NEW AND EXCITING SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE 2022/2023 SCHOOL YEAR!
All students and parents are still advised to follow updated COVID-19 safeguards as applicable. There are many virtual and do-it-yourself projects available online, so let Google help you discover the project that is suited for you and your needs. Also, visit the Hands-On Thomas County (HOTC) website, located at www.handsonthomascounty.org, and explore the many opportunities they offer. Feel free to contact Colonel McLeod at 229-403-9525 if you have any questions or need help discovering projects that might work for you.
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NEW!!!! Treehouse Pinwheel Project. April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and The Thomasville Treehouse children's advocacy agency needs volunteers to help place child abuse awareness pinwheels around the Thomas County Schools facilities so that our community will become more aware of child abuse and the many initiatives in place to correct this reality. Volunteers are needed the week of March 25 to pick up pinwheels and yard signs from the Treehouse and then deliver and place them at one or more of our schools and appropriate facilities. If your club or sports team are interested simply contact Colonel McLeod at smcleod@tcjackets.net or stop by and see him on E-Hall.
NEW!!!! Hands-On Thomas County (HOTC) Volunteer Week. Global Volunteer Month is April and our local HOTC is sponsoring their very own Volunteer Week, April 20-27. Service opportunities include a Manna Drop, Planting Roses, Litter Clean Up, a Toiletry Drive, and Roses for Seniors. For more details, go to www.handsonthomascounty.org and register online. Let Colonel McLeod if you need more info.
NEW!!! Thomasville Street Feed. Get involved in this new community service opportunity by signing up online to work with First Baptist Church Thomasville on the first Friday of every month. You can help by either donating food or greeting and serving food to the needy of Thomasville. Contact Kristin Long of First Baptist at 229-228-6800 for more details. You can also sign up online at www.fbcthomasville.com. Or, see Colonel McLeod for more info.
Hands & Hearts for Horses. Want to get involved in a service opportunity that gets you outdoors and linked with God's creation? Try Hands & Hearts for Horses (HHH), a non-profit therapeutic equine-assisted activities and therapies program in a supportive and dynamic environment to enhance the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities living in the local area. Therapeutic riding utilizes equine-oriented activities to contribute positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of people with special needs. Volunteers typically assist therapists with controlling the horses so that the clients are kept safe during therapy sessions. Volunteers also assist in a variety of other activities including grounds maintenance, mucking out horse stalls, and maintaining tack, such as halters, bridles, and saddles. This activity may qualify for service learning hours as volunteers will receive training on how to work around horses. If you are interested in this activity contact Ms. Devyn Barrett at 229-551-0086 or 229-319-5602. Or, you can check out their website at www.handsandheartsforhorses.com. Note: You can also sign up to volunteer online.
Backpack Buddies. Backpack Buddies is conducted each Wednesday right after school. Volunteers need to be at the Board of Education Office complex (200 N. Pinetree Blvd, Backpack Buddies Room) no later than 3:30 p.m. to sign in. We are normally through by 4:05 or 4:10. This year we have clubs sign up for one or two Wednesdays each month to make sure we have enough volunteers. So, encourage your club sponsor to sign up for this excellent service opportunity.
First Option Care Pregnancy Center. First Option Care exists to equip women and men with the information and resources they need to make informed and confident pregnancy decisions. Ms. Meghan Ridenour at First Option Care is looking for students willing to help them as they provide services for their clients. This service opportunity offers a two-part process where students would first donate needed items for the Moms & Babies Rooms, such as diapers, pull-ups and training pants, baby lotion, baby bath wash & shampoo, and diaper rash cream just to mention a few. They also need help in organizing the donations after they are collected. If you are interested contact Ms. Ridenour at meghan@1stoption.care, or call her at 229-226-0510.
Second Harvest Food Distribution. Volunteers are needed to help assemble food boxes for needy families on a continuing basis. Call Josh at 229-539-4025 to set up a date and time to volunteer. This is a great way to get several hours by working on a Saturday. This site is located at 120 Roseway Drive, which is out Hwy 84 West, close to the Hwy 319 By-Pass going towards Cairo.
Miss Kitty Feline Sanctuary. Miss Kitty is currently in need of donations including cat food, toys, cat litter, clean blankets and towels, and hand sanitizer. This is an easy, Do-It-Yourself, COVID-safe service opportunity. Call the staff at 229-236-0167 for more details. Hours awarded will be based on the level of effort rendered.
Birthday Boxes - The Tree House Children's Advocacy Center of Thomas County needs creative students to design "Birthday Boxes" for local children in need. If you are interested in this project, please contact Ms. Heather Irvin, Tree House Client Advocate, at 229-226-5437, or Col McLeod in Guidance. This would be a fun project to partner with a close friend or family member.