Affiliate Spotlight:

Volunteerism and civic engagement are not new concepts in Savannah. Established in the 1970's, the United Way Volunteer Center is part of the fabric of the community. Annually, more than 2400 volunteers pass through the center. With this many residents engaged in volunteerism, the center decided to enhance its volunteer management efforts.

Therefore, in June 2005, when presented with the idea of joining Governor Sonny Purdue's initiative to enhance volunteerism in the state by establishing Hands On Georgia affiliates, the center staff was excited about this unique opportunity to be part of an exciting program. Partners from the county, city, board of education and local businesses, including the Savannah Chamber and Corporate Volunteer Council members met to learn first hand about the Hands On model. Community leaders were encouraged not to view this as "replacing the Volunteer Center" but rather aligning the Volunteer Center, an already successful program with a new, defined, universal program that offers volunteering options to more people in a variety of ways within the service area.

It wasn't a hard sell. Once that message was understood and accepted, all concerned parties became united in preparing for the next step - the kick off of Hands On Savannah during Hands On Georgia Week, September 26 - October 1. The Hands On Savannah activities included America's Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, where volunteers sorted through distressed canned goods and then cleaned, sorted, boxed and shelved them. There were several beautification projects - gardening at the Rape Crisis Center, Union Mission and Hospice Savannah and landscaping with Habit for Humanity. On Tybee Island volunteers participated in a beach clean-up project. With the final project, Pillow Pals, volunteer groups and individuals created pillowcases filled with age-appropriate toiletries and personal supplies along with some small gifts and treats for distribution to children placed in emergency foster care.  The pillowcases were distributed then to children in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties.

Pillow Pals and the beach clean-up have now become signature projects for Hands On Savannah.

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