PCMA is very fortunate to be welcomed by a new city each year during its Annual Meeting. Hospitality Helping Hands, a Network for the Needy^® (NFTN) program, is a great way for PCMA to return the favor by participating in "hands-on" community service projects in the city of Annual Meeting. NFTN promotes volunteerism through the meetings and convention industry and is sponsored in part by a generous grant from GES Exposition Services.

For two days prior to Annual Meeting, members have the opportunity to reach out to the surrounding community by participating in on-site "hands-on" community service projects.  In addition to contributing hard work, PCMA members pay to participate in HHH. A portion of the funds are contributed to the charities where members performed work.  Stay tuned for more details regarding the 2009 Hospitality Helping Hands projects at the Annual Meeting in New Orleans taking place on January 10th.

At the 2008 Annual Meeting in Seattle, HHH volunteers donated their time and talents to The Aloha Inn and Food Lifeline.  Both of these organizations received $4,650 each from registration fees and donations.  As Washington's largest hunger relief agency, Food Lifeline works to provide nutritious food to hungry people in Western Washington. Volunteers sorted, labeled, and repackaged over 23,000 lbs. of bulk food products into smaller family sized portions, enough for over 17, 985 meals.  At the Aloha Inn, volunteers painted 18 rooms in addition to the car park, hallway and dining room.  The Aloha Inn provides temporary housing for homeless people and allows residents to save money for permanent housing while providing access to job training and support services.

During the 2007 AM, volunteers joined in ongoing projects at Scott Mission, one of the largest privately-funded, non-denominational urban missions in Canada, and Ina Grafton Gage Home, a long term care facility. At Scott Mission volunteers assisted in food preparation & meal service as well as sorted and boxed food and clothing for donation. At Ina Grafton Gage Home participants volunteers worked along side of staff members who gave their time to spruce up the main floor of the historic home.  In 2007, more than $4,000 was donated to each organization.  

For information on Hospitality Helping Hands, please contact Liz Giannini at lgiannini@pcma.org or 312.423.7231.