The first HOTC Day featured 15 sights and approximately 400 volunteers, including the young ladies above.  

THOMASVILLE- What started as just one day dedicated to volunteering, has now evolved into 20 years of volunteers serving 13 different programs throughout the year thanks to Hands on Thomas County. 

Founded in 2003, Hands on Thomas County was originally part of the Hands on Network and held their first HOTC Day in November 2004. 

“There were 13 other counties throughout Georgia who were part of the Hands on Network, and they would hold “Hands on Days” and we would all take part in them,” recalled Angela Kiminas, Executive Director and CEO of Hands on Thomas County. 

To fit in with the network, HOTC held their first HOTC Day on Saturday, November 13, 2004, where they were joined by former Governor Sonny Perdue. 

Kiminas said to welcome Perdue, a luncheon was held in his honor at the Boys and Girls Club, before he toured all of the volunteer sights. 

Although Kiminas was not a Director at the time, she said she has been able to determine the first HOTC Day featured 15 sights and approximately 400 volunteers. 

“That’s really where it all began,” she said. “Hands On Thomas County was really focused on that day at the time.” 

Since that initial HOTC Day, HOTC has ramped up their efforts for volunteering throughout the community, now hosting over 13 different programs and events for individuals to get involved in. 

Over the years, programs have come and gone, but ones that have been in place for the past 10 years include HOTC Day, MLK Service Day and Project Impact Summer Camp. 

Kiminas also recalls some of the major events HOTC has played a role in, especially when it comes to youth and disaster relief. 

“HOTC used to hold what was referred to as youth days and were always really focused on getting the youth involved,” she said. 

One of the ways HOTC used to give back to the youth was by partnering with other organizations to hold the Back to School Blitz. 

The Back to School Blitz, which is now held through Family Connections, was founded with the intention of handing out free school supplies and providing information on a variety of different clubs and resources for those in need. 

In addition to helping the youth, HOTC was always ready to spring into action following a natural disaster. 

“We were really on the forefront of disaster relief, working with Red Cross and Thomas County EMA,” Kiminas said. “We did a lot with Katrina victims.” 

Kiminas specifically remembers when Hurricane Michael came through. 

She said HOTC worked with Thomas County EMA to set up a control center for people who needed or wanted help after the storm moved through. 

“There was a group called All Hands who came and helped us set up the control center,” she said. “Thomasville was used as the base and once they worked through Thomasville and Thomas County they moved to Brooks, Grady, wherever there was a need.” 

However, when looking back on the last 20 years, it’s not just the big events Kiiminas remembers, but more so the people who have aided and helped in the community. 

When thinking of an individual who has dedicated themselves to the cause over the past two decades, no one stands out more than Audrina Williams and her Virtuous Girls Group, according to Kiminas. 

“They were one of our first honorees, because they come together on a consistent basis to do whatever needs to be done, specifically in Meigs,” she said. “We love partnering with them, because they never stop.” 

Williams even worked with HOTC to implement a new program, called Crafts for a Cause, which creates hand-made cards and stitched goods in honor of her mother who passed from cancer. 

“Every year they make comfort items for patients at the Oncology Center,” Kiminas said. “It’s all the things you don’t think of, and we will never stop doing that project. I will always make sure it’s carried on in her name.” 

Along with Williams, other volunteers who spring into Kiminas’ mind are the volunteers who helped renovate the Northside Park. 

“They renovated the bathrooms, redid the ballfields, got the scoreboards working, graded the driveway, all to make it useable for mostly football and baseball,” Kiminas said. “That was something we were a part of and it made a big impact. You used to drive by there and it was nothing and now there are hundreds of kids there.” 

Looking toward the future, Kiminas hopes to be involved in future park projects, as they have already completed the McIntyre Park Disc Golf course. 

“We have some things that could be on the horizon for this year,” Kiminas said. “We have dreams of a new larger facility that would be a volunteer and community center.” 

With Kiminas at the helm, the possibilities are endless. However, she said it’s the community that makes HOTC work. 

“The mindset of volunteering already existed long before I got here,” she concluded. “We are here just to stream line it and funnel people to where they’re most needed.” 

*This story is one of many that will share memorable events from HOTC’s past two decades in Thomas County. Look for additional HOTC spotlights each month.*