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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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Evening & Weekend Volunteering - FAQs |
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How do I get started? |
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Join our corps of 4,500 volunteers by attending one of our new volunteer orientations. At the orientation you'll receive the current monthly calendar and more information on how the program works. Choose a project you like and start volunteering! After participating in an orientation, you'll receive the project calendar in the mail each month. |
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What is the time commitment? |
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It's entirely up to you! Our goal is to make volunteering easy for everyone to fit into busy schedules and we offer projects with varying commitment levels. You can volunteer as much or as little as you like. |
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How do I sign up for a project? |
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Look through the monthly calendar to find projects that interest you. Contact the PC to sign up and receive further details (i.e., directions and any other special instructions about the project). Then go out on the project and have a great time while helping to meet an important community need. |
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What is a PC? |
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Each volunteer project is supervised by a Project Coordinator (PC). PCs are extraordinary volunteers who provide the leadership and commitment to make all HOM projects worthwhile and enjoyable. PCs are responsible for responding to volunteers interested in the project, maintaining contact with the agency representative and educating participating volunteers about the agency and issue. |
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What kind of projects does HOM do? |
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Each month, HOM organizes and manages more than 70 direct-service volunteer projects in partnership with a variety of community service organizations. Sample projects include serving meals at a homeless shelter, working on arts and crafts with disadvantaged youth, cleaning up local beaches, delivering gift baskets to AIDS patients and playing Bingo with senior citizens. |
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How old do I have to be? |
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Due to safety reasons and the population of the organizations we serve, all volunteers must be 18 or older to volunteer on their own. |
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Can I volunteer with my kids? |
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Each month, we do have some "Family Friendly" projects where kids can volunteer with their parents (check each project description for age requirement). |
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Can I volunteer through the evening and weekend volunteer program to fulfill court-mandated community service? |
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Because of the paperwork required, this program is not appropriate for court-mandated volunteers. However, Hands On Miami does have a list of community service organizations where people can fulfill court-mandated community service. To receive a copy, please call 305-646-7200 or e-mail bruce@handsonmiami.org. |
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What if I have an idea for a new project? |
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Tell us about it! HOM is always looking for new projects and agency partners. Contact
Melba Gasque at 305-646-7203 or
Melba@handsonmiami.org. |
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Business Partners - FAQs |
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Why does my company have to pay for Hands On Miami to arrange our corporate volunteer activities? After all, we are volunteering our time. |
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Developing and coordinating volunteer activities, like developing and coordinating any other activity, requires time and expertise. Just as you hire a caterer to plan a banquet, Hands On Miami is the expert when it comes to community service. Arranging volunteer projects is what we do all the time. Therefore, we have an extensive knowledge of the needs in the community at any given time, what activities are suitable and enjoyable for lay volunteers to do, and where your company can make the most impact. We pay particular attention to customer service for both the companies and community service organizations we serve. The fees paid for our services pay for project supplies, staff time, and also help support the many programs we offer to those in the community with no ability to pay. All Business Partners fees are tax deductible. |
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How are your corporate services priced? |
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The Hands On Miami staff serve as consultants for your community service needs. After speaking to you about what your company would like to accomplish, Hands On Miami puts together a proposal including the pricing for its services. Since the services we provide each business are different, it is impossible to give a pricing schedule. To give you an idea, to arrange a corporate workday for 30-50 people can range in price from $500 to $1,500. |
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How are other leading companies in Miami-Dade County serving the community? |
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Business Partners offers businesses in Miami-Dade County a range of unique opportunities to involve their employees in our community, from one-time events to on-going employee volunteer programs.
- Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruise Lines has seen the benefits of combining business and volunteering for years. Last April at their annual event, G.I.V.E Day, 1000 Royal Caribbean and Celebrity employees painted, gardened, cleaned neighborhoods, and spent the day with at-risk children at 16 different schools, agencies and community centers throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
- With Hands On Miami's assistance, Time Warner added a highly successful team-building component to an annual conference in Miami. Sixty attendees from across the country turned an abandoned courtyard into a garden and painted reading-themed murals at an agency for homeless women and children.
- Hands On Miami helped organize and now serves as advisor to Carnival Cruise Lines employee volunteer program, the F.U.N. Team (Friends Uniting Neighbors). Their on-going volunteer activities not only support the community but also improve company pride, teamwork and leadership skills.
- A department of 15 from Accenture read bedtime stories at a shelter and a department of 60 removed exotic plants and restored native vegetation at a park, projects specially designed for these groups by Hands On Miami. Their civic projects are productive outlets to increase their sense of teamwork, while gaining a broader set of skills.
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How can our corporate services be an asset to your marketing plan? |
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Marketing for your company has never been easier. Business Partners helps you expand your corporate citizenship. Community service allows you to give back to the community while creating a more positive image and higher name recognition, heightened employee morale and company pride. The following are creative ways Hands On Miami can help you encourage team building, leadership development and philanthropy:
- Holiday Party or Picnic Instead of a traditional get-together, Hands On Miami can design a corporate volunteer day. This is a perfect way to improve teamwork, develop leadership skills, and increase communication among employees.
- Quarterly Projects Regular community service projects allow your company to increase visibility while addressing important community issues.
- Summer Associates and New Hires Expose summer associates or new hires to your company's opportunities, employees and culture. Hands On Miami can organize a rewarding, fun, hands-on volunteer experience that unites employees while benefiting our community.
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Community Bridges - FAQs |
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What types of family and youth volunteering does Hands On Miami offer? |
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Hands On Miami offers two options for Family and Youth Volunteering -- the Evening and Weekend Volunteer Program and the Community Bridges Program:
1. The Evening and Weekend Volunteer Program offers many family-friendly projects through its monthly project calendar
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Do I have to attend an orientation? |
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Yes, participation in projects through the Evening and Weekend Volunteer Program requires attendance at a one-hour new volunteer orientation. |
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What is the minimum age to attend the orientation? |
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Volunteers must be 18 or older to attend an orientation and volunteer alone. |
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How many projects are offered each month through the Evening and Weekend Volunteer Program? |
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More than 80 projects are offered each month, many of which are family-friendly projects. |
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What is the minimum age for children to volunteer with an adult? |
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The minimum age requirements vary, so check each project description for the age requirement. |
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Can youth who meet the project minimum age participate without an adult? |
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No. Youth volunteers may attend family-friendly projects ONLY with the parent or guardian who attended the new volunteer orientation. |
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Do these projects qualify for school community service credit? |
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Schools may differ on their community service requirements, so check with your school to determine its requirements. Please bring a community service form with you to the project to be signed by the Project Coordinator at the end of the project. |
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2. The Community Bridges Volunteer Program is designed to bring people together from diverse cultures and backgrounds to work towards a common goal and groups, families and individuals are encouraged to participate.
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Do I have to attend an orientation? |
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No. It is not necessary to attend an orientation in order to participate in Community Bridges projects. |
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How many projects are offered through the Community Bridges Program? |
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One large-scale volunteer project is held approximately each month. |
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What is the minimum age to volunteer without an adult? |
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You must be at least 16 years of age or older to volunteer without an adult. All volunteers must bring a Hands On Miami volunteer release waiver signed by a parent or guardian with them to each project. . |
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What is the minimum age requirement for children to volunteer with an adult? |
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The minimum age requirements vary, so check each project description for the age requirement. |
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Can youth who meet the project minimum age participate without an adult? |
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No. Youth volunteers may attend family-friendly projects ONLY with the parent or guardian who attended the new volunteer orientation. |
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Do these projects qualify for school community service credit? |
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Schools may differ on their community service requirements, so check with your school to determine its requirements. Please bring a community service form with you to the project to be signed by the Project Coordinator at the end of the project. |
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What is the minimum age for children to volunteer with an adult? |
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The minimum age requirements vary, so check each project description for the age requirement. |
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Do these projects qualify for school community service credit? |
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Schools may differ on their community service requirements, so check with your school to determine its requirements. Hands On Miami provides a proof of community service letter detailing the nature of the project and the number of volunteer hours at the end of each Community Bridges project. |
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How do I learn about upcoming Community Bridges projects? |
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Please contact Bobbi Wald at 305-646-7207 or Bobbi@HandsOnMiami.org. |
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Hands On Miami Day - FAQs |
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Who participates in Hands On Miami Day? |
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Individuals and teams of volunteers from corporations, and civic groups from Greater Miami participate in the event. Parks, neighborhoods, public schools and community service organizations will reap the benefit of 15,000 hours of volunteer work. |
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What if I don't have a team? |
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That's fine too! We'll put you on the "Hands On Miami" team. Last year we had about 150 HOM team members. |
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Do I have to be a Hands On Miami volunteer to participate in Hands On Miami Day? |
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No. Everyone is welcome! |
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How old do I have to be to participate in Hands On Miami Day? |
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Kids 8 and older can volunteer with an adult. Kids 16 and older can participate by themselves. Everyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign the Hands On Miami Day waiver form. |
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Where will Hands On Miami Day take place? |
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Work will be done in up to 30 project sites all over in and surrounding Downtown Miami. |
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Why do I have to donate money if I am volunteering my time? |
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Hands On Miami Day is our main fundraiser of the year. It furthers our mission as well as raises funds to enable us to continue to meet Miami-Dade County's volunteerism needs. Each month, Hands On Miami organizes and leads about 60 volunteer projects with agencies such as the Children's Home Society, Habitat for Humanity, the Humane Society and the Miami Rescue Mission. Last year Hands On Miami volunteers worked more than 53,000 hours for a better Miami. Without your help, we would not be able to carry on our current programs and create new ones to meet Miami-Dade County's ever-increasing volunteer needs. |
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