IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN!!

Annual Highway Clean up Needs you!

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

Faith in action

Matthew 25:34-40

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.

Samaritan's Purse Shoebox Drive

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!

Christmas Hampers

With the help of friends, family, and church community, we were able to support the needs of Dominican families just in time for Christmas.

Fausto, and his wife Maricela were able to deliver much needed food hampers including poultry/fish to many families in La Cienaga. A call out to Hand in Hands supporters helped us to reach our goal.

Hand in Hands continues to have a pulse on whats happening in the communities we support, along with our in-country partners hard at work. Weekly communications to the field in the Dominican and regular updates between Canada and Costa Rica help us ensure we keep abreast of the situations on the ground.

In mid February, we will send hampers again to the families/community we support. It’s been a privilege, and a blessing for Hand in Hands, and our supports to be involved in bridging the gap for community access to adequate nutrition. Especially as populations in the Dominican Republic were also seeing a rise in the Omicron variant of Covid 19. Proper nutrition and access to adequate food may be the difference between living and dying .

A typical Dominican Christmas Meal.

Samaritian's Purse Christmas Shoe Boxes

In November we got together to assemble more shoe boxes for Samaritian’s purse. This year Lana Viznaugh pitched in with some supplies. 27 boxes in all were made to donate to the cause. Each year we endeavour to do more. Thanks to Melissa, Darryl, Lana, and Darlene for taking part.

Some of our loot!

Food Hampers Outreach in La Ciénaga, Dominican Republic

On November 13th, our field partner Fausto and his wife Maricela did another food hamper outreach for Hand in Hands. Several families benefited from the food distribution. Fausto and his wife have spent years living in the community. They have a pulse on the needs, and most vulnerable families in the barrio.

The effects of the covid- 19 pandemic have hit the poor hardest. Most of the children attend school to get educated as well as nourished. The majority of schools feed a small breakfast and a full lunch to the children. With parents out of work, and schools closed for the majority of the pandemic, undernourishment and illness have taken hold like never before. Tropical diseases such as; Dengue, Malaria, Chikungunya, and other parasitic disease effect the undernourished more gravely than those that are of a healthy body weight with a varied diet and proper hydration. Perhaps the best news is a strong (fully) vaccinated rate of 51% in the country which aids in the benefit of protection from covid 19, which would have an increased potential for morbidity and mortality in vulnerable populations.

Our goal at Hand in Hands is to continue to reach the most marginalized families in the community on a frequent basis. With the help of our partners, we aim to deliver hampers to 10-20 families every 6-8 weeks. Monthly contribution and fund raising efforts will support our goal.

Family Food Hamper

Annual Highway Clean Up

Despite the Covid lock downs, we were able to once again clean up the community as a way to raise funds for Hand in Hands Projects. We were short a few helping hands due to Covid illness but nonetheless Melissa lead the group through a quick clean up!

About a dozen were out to lend a hand and collect highway trash. We are looking forward to the adventure again next spring. Go Team!!

Advancing Education in the Dominican Republic

Hand in Hands was able to provide laptops to students who have successfully completed High School and will be commencing University studies! Kelly, one of the recipients will be studying Civil Engineering in the coming year. In addition, one of the laptops will be used by the teaching staff at El Colegio Costambar.

Miguerline, described as an excellent student will be studying Lab Technology in university. She has overcome all odds to become a leader in her community, and her family. Her income will support the needs of her family in the future.

Outreach to Las Galeras, Cabarete, and Puerto Plata August 2021

We are always humbled by what we experience while here. Even after living here 3 years, I am amazed by the resilience, and the tenacity of the Dominican people.

During our time in the Dominican Republic we enjoyed rest, quality time with locals and foreigners, and managed to do some outreach in the communities of Las Galeras, Cabarete, and Puerto Plata. We have located another partner in a community close to Cabarete (known as a kite surfing mecca). Fausto, a committed Christian man and his wife Maricela are outstanding community leaders giving so much of their time and resources to ensure the least of us is cared for. This includes elderly, widows, single moms , and the terminally ill. They are the kind of couple that you meet and instantly like and trust. The couple are eager to work with Hand in Hands as often as we are able. They want to be our hands on the ground here in the DR. There is much work to do from home to support future endeavours to give our fellow brothers and sisters a ‘hand up’. We invite you to join us in the task. A special thanks goes out to the many donors who stepped up on a moments notice to help us purchase desperately needed food hampers for two communities and an orphanage.

Calling All Team Members!!

Hand in Hands is officially expanding. We are excited to be in the planning phases of our team to Costa Rica in the Summer/Fall of 2021! In light of the pandemic, and closed borders to travel, we have had to postpone our 2020 trip by a year. But, we are still forging ahead excited for the opportunity.

Our trip includes;

• Air, fees, and taxes from Calgary to San Jose Return.

• Transfers to and from the hotel and all other excursions.

• Meals, and housekeeping. *laundry extra as required

• Materials

• Lodging

• Boutique Coffee Farm tour ~ Sircoff Coffee Farm.

• Trip to La Paz Hotel and Resort (includes Templo , Magia Blanca, Encantada, Escondida, and La Paz falls) and an animal sanctuary.

• Finally, our trip includes a 2 night, 3 day expedition to Manuel Antonio Park. Opportunities to visit parks, zip lines, and ocean sports during your free time. * meal fees to be determined for beach weekend (we are working on breakfast inclusion).

Our Next Team ‘StrongHands 2021’ will be posted soon. Stay tuned!

Location: Virtual , RSVP to TreasurerHIH@gmail.com closer to the date.

At our meeting, we will discuss fees, vaccines/health needs, what we will be doing there, and general preparation.

To answer questions or concerns you may have as of now, please email PresidentHIH@gmail.com or Director2HIH@gmail.com.

We need you, Yes you!

Join us on a trip, ask us about board and committee opportunities, partake in our local volunteerism, use your talents to craft items for our various kits we gift ( to newborns, patients, youth, and low income families). Tell your friends and family about us! There's no better way to make an impact than to become an active advocate yourself.