlotte CROP Hunger Walk is a community walk that raises awareness and funds to help fight hunger locally, nationally and globally. The Charlotte Walk is the largest CROP Hunger Walk in the nation with over 4,500 walkers participating annually. As such, there are many volunteer opportunities to help prepare for the Walk as well as opportunities on Walk Day, Sunday, October 12, 2008. If your group is interested in helping out, please contact Jennifer Hall at (704) 333-9255 or admin@cropwalk.com.

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is a two-day, marathon and a half (39.3 miles) event. This year's Walk will take place October 25 and 26. Various volunteer shifts are available starting October 24 from 9 am until 9pm, October 25 from 5 am until 7:30 pm and October 26 from 6:30 am until 5 pm. Volunteers help support the event in many ways; from helping to check-in and register participants, to cheering along the route, to distributing t-shirts and directing traffic. The goal of the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade is to benefit all women through research, clinical care, support services, education and early detection programs. There is a special emphasis on reaching the medically underserved, rural communities, minorities, the elderly and women with inadequate health insurance. For more information contact Vanessa Gorr at vanessa.charlotte@avonwalk.org or 704-377-3144.

ONGOING PROJECTS:

Hospitality House: Hospitality House ‹ a home away from home for out-of-town family members with loved ones in Charlotte hospitals, needs volunteers to serve as hosts or hostesses). Hosts help greet guests, communicate between guests and hospitals, and serve as an information resource for guests. Shifts are available Monday through Friday, 9am ­ 1pm and 1pm ­ 5pm. For more information, contact Anne Shoaf at 704-376-0060 or email a.shoaf@hospitalityhouse.org.

Friendship Trays: This organization, which provides prepared meals for individuals who have difficulty providing for themselves, is in need of volunteer drivers to help deliver meals to its elderly, handicapped and convalescing clients. Meals are delivered Monday through Friday between 11:15am and 1:15pm. For further details and information, please contact Terry Taylor-Allen at 704-333-9229.

Metrolina Association for the Blind: The organization has several volunteer opportunities available for interested individuals. These include: Friendly Visiting ­ reading, talking, running errands for or just visiting with visually impaired individuals; Taping ­ reading letters, recipes, articles or novels into a recorder for use by people with visual impairments; or House Work ­ helping with small repairs or yard work for visually impaired residents. For more information, please contact Kelly Austin at 704-887-5129 or kaustin@mabnc.org.

Storytime Sharers: Energetic, entertaining volunteers over the age of 18 are needed Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1 p.m. to read and tell stories to kindergarten through second-grade classes at The School at Thompson. The School is part of Thompson Child & Family Focus, which serves children with emotional and behavioral issues as a result of abuse and neglect. All you need to participate is the ability to share a story with expression and enthusiasm. For more information or to sign up, contact Rachel Eldridge, Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 704-536-0375 ext. 252, or reldridge@thompsoncff.org.