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HandsOn Battle Creek works with the desire to be a part of something bigger, the drive for change, the aspiration to make a difference, and turns it into action through volunteering.

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History

HandsOn Battle Creek was founded in 1949 and its mission is to mobilize volunteers and connect people, information and services to build a strong, caring community.  The HandsOn Battle Creek’s history is rich in detail, and even though it has changed names over the years, its passion for connecting volunteers with agencies remains strong. HandsOn Battle Creek accomplishes its mission through two primary program areas; volunteer services and 211.

Thanks for being a part of our history and sharing in so many milestones.

  • 1949 Volunteer Bureau, started by Junior League, opens in the Council of Social Agencies at 20 Kingman Building.
  • 1950 Volunteer Bureau is helping 33 agencies with 146 volunteers.
  • 1960 First agency workshop was conducted, to further educate and orient agency personnel on the use of volunteers.
  • 1969 Revised directory of agencies helped includes 74 organizations.
  • 1974 Information and Referral Service begins as new service from the Volunteer Bureau.
  • 1977 As part of National Volunteer Week, the Volunteer Bureau initiates an annual recognition of outstanding volunteers.
  • 1989 Volunteer Bureau celebrates 40th anniversary, inducting forty inductees into the Volunteer Hall of Fame.
  • 1991 The first edition of the Directory of Human Services was produced.
  • 1994 Placed volunteers for the first United Way Day of Caring.
  • 1999 Volunteer and Information Services (VIS’s)  first web page is launched in collaboration with Nonprofit Alliance and Willard Library.
  • 2000 VIS board decides to change agency name to the Volunteer Center of Battle Creek
  • 2002 The Volunteer center launches the 1st 211 call center in the State of Michigan, calls to 211 call center increases 64% in 1st month of operation.
  • 2004 VCBC recruits 1,021 volunteers for United Way Days of Caring.
  • 2006 We were the third call center in Michigan to be nationally accredited.
  • 2007 211 recorded a call volume of 35,524.
  • 2007 VCBC recruits more then 2,000 corporate volunteers for United Way Days of Caring.
  • 2008 VCBC changes name to HandsON Battle Creek
  • 2008 HandsOn started Community BarnRaising

HandsOn Battle Creek was founded in 1949 and its mission is to mobilize volunteers and connect people, information and services to build a strong, caring community.  The HandsOn Battle Creek’s history is rich in detail, and even though it has changed names over the years, its passion for connecting volunteers with agencies remains strong. HandsOn Battle Creek accomplishes its mission through two primary program areas; volunteer services and 211.

 

Thanks for being a part of our history and sharing in so many milestones.

 

1949 Volunteer Bureau, started by Junior League, opens in the Council of Social Agencies at 20 Kingman Building.

1950 Volunteer Bureau is helping 33 agencies with 146 volunteers.

1960 First agency workshop was conducted, to further educate and orient agency personnel on the use of volunteers.

1969 Revised directory of agencies helped includes 74 organizations.

1974 Information and Referral Service begins as new service from the Volunteer Bureau.

1977 As part of National Volunteer Week, the Volunteer Bureau initiates an annual recognition of outstanding volunteers.

1989 Volunteer Bureau celebrates 40th anniversary, inducting forty inductees into the Volunteer Hall of Fame.

1991The first edition of the Directory of Human Services was produced.

1994 Placed volunteers for the first United Way Day of Caring.

1999 Volunteer and Information Services (VIS’s)  first web page is launched in collaboration with Nonprofit Alliance and Willard       Library.

2000 VIS board decides to change agency name to the Volunteer Center of Battle Creek

2002 The Volunteer center launches the 1st 211 call center in the State of Michigan, calls to 211 call center increases 64% in 1st month of operation.

2004 VCBC recruits 1,021 volunteers for United Way Days of Caring.

2006 We were the third call center in Michigan to be nationally accredited.

2007 211 recorded a call volume of 35,524.

2007 VCBC recruits more then 2,000 corporate volunteers for United Way Days of Caring.

2008 VCBC changes name to HandsON Battle Creek

2008 HandsOn started Community BarnRaising