Each year, hundreds of youth and adult members of Royal Neighbors of America "join hands" as part of the annual JOIN HANDS DAY, taking part in dozens of community-service projects across the country.
JOIN HANDS DAY is an annual national event sponsored by America's fraternal benefit societies, including Royal Neighbors of America, with the support of the Points of Light Foundation and the Volunteer Center National Network. The purpose of JOIN HANDS DAY is to bri
ng youths and
adults together to improve their own communities. A benefit of the day comes through the friendships that are made across generations. Many young people have little interaction with adults other than their teachers and family members. Likewise, many adults know few young people outside their circle of family and friends. They speak a different language and certainly have different ways of looking at life.
The activities of JOIN HANDS DAY give these two groups an opportunity to create new bonds and learn from each other. These new partnerships will often be an important first step in bringing more young people into leadership roles in many organizations.
Youth and adult organizations join in a single day of volunteering, partnering to tackle a local problem and improve the conditions right where they live. Leadership and involvement are shared equally by young people and adults, from the planning stages through the event. They come to the first planning meeting with an open mind, ready to brainstorm about the project they will create together. As they work together, they develop trust and respect and become friends.
To participate in a Royal Neighbors of America JOIN HANDS DAY project near you, visit the Chapter Locator section or Contact Us at the Home Office for more information.
Nearly 900 adults and youths from Royal Neighbors chapters and partner organizations worked together on JOIN HANDS DAY 2007
These three projects were chosen as the best overall for 2007. Each of these chapters received a $100 bonus. Congratulations!
 Chapter 1397, Indianapolis, IN
Chapter members partnered with Philadelphia United Methodist Church and plowed, weeded, and planted a garden at a local resident's farm. They created rodent deterrents and built a plant box for strawberries. They plan to continue to care for the garden throughout the summer. |
 Chapter 4986,
Salt Lake City, UT
Along with participants from Meadowbrook Elementary School, chapter members cleaned up the school's nature area along Barton Creek. They gathered trash, pruned, weeded, planted seeds, and cleaned out a pond. |
 Chapter 179, Watseka, IL
"Busyboards" were created by chapter members and the Sheldon Boy Scout Troop No. 154. The boards will be used for occupational therapy sessions at three local care centers. After the project everyone got together for pizza. |
|
Here are pictures from other successful
JOIN HANDS DAY projects in 2007
|
|
Chapter 516, Prophetstown, IL
|
|
Chapter 10435,
Rockwood, IL
|
|
Chapter 20008,
Green Bay, WI
|
|
Chapter 2388,
El Dorado Springs, MO
|
Chapter 2648,
Boscobel, WI
|