ToolBank Summer Summit in Tampa, FL
The ToolBank USA team is looking forward to hosting our network the week of June 26th in Tampa, Florida for our Summer Summit. Our team will be joined by executive directors, some staff members, and some board members from across the network. The Summit will consist of a day and a half of sessions/seminars and then a half day of volunteering. We are currently working on securing 1-2 keynote speakers from outside of the network to be part of the event. We are also working to identify volunteer projects that will help with long-term recovery efforts from Hurricane Ian and/or a build project to benefit a local Tampa school, park, or organization.
We have compiled the survey results from our executive directors across the network and are excited to craft an agenda to fit the interests. Topics will include, but are not limited to: fundraising, TOM training, social impact of the ToolBank, marketing best practices, data analysis and reporting, and so much more!
ToolBank Disaster Services Teams up with Heart 9/11 in Africatown
Our ToolBank tools were hard at work in Africatown, AL, in early March to help rebuild 10 homes in collaboration with Heart 9/11. This project included over 30 skilled firefighters, law enforcement, and building trade members and is a partnership with Cleon Jones, a member of the 1969 “Miracle Mets” team. Phase One of Africatown Rebuild began with the HEART 9/11 team targeting 10 homes for work, including roofing, window and door replacement, sheet rocking, framing, and siding. The plan is to send additional teams to repair and rebuild 30-35 homes.
HEART 9/11 is a team of first responders – FDNY, NYPD, PAPD and the NYC Building Trades – that bonded in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Together, these first responders build resiliency and provide hope for individuals, families, and communities that have been affected by natural and man-made disasters.
Check out what’s going on at each of our ToolBanks across the nation. Scroll down to each affiliate and expand the text block to read more about your favorite ToolBank team. All of our affiliates are doing amazing work and we can’t wait to share their updates with you monthly.
Make sure and scroll through the images to the right of our affiliate updates. Most of the updates come with a couple of images related to their article.
Atlanta ToolBank Update:
It seems like storm season is starting earlier and earlier each year. There have been so many devastating storms already and the state of Georgia is no exception. Tornadoes struck over a 4 day outbreak period in late March across multiple states with the strongest tornado (EF4) impacting Franklin, Newnan and Peachtree City, GA. The Atlanta ToolBank offered up their tools to first responders to assist with the disaster response and recovery. As always, during times of disaster, ToolBank loans tools and equipment at no cost to disaster relief partners and community groups.
Baltimore ToolBank Update:
The Baltimore ToolBank is a group of big flippers! They flip tools out the door at high volumes and they flip their space for a diversity of community partners and needs. The pictures to the right demonstrates how diverse and powerful these flips can be. Mid-month, the Baltimore ToolBank had a busy three days with three very different events.
The first image is from Wednesday 3/15 and shows volunteers from Howard Community College helping construct #FloatingWetlands to be deployed in Baltimore waterways to combat water pollution. The second image shows the same space less than 48 hours later on Friday 3/17, when we hosted a large service project and welcomed Governor Wes Moore to speak in celebration of the 30th anniversary of AmeriCorps! Finally, the third image shows the same space yet again on Monday 3/20 as we hosted students in 4th and 7th grade from the Maryland International School for an environmental education field trip.
Charlotte ToolBank Update:
On Friday, March 10th, the Charlotte ToolBank celebrated their 12 year anniversary! The ToolBank has been incredibly busy over the past 12 years serving over 950 member agencies with 6,818 tool orders, saving their local nonprofit community nearly $14M in the cost of tools and special event equipment.
At the end of March, Charlotte also hosted it’s third “Working Toolgether” event! It’s a day once a month where they bring ToolBank tools to a different TB partner agency along with their staff, board, and volunteers to help them get things done. Their March project helped their friends at Storm Water Services with their annual Big Spring Clean day. They host stream cleanups at different locations throughout Charlotte, and the ToolBank team joined them at Irwin Creek in Clanton Park. The group knew they would find bottles, cans, bags, the usual stuff, but they didn’t know they would find a tire, multiple basketballs, pieces of cars, a window screen, and half of a razor scooter!
Keep up the great work in Charlotte and we look forward to seeing what projects you’ll take on next!
Cincinnati ToolBank Update:
At the beginning of March, the Cincinnati ToolBank welcomed the newest addition to their team, Connor Holt, Program and Operations Manager. Connor has been volunteering for the ToolBank this past year, and he fell in love with the mission. He transitioned from the Great Parks as a Nature Interpreter, and has been navigating the new Tool Order Manager (TOM), meeting the wonderful member agencies, and learning the ropes in the warehouse. Connors favorite tool is the auger and he has a love for nature but mostly anything that involves planting more trees! Welcome to the ToolBank Team, Connor!
The Cincinnati ToolBank also hosted multiple board members’ companies for volunteer days in March. Both Mandi Rassel from Bilstein and Christina Croswell from ClarkDeitrich brought in groups to help at the warehouse. The Bilstein team helped tool prep, clean, and reorganize the warehouse. While the team from ClarkDeitrich helped clean up the construction zone upstairs, test and install recycled bulbs in the warehouse, and sharpen over 350 loppers!
Houston ToolBank Update:
The Houston ToolBank hosted its first ever Tools for Change event on March 25. The Tools for Change event was presented by Frost Brown and provided an opportunity for people from around the greater Houston area to come together to build picnic tables in support of the local schools and community organizations. Corporate groups and individuals signed up for a shift to build a picnic table, while enjoying live music, games, food, beer and more at City Acre Brewing. Immediately following Tools For Change, Oaks Dads’ Club picked up a few picnic tables that were built and used them for their little league the same day.
Phoenix ToolBank Update:
March was a month of milestones for the Phoenix ToolBank. In early part of the month, they launched our new Tool Order Manager (TOM) to their member agencies and hit 1,000 followers on Instagram. That’s a huge number to hit for social media followers! Also, as they rounded out the month, the ToolBank announced that they are absolutely destroying their tool order numbers from 2022. Through March, the Phoenix ToolBank has increased their orders by 130% from last year. That’s beyond impressive of a number and we look forward to seeing all of your numbers continue to increase along with the rest of our ToolBank network’s impact.
Richmond ToolBank
The Richmond ToolBank welcomed the newest member to their team in March, Jamie Frieling, Mission Advancement Manager. She was raised in the Pacific Northwest & earned my BA in History, Social Studies, and Elementary Education from WAZZU. She taught in South Korea and was inspired to earn my MA in Architecture History from UVA. She worked in the craft beer industry for 7 years and likely poured a tasty brew for you at a beer festival or if you attended Richmond’s Hammers & Ales! When she’s not at work, you can find her and her pup exploring local trails, running along the Cap Trail, or searching for the best queso in RVA.
Her personal ToolBank Mission is to strengthen the relationship with the awesome Richmond community by:
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inspiring more engagement amongst our online audiences
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host impactful events
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inspire our members, volunteers & partners to develop new skills while volunteering, borrowing tools, or enjoying a beer at Hammers & Ales
Welcome to the ToolBank team, Jamie!
Windy City ToolBank
Much like Phoenix, the Windy City ToolBank launched our new Tool Order Manager (TOM) to their member agencies. These were our final two ToolBanks to transition to the new platform. As a network, we were thrilled to have all eight of our ToolBanks and our four disaster services locations up and running on TOM by the end of Q1.
Windy City has also spend the past month prepping for their Grand Opening that was held on Friday, April 21. We can’t wait to share how the event went with all of our followers and supporters!
