about JHD
JOIN HANDS DAY is the only national volunteer day on the Seasons of Service calendar that specifically targets and develops relationships between young people and adults through neighborhood volunteering. Youths and adults work together on an equal basis to plan, organize and implement the day’s activities. Building relationships across generations restores confidence, trust and respect for each other and creates a sense of community.
America’s Fraternal Benefit Societies are the sponsors of JOIN HANDS DAY. Fraternal benefit societies began nearly 150 years ago, and today have 9.3 million members in 37,000 local chapters. These not-for-profit organizations improve their communities through volunteer service and charitable outreach, while helping their members achieve financial security through insurance and retirement products.
Fraternalists “JOIN HANDS” year-round, because fraternalism is not a one-day-a-year event. However, JOIN HANDS DAY provides all fraternalists and non-fraternalists alike with the opportunity to make a difference in their neighborhoods through helpful projects that connect youths and adults.
JOIN HANDS DAY is open to everyone. Even though America’s Fraternal Benefit Society chapters form a strong foundation of participants, other volunteers come from civic organizations, nonprofits, government agencies, faith groups, youth clubs, schools and more. Youth groups find adult organizations, and adult organizations find youth groups to develop a partnership for the day and develop new friendships.
National organizations that have promoted JOIN HANDS DAY to their members include: the American Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, the National FFA Organization, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Host America, Salvation Army and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
JOIN HANDS DAY is a program of the National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA). The 124-year-old NFCA unites the 68 not-for-profit America’s Fraternal Benefit Societies that operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.
