SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Less than a year after announcing its expansion into South Lake Tahoe, Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference is celebrating the successful launch of its Outreach and Education Programs, with local youth already serving their community, developing leadership skills, and preparing to lead their peers through meaningful service-learning experiences.
Hands4Hope’s South Lake Tahoe expansion is supported by the Pay It Forward Project, led by John McDougall, in partnership with South Tahoe Middle School, South Tahoe High School, local nonprofit organizations, community leaders, adult volunteers, and youth.
The Hands4Hope Outreach Program launched in May, providing local youth with flexible, hands-on opportunities to learn about community needs and make an immediate difference. The first outreach brought Hands4Hope youth together to support Bread & Broth 4 Kids’ “Cram-A-Cruiser” event, which collects food for local children facing food insecurity.
Youth volunteers then helped with The Longest Dinner Table, a large community event coordinated with support from the Marcella Foundation that raises funds for local nonprofit organizations and charitable causes. Throughout the summer, Hands4Hope youth continued participating in weekly outreach opportunities with Bread & Broth and Vista Rise, gaining firsthand experience serving alongside local organizations and community volunteers.
“This summer has shown us exactly why we believed Hands4Hope could be such a meaningful addition to the South Lake Tahoe community,” said Jennifer Bassett, founder and executive director of Hands4Hope – Youth Making A Difference. “Local youth have stepped forward with enthusiasm, compassion, and a genuine desire to serve. Just as importantly, community partners, school administrators, adult volunteers, and supporters have welcomed them and helped create opportunities for them to discover their ability to make a difference.”
One of the youth instrumental in the launch is South Tahoe High School senior David
Galicia-Perez. David began serving as a youth representative on the South Tahoe Steering Committee while Hands4Hope’s expansion was still being developed. Since then, he has participated in outreach activities, represented Hands4Hope at community events and speaking engagements, attended Hands4Hope’s summer Leadership Camp, and completed more than 70 hours of service before the start of his senior year.
David will now serve as the inaugural president of the South Tahoe High School Hands4Hope Club.
“I wanted to help build something that makes service easy, approachable, and meaningful for other South Tahoe students,” David shared. Through his involvement, he said he has discovered that service is about much more than earning volunteer hours. He has found that it helps gain confidence, develop life skills, and find a supportive community where youth belong.
While the Outreach Program provides flexible opportunities for youth to serve according to their interests and schedules, Hands4Hope’s Education Program offers a more in-depth, year-long service-learning experience.
Youth selected for leadership positions at South Tahoe Middle School and South Tahoe High School began preparing for their roles in June. Over the summer, they participated in leadership activities and Hands4Hope’s three-day Leadership Camp, where they strengthened their communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and project-management skills.
In September, those youth leaders will launch the first Hands4Hope Clubs on their campuses. With support from trained adult mentors and Hands4Hope staff, they will lead their peers through a year-long service-learning project addressing a genuine community need. Club members will explore local issues, select a nonprofit partner or cause, plan and implement a project, and evaluate its impact.
Club meetings will also include leadership development and team-building activities designed to create a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment where youth can use their voices, build confidence, and learn to work collaboratively.
“Working with Hands4Hope was a great experience during The Longest Dinner Table event back in June. All the volunteers were engaged with the tasks at hand and helped our event come to life. Having the presence of local youth volunteers at events like these showcases how this community always shows up for each other. We are grateful for their support then and are excited for even more students to have opportunities to volunteer, grow, and lead here in South Lake Tahoe!” shared Lily Summerville, FeedTahoe coordinator, Marcella Foundation.
Hands4Hope is continuing to develop partnerships with South Lake Tahoe nonprofit
organizations that can provide meaningful opportunities for youth to learn about local needs and serve their community. The organization is also seeking adult volunteers to support outreach activities and mentor youth leaders and club members.
Youth and adults are invited to help build the future of Hands4Hope in South Lake Tahoe. Students interested in joining a Hands4Hope Club can find applications under South Tahoe Middle School or South Tahoe High School at https://www.hands4hopeyouth.org/slt. Adults can support local youth as mentors, outreach volunteers, and in other essential roles. To learn more, visit www.hands4hopeyouth.org/adultparticipants or contact info@hands4hopeyouth.org.
Students at Earth Day, Vista Rise Collective, and Back to School Night:
