Modern Woodmen of America has selected 24 volunteer projects nationwide as "Shining Star" Join Hands Day projects. These projects will bridge the generation gap and improve communities.
Join Hands Day is a national day of service sponsored by Modern Woodmen and other fraternal benefit societies.
"These projects are the best of the best," says Steve Van Speybroeck, Modern Woodmen's fraternal director. "These volunteers will make a difference in their communities because of their dedication and hard work."
Join Hands Day is the only national day of service designed to bring youths and adults together and implement volunteer service projects in their communities. As the generations work side-by-side, they learn more about each other, sparking a new level of understanding and respect.
"Shining Star" projects
- Dumas, Ark. - Two Modern Woodmen youth service clubs, two Modern Woodmen adult camps and the B.W.C. Ladies Prayer Ministry group will be giving out socks and underwear to residents of a nursing home.
- Pensacola, Fla. - One Modern Woodmen adult camp and Brownie troop #39 will be collecting food and bedding to donate to the local Humane Society.
- Twin Falls, Idaho - Ten local Modern Woodmen youth service clubs, several Red Hat Society chapters, Buhl Kiwanis, LDS Relief Societies, various local church groups, Outstanding Young Women of Leadership, Sober Riders, volunteers from area businesses, Twin Falls Rotary Club, Magic Valley Farmers Association, several Boy Scouts of America troops and Liberty Homeschoolers will be purchasing, compiling and wrapping more than 200 “Christmas” presents for residents of Heritage-Woodstone Assisted Living Center.
- Dunfermline, Ill. - One Modern Woodmen youth service club and the Dunfermline Womens Club will be making no-sew fleece blankets and distributing them to shut-ins in the community.
- Rock Falls, Ill. - One Modern Woodmen youth service club, two Modern Woodmen adult camps and the Resident’s Council of Sterling Pavilion will be cleaning up the courtyard and planting flowers for residents to enjoy.
- Rock Island, Ill. - One Modern Woodmen adult camp, two Modern Woodmen youth service clubs, the Master Gardeners, Rock Island High School and the Boy Scouts Pack 81 will be landscaping two Habitat for Humanity homes in Rock Island. Children will also be planting a small garden.
- Stonefort, Ill. - One Modern Woodmen youth service club, the Carrier Mills Church of God seniors and Carrier Mills Church of God youth group will be holding an ice cream social for the residents of Brookstone Estates.
- Bedford, Iowa - One Modern Woodmen adult camp, one Modern Woodmen youth service club, Volunteers in the Park and Lighten Up Iowa will be painting a small shed and benches, painting games on blacktop, spreading woodchips, painting picnic tables and planting flowers.
- Caneyville, Ky. - One Modern Woodmen youth service club and Family Support workers will be purchasing and delivering items to the Health Department for first-time mothers.
- Palermo, Maine - One Modern Woodmen adult camp and local Boy Scouts will be replacing and repairing mailboxes in the community.
- Gerald, Mo. - Three Modern Woodmen youth service clubs, the Gerald Chamber of Commerce and the Gerald Elementary School P.T.A. will be planting a tree in the school yard and getting a plaque made for an officer who died in the line of duty.
- Bruno, Minn. - One Modern Woodmen adult camp and the BOLT youth group will be making homemade greeting cards to send to veterans in two VA hospitals in the region.
- Roca, Neb. - Two local Modern Woodmen adult camps, one local Modern Woodmen youth service club and the residents of Haven Manor Home will be collecting donations and purchasing personal care items to create care bags for a stroke survivor group.
- Jamestown, N.D. - One Modern Woodmen camp, one Modern Woodmen youth service club, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Jamestown High School students will be making yellow ribbons and presenting them to a family support group for the 817th, who are serving in Iraq.
- Manns Choice, Pa. - One Modern Woodmen youth service club, the Children of Promise and the Church of God ladies sewing group will be sewing quilts, pillow cases and walker caddies for local nursing homes and making crafts and candy for a local hospice.
- Anderson, S.C. - One Modern Woodmen adult camp, one Modern Woodmen youth service club and City of Anderson Fire Department will be purchasing smoke detectors and distributing them to shut-ins and the needy.
- Reliance, S.D. - Three Modern Woodmen youth service clubs and the Altar Society will be making care baskets and delivering them to a nursing home.
- Newport, Tenn. - One Modern Woodmen youth service club, one Modern Woodmen adult camp, the Jenkin’s Chapel Ladies’ Auxilary and the Men’s Union will be creating and filling “bags of love” for displaced children of Cocke County.
- Ramer, Tenn. - Two Modern Woodmen youth service clubs and the Ramer baseball league will be clearing grass and other overgrowth from tennis and basketball courts that are currently unusable.
- Montgomery, Texas - Two Modern Woodmen youth service clubs, two Modern Woodmen adult camps, the local police department and the local fire department will be collecting and purchasing stuffed animals and putting notes on them to be given to children in need.
- West Burke, Vt. - Three Modern Woodmen youth service clubs will be creating walking trails with bridges and benches for the community.
- Richmond, Va. - One Modern Woodmen youth service club, one Modern Woodmen adult camp, Boy Scout troop #806 and the Bellwood Elementary School Student Council will be creating a garden at Bellwood Elementary School.
- Augusta, W.Va. - One Modern Woodmen adult camp and the Delray Church of Christ youth group will be making no-sew fleece blankets for Project Linus.
- Friendship, Wis. - One Modern Woodmen youth service club, one Modern Woodmen adult camp and the Busy Bees 4-H club will be collecting and purchasing food for the local food pantry.
“Thousands of members across the country come together on this day and complete projects,” says Van Speybroeck. “Join Hands Day is just one example of how Modern Woodmen members enrich and improve communities with volunteer service.”
Founded in 1883 as a fraternal benefit society, Modern Woodmen celebrates 125 years of serving members and their communities. The organization offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States. For additional information, contact Kim Woodward; (309) 793-5660