Autumn News
Hands & Hearts Together

Our online auction is now live!!
Check it out at handson.cbo.io

Join us on Sunday, October 4th from 5:30 - 6:30 pm for our first ever virtual celebration!
 
An engaging and entertaining evening with the Hands On Hartford family joining in the joyful work of strengthening community in Hartford.
  • Visit with Chef Kim Hoàng Wood of le Bánh Patisserie as she creates the exquisite dessert included in the gourmet supper package
  • See a day in the life of the Hands On Hartford Center for Community
  • Participate in an online auction
  • Hear from other members of our community
 
Registration: no cost
With gourmet supper package: $75
Buy Tickets at handson.cbo.io
Use the same link to register for the online auction
 
For more information contact Kate Shafer at kshafer@handsonhartford.org
Thank you to all of those who supported Hands On Hartford in this year's Foodshare Walk Against Hunger event. The virtual event runs from September 13-19, 2020, and all summer walkers and teams have bee finding fun and safe ways to still participate. We truly appreciate all of the generosity and participation from our friends that made this unique event so successful! Are you still walking? Find out more at www.foodsharewalk.org!
 
The Power of a Helping Hand
Stephanie Boyce, Program Leader/Navigator for our Community Meals and Day Program, has been working hard in her outreach efforts alongside her team members, identifying individuals in Hartford in need of shelter. She shared with us a recent story about a Community Meals guest who now has an apartment, after years of living outdoors. In addition to helping this guest find shelter, Stephanie and her team were able to connect him with other resources, including our MANNA Community Pantry.
Are you an online shopper?
 
Check out Amazon Smile – for all Amazon.com shoppers, start your shopping at smile.amazon.com. Select Hands On Hartford as your charity, and you’re off and running!  .5% of eligible purchases will go to Hands On Hartford.
Faith In Action
We would like to thank our wonderful friends at Vox Church in Windsor for the many ways they have recently been supporting this community. They donated a huge number of school supplies - over 1500 items including backpacks, notebooks, folders, and more, which will go to students in Hartford through our Backpack Nutrition Program. Vox Church is also sponsoring our upcoming Hands & Hearts Together celebration, and on top of that will be working with us on a park clean-up service project! We are so grateful for all they do for our Hartford neighbors.
If you are interested in participating in a service project - in person or virtual - please contact Geoff Luxenberg at gluxenberg@handsonhartford.org
Welcome new Hands On Hartford team members!
We are delighted to welcome our new MSW intern, Tanya Walker. Tanya will be working with our Community Meals and Housing programs, among others.
Ariana Ramos is joining us as a BSW intern working with our Community Meals program.
Welcome Suada Toska. Suada is also a BSW intern working in our Community Meals program.
Conrad Sienkiewicz is joining the Hands On Hartford team as Assistant Housing Program Manager.

We are also happy to welcome to Gilberto Gonzales, our newest Housing Case Manager.
We All Have Our Hands on Hartford!
What a great day with outstanding volunteers from Ambulance Service of Manchester and Aetna cleaning up Keney Park with our friends from the Keney Park Sustainability Project!
Thank you to Cencap Federal Credit Union for this amazing donation of over 600 pounds of food for the MANNA Community Pantry collected during their shred day! What a wonderful way to inspire the whole community to give!
Labor Day at Hands On Hartford
What a beautiful Labor Day it was this year! 19 volunteer joined us to host a delicious BBQ chicken meal for 185 members of the Hartford community. We had plenty of extra snacks and treats on hand, including books donated by Barnes & Noble in Glastonbury, and ice cream treats for all. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the connections we all share.
Pizza for All
Our staff took a little break last month to enjoy some delicious pizza. The dinosaur didn’t eat it all. Many thanks to our friends at Square Peg Pizzeria for providing such yummy food and raising our spirits!! Square Peg Pizzeria has also generously donated pizzas for our Hartford neighbors through our MANNA Community Meals Program.
Great Volunteer Opportunities Available!
Volunteers to help pack and deliver backpacks for our Backpack Nutrition Program.

Help in the MANNA Community Pantry to stock shelves and pack grocery bags and help keep things nice and clean.

A group to help clean out and reorganize our Backpack Packing Room.

Kitchen help in connection with our Hands & Hearts Together Celebration.
 
Just contact Geoff Luxenberg at gluxenberg@handsonhartford.org or 860-706-1507. Thank you in advance for helping keep our community strong.
Cafe at Fifty-Five and Caterers Who Care
You've probably heard about the new menu in the Cafe with lots of new offerings along with old favorites. Take a look HERE.

Did you know you can also order catered meals or apps for groups, large and small. Perfect for a long-overdue family gathering, in-person work meetings that may be starting up, or community or faith group picnics.

Contact Molly Reynolds at mreynolds@handsonhartford.org or 860-706-1537 for more information.
About Hands On Hartford
Hands On Hartford, in partnership with others, strengthens community in Hartford by responding faithfully to people in need through programs that change lives and renew human possibility.

We are committed to increasing food security and nutrition, improving health and providing housing while we engage volunteers and connect communities.
How Can I Help?

Go shopping! If you're an online amazon shopper, be sure to start your shopping at smile.amazon.com and select Hands On Hartford as your charity. .5% of eligible purchases will automatically go to Hands On Hartford.
 
Make a donation! You will be part of a network of donors, volunteers and staff who work together to provide food, housing and related services for families who are struggling to make ends meet. To make a financial donation, click "Donate Now" or mail your check to Hands On Hartford, 55 Bartholomew Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106. Our inkind donation wish-list is HERE

 
Or contact Kate Shafer at kshafer@handsonhartford.org for more in-kind donation ideas.
 
Request a matching donation from your employer! Many employers will match all or part of your donation - a great way to double your impact.

We are grateful for this amazing community and the love, caring, compassion and support we see every day.