Last month , the Hand in Hands foundation had the opportunity to support the Okotoks Evangelical Free Church Youth at their popular Valentinos night. A large group attended on behalf on Hand in Hands to support the youth fundraiser which collects donations for tasty homemade desserts. They set up the sanctuary and the youth act as the servers. :)
A recent Hand in Hands fundraiser November 13th will provide our sponsored families regular food hampers for nearly year! We are thrilled and feeling blessed at the support of our church and community. Thanks to OEFC and all our volunteers that came to shop, prep, cook, and serve the crowd. All left over treats, chips and dogs were donated back to the youth programs at the church and some church families that graciously accepted :)
Hand in Hands is having its annual Samaritians Purse Shoe Box packing night. Last year we were able to pack 35 boxes in total!! If you are free to help Monday, November 13th , 6:30pm to come and pack boxes for an hour or two and enjoy some good company contact Kari @ presidentHIH@gmail.com or Darryl @ director2HIH@gmail.com
Come join us at our funder at Okotoks Evangelical Free Church (OEFC) for Lunch on November 12th. All profits going towards ongoing needs in the Dominican Republic. Items like food hampers, educational, and medical needs. Come to 28 Westland Road in Okotoks. We’ll start servicing lunch about 11:30, (Large Costco hot dog, chips, cookie, and a beverage).
Cost: by donation Suggested per person $5. Phone 403-938-8888.
We are so grateful to Sirocco for helping us host a sold-out event. We had a silent auction with over 50 items! The cooks were busy in the kitchen preparing the Famous Sirocco Burger Bar. We had a large dessert bar prepared by Sylie Gill , Wendy, and Kari. With the generous outpouring of support. donations, and (a returned 50/50 winning- thank you Pam & Scott), we were able to surpass our $4000 goal. With ongoing fundraisers and support, Hand in Hands can feed dozens of families every 6 weeks. The reports and photos from our Dominican partners are an example of how small grassroots organizations really can life up and support communities.
Burger Bar , Silent Auction, & Music
Join us for our fundraiser event Saturday, June 10th at the Sirocco Golf and Country Club. All proceeds to support our work in the Dominican Republic. For further information contact director2hih@gmail.com or presidenthih@gmail.com. Be on the look out for a Mailchimp Save-the-Date, and Event Brite ticket emails.
Hand in Hands has weathered a couple of arduous years with the pandemic. The inability to have teams, and the complexity of travel has made it so we have had to funnel our resources differently. Throughout our meetings together as a board of five we were able to use prayer, our field partners, and one another’s experiences, to plan our support for the Dominican Republic. We feel blessed to say 10-20 families have received food hampers every 6 weeks during the pandemic, as well as support to a school/orphange with special projects, and medical support to our field partner family. Its a labour of love, and more hands are needed to meet the growing requirements.
After a solid serve time of several years. One of our directors is stepping down to pursue other exciting endeavours. We appreciate her time and energy invested and wish her well going forward. We appreciate you Darlene and wish you the best!
At this time Hand in Hands wants to extend an invitation to anyone wishing to get involved with the background workings, decisions, and direction of Hand in Hands. We have some exciting developments for the coming year and want to once again form annual teams to the Dominican Republic. Our ongoing work there through the pandemic has allowed us strong partnerships with our field members. Our church has also once again ramped up support in various ways. So… If you feel you have something to offer our group. More importantly, that God is tugging on your heart to get involved and ‘be the change’. Areas of interest may be Team Coordination, Admin, and IT. Please contact our Director Darryl at: director2hih@gmail.com for more information, or to put your name forward.
It’s that time again Hand in Hands family. Each year, Hand in Hands has the opportunity to fundraise through the Alberta Highway Clean up.
It takes place on the first, or second Saturday in May each year. Typically the first, weather permitting.
We need 2-3 drivers, and 10-15 walkers. Melissa our Hand in Hand treasurer will lead the activity along with her sidekick board members.
It starts early and ends by mid day or sooner dependant on our number of volunteers.
Thank you for considering to join us. Please contact: Darryl at director2hih@gmail.com
New International Version
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
We often get so involved in our customs, celebrating, giving, and receiving, that we may forget there are millions around the world barely hanging on, often with little food, work , and poor living conditions.
Hand in Hands has witnessed this first hand prior to, and moreso during the pandemic. The vulnerable populations we serve display an amazing faith, and hope. Faith in Christ -that He will always provide for their needs , and hope in a better tomorrow. Our call is to be available as Gods children. In His name, Hand in Hands endeavours to rally with our community at large to spread the word and love others, as He would. All this is made possible with all of you that get involved in some way, as well as the hard work of Fausto and his wife Maricela that assess the needs, shop for all the food hampers (on their motorcycle!) and deliver to each family. They are truly a blessing!
Below: A few of our most recent beneficiary Families.
Once again, with the help of friends, family, and church community, Hand in Hands was able to pack Christmas shoe boxes. Samaritan’s Purse delivers shoe boxes globally to needy children, not only at Christmas, but all year round. Each year, Hand in Hands collects supplies, utilizing our store supplies, and receiving donor gifts of money and shoe box items. This year, we were able to bring 35 shoe boxes to our home church Okotoks Evangelical Free Church, which is a depot for collection in the Okotoks area. Please keep delivery of these special gifts in your prayers. With shipping being an issue during the pandemic, these special gifts are having some trouble finding their little beneficiaries worldwide!
