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January 22, 2021

Who’s Your Hands On Hero?

Who Is Your Hands On Hero? Shine A Light On Those Who Do Good!

Hands On Heroes is an annual award program to recognize those special members of our community who donate their time, energy and skills to support the people, places, and non-profits in Thomas County. These volunteer heroes help make our community a better place for everyone through the simple act of volunteer service.

Nominations are accepted year-round and reviewed every March. Winners are announced in April during HOTC Volunteer Week, April 17-24, and will receive awards and/or prizes, including:

a $500 Bobbie Flowers Quiet Leader Scholarship for the Student Winner
four Disney Park Hopper Passes for the Individual Winner.

This year, all nominees will also receive their very own SUPER hero cape compliments of Everfan, as well as other goodies and perks during Volunteer Week.

Nominees are not just judged on number of hours, or years, served as a volunteer, but also on impact, passion, commitment, and inspiration. Nominees do not need to be associated with or volunteer through HOTC to be recognized. Make it easy for us to choose your nominee — tell us a compelling story that explains what makes this person or group so special. Be descriptive and heartfelt! See last year’s winners here.

Before submitting your nomination, please make sure to read the program rules! Nominations will go before a judging panel and must meet our basic requirements. View rules and more information here. If you have questions about your nomination, please email us.

Nominate A Hands On Hero! Nomination deadline March 15

Make A Nomination

To see previous Hands On Heroes, click here.

Before submitting your nomination, please view rules and more information here.

Thank you to all of our donors, especially Diamond Level (and above) Sponsors Ashley HomeStore, New Hire Solutions, Mr. & Mrs. Russell Chubb, Mr. & Mrs. Howell L. Ferguson, Ms. Diane W. Parker, and Dr. & Mrs. Philip C. Watt for making volunteer events and programs like these possible.

February 5, 2018

Volunteer Week 2018

April is National Volunteer Month! To celebrate service and all the volunteers who help make good things happen in our community, we will have Thomas County’s very own Volunteer Week — April 21-28! This annual event is always the week of the Rose Show & Festival and we couldn’t be more excited about this year’s theme – Helping Hands: A Celebration of Community Volunteers.

On Tuesday, April 24 at 5:30p, we will do just that at our 5th annual Cheers for Volunteersaward reception taking place at the Downtown Amphitheater. At this event, we will celebrate our Hands On Heroes, who are nominated by their peers for going above and beyond and making a difference in their community, with good food, lawn games, entertainment and awards!

Also during Volunteer Week, we’ll have select volunteer opportunities (of course!), volunteer ‘shout-outs’, and Appreciation Stations at select businesses around town. THANK YOU to all our wonderful volunteers for making this such a great community! See what we’re planning below and make sure to check back for updates.

Throughout the week, be sure to check our Events Calendar and LIKE our Facebook page to keep up with new volunteer opportunities, updates and ‘shout-outs’.

Thank you for being a community that volunteers!

Saturday, April 21 · 9a-12p
Manna Drop
Volunteer Opportunity!
Feeding the hungry in our own back yard.Click here to volunteer.

Saturday, April 21 · 9a-12p (Other days & times also available)
Second Harvest
Volunteer Opportunity!
Volunteers wanted to sort and pack food for local families in need. This is a great volunteer opportunity for students. Lend a hand.

Saturday, April 21
Due South
Volunteer Opportunity!
Art, food and music benefiting the Thomasville Center for the Arts. Sign up here to volunteer.

Monday, April 23, 9am – 4pm
Thomasville Landmarks
Appreciation Station!
Stop by our non-profit partner, Thomasville Landmarks on 312 N. Broad Street, to pick up a free, limited edition Bob Dixon print: Historic Homes of Thomas County (matte and frame not included). While supplies last!

All appreciation stations are open to all volunteers – past, present & future!

Mon-Fri, April 23-27
Care Package Collection Drive
Volunteer Opportunity!
Give back! Local agencies are in need of travel size toiletries to make care packages for families displaced from their homes. Learn more.

Mon-Fri, April 23-27
Grassroots Coffee
Appreciation Station!
Stop by Grassroots at 118 S. Broad St. anytime this week, identify yourself as a HOTC Volunteer and receive a free cup of java on the house!\

Mon-Fri, April 23-27
HOTC
Appreciation Station!
We love our volunteers! Come by our office at 120 E. Monroe Street all this week to receive a free HOTC decal. While supplies last.

Mon-Fri, April 23-27
Yoburst Frozen Yogurt & Deli
Appreciation Station!
Stop by Yoburst located at 2963 E. Pinetree Blvd. any time this week, identify yourself as a HOTC volunteer and receive 15% off your purchase.

Thurs-Sat, April 26-28
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Appreciation Station!
Stop by Jersey Mike’s located in the Gateway Shopping Center any time Thursday, Friday and Saturday and use one of our coupons to order your favorite sub! Click here to retrieve your coupons.

Tuesday, April 24 · 5:30p
Cheers for Volunteers
Appreciation Station!
Help us toast the many volunteers that make a difference in our community as we present our Hands On Heroes award winners. See more.

Mon-Fri, April 23-27
Keep Thomas County Beautiful
Volunteer Opportunity!
Help keep our community clean and pretty by picking up litter as past of the Great American Cleanup! This flexible volunteer opportunity is great for students and families with busy schedules. Details here.

Tu & Th, April 24&26 · 3p-5p
Humane Society
Volunteer Opportunity!
Help our furry friends at the Humane Society! Animal socialization, cleaning & maintenance, bathing & grooming animals – these are just some of the ways you can lend a hand. Sign up to volunteer on Tuesday or Thursday.

Friday, April 27 · 6p-9p
Rose Show Parade
Volunteer Opportunity!
Adult volunteers needed to help with the Post-Parade Meal for parade participants. Find more details here.

Volunteers are our community’s heroes!

Saturday, April 28
Bark in the Park
Volunteer Opportunity!
Lend a hand at this fun event benefiting the Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society. Click here to volunteer.

Saturday, April 28
Art In The Park
Volunteer Opportunity!
Volunteers will help at this Rose Festival event. Sign up to lend a hand.

Unable to volunteer with us during the week? That’s ok! Check our Events Calendar for other opportunities, or contact our office.

April 23, 2014

Cheers for Volunteers

More than 75 people attended Hands On Thomas County’s Cheers for Volunteers Reception & Awards on April 22, 2014 at the historic Hardy Bryan House, home office of HOTC. With April being National Volunteer Month, April 19-26 was officially declared HOTC Volunteer Week by mayoral proclamation. Volunteer Week is a celebration of service and volunteers, making it the perfect time to announce Hands On Thomas County’s very first Hands On Heroes.

Hands On Heroes is a new annual program to recognize outstanding volunteer efforts in our community. Nearly 20 recommendations and nominations were submitted by area non-profit agencies and community leaders in student, individual and group categories. Award winners were selected by a committee. Winners received handcrafted Hands On Heroes awards, a Downtown Thomasville Gift Basket (individual winner), and a $500 Bobbie Flowers Quiet Leader Scholarship (student winner). On behalf of our non-profit partners, we are proud to recognize these very special volunteers who shine brightly in the eyes of local non-profit agencies and community members as Hands On Heroes.

Award Winners

Individual – Mrs. Melissa B. Thomas
Mrs. Thomas is being honored for her commitment to service through Hands & Hearts for Horses, which provides equine therapy, Thomasville Music & Drama Troupe, the Boys & Girls Club, Hand in Hand Primary, Children’s Miracle Network and the Thomasville Antiques Show Foundation which benefits local children’s charities and programs, and many others. A successful business woman, devoted wife and mother, and passionate and active advocate for so many in our community, Mrs. Thomas is a true inspiration to all.

Student – Ms. Kelsey Reddick
Ms. Reddick is a senior at Thomasville High School Scholars Academy, and outgoing President of the Rotary Interact Club, a student organization dedicated to volunteer service. She had demonstrated remarkable servant leader qualities, and we have been very impressed with her and the Interact Club as they have assisted at various sites including Habitat for Humanity and Second Harvest. We are thankful to have such committed youth such as Kelsey working on behalf of our community.

Group – Thomasville Junior Service League
For over 80 years, the JSL has been an important part of our community, helping children in Thomas County through fundraising and service. Beneficiaries of their good work include the Treehouse, the Thomas County Public Library, Thomasville Entertainment Foundation, Plantation Wildlife Festival, Thomasville Antiques Show, Project Rosebud, Thomasville Community Resource Center, Halcyon Home and many, many more. They have been a part of every HOTC Day for the past 10 years. What we love most about JSL is their enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to lend a hand wherever it is needed.

Nominees recognized included: Ms. Natalie Ballard, Mr. Brian Bauer, Mr. Rich Curtis, Mr. Michael McCullough, Ms. Marjorie Shaw, Mrs. Melissa B. Thomas, Cadet Justin Coleman, Ms. Kelsey Reddick, Mr. Jonathan Rieber, Thomasville High School AFJROTC, Thomasville Junior Senior League, and Thomas County Middle School MERIT Program,

Hands On Thomas County would like to thank all the nominees, award winners, those who took the time to make a nomination, and all those who volunteer tirelessly and selflessly every day. You are all HEROES to us!

Cheers for Volunteer Reception & Awards Pictures
(click an image to enlarge)

April 15, 2014

Mayoral Proclamation

It’s official! Read the Mayoral Proclamation declaring April 19-26, 2014, HOTC Volunteer Week! Thank you to the Thomasville City Council and Mayor Max Beverly for recognizing the importance of volunteer service to creating a vibrant and successful community. To learn more about Volunteer Week and how you can participate, click here or view our Events Calendar.

(click image for larger view)

April 26, 2013

National Volunteer Week – A Non-Profit Perspective

Throughout Thomas County there are over 300 agencies whose sole purpose is to improve the quality of life for Thomas County’s citizenry.

Day in and day out these organizations provide services that would not otherwise be available without their existence. These organizations are most often staffed by one or two people, but take on challenges that require the work of many.

Thomas county’s non-profit organizations set forth to tackle the issues of poverty, hunger, homelessness, insufficient housing, historic preservation, animal cruelty, child welfare, literacy, disaster relief, unemployment, domestic violence, and a multitude of other noble causes. However, most of these agencies count on one thing to accomplish their missions- Volunteers. This is where Hands On Thomas County steps in to help. “Volunteers are the heart and soul of a nonprofit organization. 95% of what the Red Cross does is led by volunteers. They are the ones who sacrifice time away from families and jobs to help those who are affected by disaster on a 24-7 basis,” says Terri Jenkins, Executive Director of the South Georgia chapter of the American Red Cross.

Beyond the physical assistance, community volunteers provide other benefits to area non-profits. One of the most important benefits of introducing volunteers to the issue a non-profit is tackling is that those volunteers then become advocates for that issue. Explains Brent Runyon, Executive Director of Thomasville Landmarks whose mission is to preserve and protect historic resources, “Working with volunteers from a broad spectrum of Thomasville organizations has enabled us to tell our story about why historic preservation matters. It enables people who don’t think of themselves as preservationists to take an active role in saving and improving an older home. When people are more aware of the places that define our community’s history, they are more likely to take an active interest in perpetuating its character.”

Having an informed and active citizenry makes it possible for Thomas County’s organizations to make great strides towards accomplishing their goals. On behalf of all the non-profit partners we work with, Hands On Thomas County would like to say THANK YOU for volunteering!

For a listing of some of the non-profit agencies in our community, click here.

April 25, 2013

HOTC Salutes Volunteers – Business Spotlight

Volunteering is a win-win for area non-profits and local businesses:

What do Thomas County’s bankers, insurance agents, medical professionals, shop owners, restaurateurs, technology specialists, and salespeople all have in common? They volunteer! Thomas County’s business community knows the value of giving back and that is one reason why Hands On Thomas County (HOTC), on behalf of the areas non-profits, would like to say, “Thank you”.

When businesses volunteer in their community, they create very real benefits that go beyond the good done in a single day of service. “In our experience, volunteering is a great way to contribute as a group to something that is greater than the group. Helping to improve our community allows us to not only give back, but allows us to receive a greater awareness of the everyday challenges facing our neighbors, all while building our morale and team camaraderie, both inside and outside of the office.” says Chris Quick, Human Resources Director at Senior Life Insurance Company.

Thomas County businesses are also a major contributing factor in the financial support that allow the 300 plus non-profits in Thomas County to continue to offer the services and programs that our community has come to depend. But, support often goes beyond finances. “I think it’s important for local businesses to put time, not just funds, back into the community.” Charlotte Mixon, Mortgage Lender at Thomasville National Bank observes “In order to thrive together, we all need to work together. Sometimes it takes seeing something with your eyes to really understand the need… often it’s just a helping hand.”

Over the past year, Thomasville’s businesses have lent that helping hand time and again, and area non-profits have used that help to further their missions in our community. Together non-profit and for profit businesses are advancing the quality of life in our area, and for that we say it again and again, “Thank you!”

April 24, 2013

HOTC Salutes Volunteers – Community Organizations

There is power in numbers…

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, Hands On Thomas County would like to recognize the powerhouse of organizations that selflessly engage our community in the spirit of helping others. These groups recognize the value of combining individuals to make a team that is greater than the sum of its parts in energy, spirit and fellowship.

Says Courtney West of Junior Service League, “Our organization exists for the sole purpose of giving back to our community, specifically the children of Thomas county. It has really changed my outlook on life. Any time a need arises, someone (or lots of someones!) in JSL is ready and willing to do whatever it takes. Our members work hundreds of volunteer hours each year. This makes me extremely proud of all of our ladies, and the ones before us who paved the way for this wonderful community-centric organization.”

Year round, church congregations, schools and school groups such as the AFJROTC and Key Club, civic organizations like the Junior Service League and Rotary, Boy & Girl Scout Troops, sororities and fraternities, and other local groups reach out to find out to make a difference in our community. Volunteering offers them the opportunity to bond through meaningful and rewarding service to others.

“Churches that seek to engage the parishioners in opportunities for ministry beyond the walls of the church tend to be growing, highly energetic and motivated churches. I have been blessed with the opportunity to share in ministry that took place outside of the sanctuary and each time I have noticed a wonderful impact that it has on the church family has a whole. When we all realize our gifts and talents and see that we all have a role to take then we can make this world a better place.” says Jeremy Rich, Pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church.

Thank you to ALL the organizations in Thomas County who volunteer their time to make a difference!

April 23, 2013

HOTC Salutes Volunteers – The Next Generations

Thomas County Youth prove they have what it takes to make a brighter future…

For most kids around the country, Saturday morning means cartoons, cereal and most importantly no school! However, here in Thomas County many a Saturday morning has come to mean something different for the area’s youth – Volunteering. Through Student Hands On Thomas County(SHOTC), Thomas County’s youth have put in over 10,000 hours of community service this year alone. To put that in perspective, it would take an adult with full-time employment over five and one-half years to achieve that number.

According to the Corporation for National & Community Service, 55% of young adults in the United States aged 12-18 volunteer approximately 29 hours each year. If you compare that to the 29% adult volunteer rate you begin to realize the impact that youth have on making our community a better place to live.

On top of all their hard work, youth volunteers bring unique qualities to every volunteer event they attend. The energy and enthusiasm of youth volunteers is unparalleled. It is not uncommon to hear, “what can I do next?” from a young person that has just finished digging 30 holes to plant trees in.

Youth are also looking for a chance to prove their abilities to adults, and volunteering gives them the opportunity to showcase their skills. “When I volunteer I like to do things that my parents wouldn’t ask me to do at home,” says Connor Mathis, a freshman volunteer from Thomas County Central High School. “Parents usually don’t trust kids to do things like paint or help with construction projects, so being able to show them that you can do it feels pretty good.”

Most importantly, youth volunteers bring optimism with them to each and every volunteer project. Young adults are our future and when you see them tackling the major issues that face society today with enthusiasm and optimism it gives us hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Thank you to all of our youth volunteers!

April 22, 2013

HOTC Salutes Volunteers – The Individuals

When asked what makes Thomas County a great place to live, one can expect Thomas County residents to reply with a myriad of answers, but one common thread will be found among all those answers; it’s the people of Thomas County that make it special. Now entering its tenth year of operation, Hands On Thomas County has had the opportunity to witness the actions of Thomas County’s extraordinary citizens first hand as they come together year in and year out to make our community a better place to live by volunteering their time, energy and resources. And, for that we want to say, “Thank you.”

The volunteers in Thomas County serve countless hours to make sure that their neighbors are fed and sheltered; that children have school supplies and the nutrition necessary to succeed; that those animals that have been abandoned and forgotten know love and kindness; that our parks and natural areas remain pristine; that our historic landmarks are preserved; that our nation’s soldiers are appreciated; that our sick are cared for; and so many more efforts that we don’t know about, yet day in and day out are achieved without recognition, in the name of doing good for others.

Every individual in Thomas County can take pride in what they do for our community and our neighbors through volunteering. We don’t always have the opportunity to see the fruits of our efforts, but every one of us has within us the power to positively affect the lives of another, whether it is directly or from afar. Despite any troubles that may be facing us personally, each of us has something or someone to be thankful for. To be able to give back—even in a time of our own personal need—is perhaps one of the noblest goals of all.

In honor of National Volunteer Week, to all of our volunteers, from our hearts to yours, thank you for everything that you do every day. We are grateful for you and your efforts.