Hands On Nashville is grateful for our many Project Coordinators who choose to be leaders in Nashville through community service.  Project Coordinators are trained volunteers who ensure that HON projects run smoothly; tasks are accomplished; and volunteers have an enjoyable experience. This section introduces you to the Project Coordinators who lead HON volunteerism.  If you are a Hands On Nashville volunteer and you would like to take on a new role as a Project Coordinator, contact Malinda Hersh at 615-298-1108 x 101.

 Mike Trammell

Project Coordinator for Sports Night 

If you are going to attend Sports Night, there are two things Project Coordinator Mike Trammell thinks you should know.  "When you are playing wheelchair basketball for the first time, wear gloves. The second is that stopping the chair is NOT as easy as it looks."
 
As a sports enthusiast, Mike gets to share his love for healthy competition at Sports Night, while making an impact in the lives of United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee's participants.  
 
"I love competition, but I also enjoy watching and encouraging others to compete.  Sports Night provides the perfect environment for all of the participants to challenge themselves, as well as each other.  It's so easy to assume that people with disabilities don't pursue their competitive nature with the same enthusiasm, but that just isn't true.  Anyone can love to compete - win, lose, or draw - and love to have fun doing it," says Mike.
 
Through his volunteer work, Mike has not only been able to teach others about his hobbies, but also he has found that the participants have taught him a lot in return.  As the Project Coordinator for the past three years, Mike cites "simply learning" as the best part of his volunteer experience.
 
"My work with Sports Night has introduced me to a group of people who are constantly teaching me about human interaction and communication, and that a handicap doesn't hinder either of those things," says Mike.
 
Mike is eager to get new volunteers to join him at Sports Night.  He understands that some might feel intimidated when working with individuals with a physical or developmental disability.  "I tell everyone who is there for the first time to just toss out any fear of doing or saying the wrong thing, which is common with new volunteers.  Once you relax, you start having a lot of fun."

Sports Night occurs every Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00pm. If you want to participate with Mike, click here to sign-up for his project.  Hands On Nashville thanks Mike for his continued dedication. HON's Project Coordinators and volunteers are an integral part of Hands On Nashville's mission to transform our community through volunteer service.

Waves, Inc is a community agency that provides a range of support services to adults and children with developmental disabilities.  Our programs primarily serve the Williamson County area with Day Programs in Franklin and Fairview.  Waves was founded over 36 years ago by family members who wanted to "make waves" on behalf of their loved ones with developmental disabilities.  We have served hundreds of families.
 
Our Mission is to enable individuals with developmental disabilities to progress toward their full potential.   With our mission in mind, we encourage volunteers to join us in the many activities we offer.  There really is something for everyone!  Currently one of our biggest needs is for volunteers to work with our Recreation Coordinator; assisting her in craft activities, exercise opportunities, and art classes.   We are also looking for individuals who would teach dance lessons, provide cosmetology services, or create any other activity that promotes life skills at our Day Program facilities.  Any interest you have can be developed into a class.

If you prefer clerical work, we can always use an extra pair of hands in one of our offices.   Our Jobs Development Department needs Trial Worksites where an individual's work skills can be evaluated in a real-life setting. We can develop projects for larger groups for a one-time-only project that would include yard work and/or painting projects. Although most of our volunteer needs are during the weekday between 9:00am and 4:00pm, we are very flexible and can accommodate most people's or group's schedules.   
 
Our Early Learning Program supports infants, toddlers, and preschool children in either a preschool environment or in their homes.  The program is play-based and provides an environment where children can receive developmental assessments, speech, physical, and occupational therapies.  Working as a classroom aide is an area where volunteers are welcome.
 
We have recently been very fortunate with volunteers assisting us in updating our web site.  If you have special technical skills or other professional skills, we can work with you to assist in one of our programs.    

For more information on how you can get involved, contact Marilyn Kruse at Mkruse@wavesinc.com. Thank you for considering Waves, Inc. as focus for your volunteer efforts.

Hands On Nashville's monthly calendar of volunteer projects provides easy and diverse opportunities for volunteering in our community. There's something for all interest areas and passions.  If you have questions specific to a particular project, please email the Project Coordinator listed for that project. Click here to view the Hands On Nashville volunteer Calendar for more projects.

Neighborhood Rehab
Saturday, June 27, 2009
8:00am - 12:30pm
12:30 - 5:30pm

Ready to flex some muscle? Join Affordable Housing Resources as volunteers strip roof shingles off a one-story residence in the TSU/Fisk area. There will also be some light debris removal from the inside of the home. Tools will be provided, but if you have a favorite hammer, crow bar, or pair of gloves feel free to bring them along. Lunch will be provided for all volunteers. Click here to volunteer!

Community Testing Day
Saturday, June 27, 2009
1:00 - 5:00pm
 
Many of Nashville's community partners, including The Positive Prevention Alliance, STD Free!, The Metro Health Department, and Tennessee Department of Health's Office of Health Disparities, are working together to host a free health screening day that will feature information booths, free food, and entertainment.  Volunteers are needed to help during the event with set up, registration, information, and general event assistance. Sign-up today!
 
Dinner at Nashville Safe Haven Family Shelter
Sunday, June 28, 2009
5:30 - 7:00pm
 
Get out your recipe book and make your favorite dish to share with the families at Nashville Safe Haven Family Shelter. Safe Haven is a facility where families in transition can find housing together. Your gift of time and food has a tremendous impact on the people in the shelter.  Volunteer here!
 
Music City Hot Chicken Festival
Saturday, July 4, 2009
9:30am - 4:00pm (four shifts available)
 
The 2009 Music City Hot Chicken Festival will definitely put some spice in your life! This free event celebrates one of Nashville's most unique culinary traditions, Hot Chicken.  Volunteers are needed to work a two-hour shift during the festival, so sign up to be a Volunteer Hot Chicken today!

Volunteer Classifieds
 
Salama Urban Ministries needs volunteers to share and inspire youth with an inside look at various careers. This career day will take place June 30, and volunteers will speak directly to the youth from 9:00 to 11:00am.  Click here for more information.

Lakeshore Heartland, a residential facility, is looking for volunteers to "adopt a senior." Compassionate individuals or families are needed who would like to spend time with less responsive senior citizens without friends or family nearby. Click here to learn more.

To view the volunteer classifieds, click here.

Skills-based volunteering

The Nashville Humane Association needs a bricklayer to help install brick in a 12'x12' and a 6'x12' area. If you are a bricklayer and would like to donate your skills, contact Ashley Brown at Ashley@hon.org or 298-1108 x 104 for more information.

The Red Cross is looking for volunteers with public speaking skills to help develop and give Community Disaster Presentations. If you are interested in learning more about this volunteer opportunity, contact Ashley Brown at Ashley@hon.org or 298-1108 x 104.

For more information on how you can volunteer your skills, click here.

The Community Calendar is designed to inform Hands On Nashville volunteers about additional community needs. Volunteer opportunities listed below are not official Hands On Nashville projects. These opportunities are available directly through the agencies listed and are appropriate for any community volunteer.

Youth About Business, a Nashville-based nonprofit, needs 25 corporate executives to volunteer to teach inner-city youth about business July 6-10 and July 13-17. These students will be in a camp at Vanderbilt University. Each volunteer will advise students for two hours in an outlined session. Business professionals are needed for each level, from entry-level to senior level. For more information of how you can participate, contact Sam Kirk at samkrik@youthaboutbusiness.org.

The Nashville Adult Literacy Council has two volunteer opportunities.  It needs one-on-one volunteer tutors to help teach English-speaking adults how to read and to teach English to adult immigrants. The Nashville Adult Literacy Council asks volunteers for a six month minimum commitment with a weekly time commitment of three hours. Volunteers will meet continuously with the same student and meeting times/locations are based upon your availability.  The next volunteer tutor training session will be held at the Cohn Adult Learning Center on Saturday, July 18 from 9:00am to 3:30pm. Volunteer tutors will be matched with an adult learner based on schedule and location preferences. The Nashville Adult Literacy Council also needs volunteer tutors for its drop-in learning program, called Start Now, to help teach English-speaking adults how to read and to teach English to adult immigrants. Start Now allows learners on our waiting list to call and schedule hour appointments for immediate instruction while waiting for a full-time one-on-one tutor. The next volunteer tutor training session will be held at the Cohn Adult Learning Center on Tuesday, July 14 from 5:30 to 8:30pm.  As a volunteer, you can sign up for as many or as few hour time slots that fit your time schedule every month. For more information about either opportunity, call 298-8060 or email info@nashvilleliteracy.org to register for training and for more information.

For the fourth year, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and the Center for Nonprofit Management are teaming up to bring services to outlying counties in Middle Tennessee. If you live in or near Cookeville, Murfreesboro, Columbia, or Gallatin, these classes are for you. Learn nonprofit management essentials from highly experienced trainers. The topics for these half-day courses are Mission Possible: Surviving and Thriving in Tough Times, Budgeting in a Difficult Economy, and Securing the Future: Making the Most of Collaborations and Partnerships. For more information visit the Center for Nonprofit Management's website at cnm.org or contact Sarah Townsend at (615) 259-3911 ext 14.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) has an immediate opening for a front desk volunteer at their office in East Nashville. This volunteer opportunity involves answering incoming phone calls and greeting visitors to CASA from 8:00 to 11:30am, Monday through Friday, with the option to stay through 4:30pm on Fridays. The ideal candidate enjoys working with people, has excellent communication skills, is comfortable in an office environment, and is passionate about helping children in need. If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, please contact Jenny Magill at 615-425-2383 or via email at jmagill@casa-nashville.org.CASA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to training and supporting volunteers to be Special Advocates for children who have been victims of abuse or neglect while their cases are active in the court system. CASA volunteers provide these children with a voice in court and expedite the process to find each child a safe, permanent home.