Today’s post comes from Amy Smith, President of HandsOn Network.

At HandsOn Network, we are always on the lookout for innovative ways to engage people in the power of service.   In the spirit of that search, I am excited to announce that HandsOn Network , the volunteer activation arm of Points of Light Institute, is working with Starbucks to host several service activities in April 2011 as part of the company’s “global month of service.”

In celebration of their 40th anniversary, and as part of their ongoing commitment to inspire and invest in community service around the world, Starbucks is partnering with non-governmental organizations, including HandsOn Network, to host a global month of service.

In my many years of working with non-profit organizations, community organizations and companies of all sizes, I have noticed one simple but powerful fact – people want to make a difference in the communities where they live and work.  They want to make a positive impact in the world but often don’t know where to start.  This perceived lack of access to opportunities for meaningful volunteer service is a barrier that HandsOn Network is working everyday to overcome through our programs, initiatives, community outreach and partnerships.

That’s why I am so excited that Starbucks has created their global month of service with the specific goal of engaging their partners (employees) and customers in meaningful service opportunities.  Starbucks expects more than 2,000 community service projects, led by their partners, to be organized as part of the global month of service.  That’s an ambitious, but achievable goal of 200,000 hours of service performed globally throughout the month of April.  This initiative will offer the company’s nearly 200,000 partners and more than 50 million customers each week in April new opportunities to participate in meaningful community service projects.  I’m thrilled that we can offer the resources of HandsOn Network and its 250 local action centers to help identify and organize service activities to best meet the needs of each community.

Starbucks is also taking the benefits of volunteering even further with a concerted push for global service throughout the entire month of April.  It is that dedication to putting its enormous reach to work to engage millions in the power of volunteer service that makes Starbucks a wonderful partner for HandsOn Network.

In addition to working with us here in the U.S. on several large scale events, Starbucks has partnered with Volunteer Canada, UK Youth in London and Charyou in Shanghai, and will coordinate with other organizations around the world to identify and organize partner-led service opportunities that address local community needs.

Starting on March 8, you can learn more about volunteer opportunities in your neighborhood by visiting a local Starbucks store or the Starbucks Community Service webpage.

You can also find more information about the many different ways HandsOn Network is working to connect volunteers with service opportunities around the world at www.handsonnetwork.org