Over 1,000 volunteers to get their HandsOn RVA this Saturday

HandsOn Day is one of the best ways to give RVA nonprofits a hand.

October 16, 2013; 6:35 AM • by Nathan Cushing

Over 1,000 Richmonders will donate part of their Saturday to assist area nonprofits during the sixth annual HandsOn Day this weekend.

“We saw it as an opportunity to service blitz nonprofits [and] engage a huge pool of volunteers…in one day of service to get [people] excited and addicted to volunteering in the Richmond community,” said Jaime Seagraves of HandsOn Greater Richmond, organizers of the annual event. HandsOn Greater Richmond (HOGR) began in 2005 to help individuals, families, and corporate groups connect with meaningful volunteer opportunities across the region. HandsOn Day consolidates HOGR’s year-round work into a single day when volunteers donate four hours to help local nonprofits.

HOGR coordinated roughly 500 volunteers during the first HandsOn Day in 2008. Just over 1,000 volunteers attended last year’s event. Of last year’s volunteers, 30 percent told HOGR that it was their first volunteering experience in Richmond. Of those 30 percent, all said they’d volunteer again in the future. Seagraves said that HOGR wants this year’s event to reach 1,100 volunteers.

This year’s volunteers will work at one of 51 projects benefitting 46 nonprofit and community partners. Those projects encompass a “really broad, expansive spectrum,” Seagraves said. Projects include:

Painting a mural with Chris Milk at a local school
Making educational backpacks for low-income students
Cleaning trails within the James River Park System

Seagraves said HandsOn Day “shows the Richmond community how important volunteering is and the impact that it can have on the Richmond community, and it shows how easy it can be” to volunteer.

Those interested in volunteering this Saturday should register for specific projects online. Hardywood Park Craft Brewery will host a post-HandsOn Day celebration from 1:30 – 3:30 PM.

HandsOn Day takes place Saturday, October 19th.