National neighborhood volunteer day bridges generation gap
5/11/2006
Bridging the generation gap and improving communities. That's the focus of JOIN HANDS DAY, a national day of service that took place on Saturday, May 6.
Coordinated locally by Royal Neighbors of America and Modern Woodmen of America, Rock Island, IL-based fraternal organizations offering financial services, JOIN HANDS DAY involved about 100 Quad-City area community groups and more than 3,000 participants. More than 55 projects were completed, including planting flowers, teaching computer skills, working at animal shelters, socializing with residents of nursing homes, feeding the homeless, cleaning up neighborhoods, and planting a vegetable garden.
JOIN HANDS DAY is designed to bring youths and adults together to plan and complete volunteer service projects in their communities. As the generations work side-by-side, they learn more about each other, sparking a new level of understanding and respect.
Studies by the JOIN HANDS DAY organization show that the annual event is successfully bridging the generation gap. Seventy-nine percent of youth survey respondents who participated in 2003 and 2004 reported that their experiences with JOIN HANDS DAY helped them better appreciate adults.
Likewise, 76 percent of adults who participated in 2003 and 2004 now realize that young people are more responsible than they previously thought.
Distinguished by its 100-plus-year commitment to helping women help themselves, Royal Neighbors offers its members valued-added benefits such as scholarships, disaster aid, and a variety of volunteer opportunities within their communities. It also provides insurance products and services to meet the financial needs of today's women.
Founded in 1883 as a fraternal benefit society, Modern Woodmen of America offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.
If you would like more information about JOIN HANDS DAY, please visit the Web site at www.joinhandsday.org.
|
|
Boys and Girls Club and Kiwanis Club 'join hands'
Two Quad Cities area organizations gathered together to participate in JOIN HANDS DAY on May 6. Members of the Boys and Girls Club and Kiwanis Club are shown above as they planted flowers on the grounds of the Boys and Girls Club. As a unique day of national volunteerism, JOIN HANDS DAY is sponsored in the Quad Cities by Modern Woodmen of America and Royal Neighbors of America, both headquartered in Rock Island, IL. JOIN HANDS DAY is designed to bring youths and adults together to plan and complete volunteer service projects in their communities. As the generations work side-by-side, they learn more about each other, initiating a new level of understanding and respect.
|
|