2012-spring-newsletter by Hand In Hand Outreach

NEWS Spring 2012 • Volume XIII • No. 2 Lend a hand . . . change a life!

Unexpected Challenges met with Extraordinary Response Patrick Lynch, youth minister at St. Gabriel, was scheduled to depart Louisville on Friday, March 2 with a group of teenagers to help prepare the Auxier Center for the upcoming home repair season. They delayed their departure until 5:00 A.M. Saturday morning due to the storms of March 2, 2012.

Only the foundation of St. Luke Church survived the tornado.

Patrick shares his reﬂections of that morning.… “About 7:30 A.M. we came over the final hill towards Salyersville (home of St. Luke Catholic Church and Helen Penningtons clothing closet – a frequent stop for Hand in Hand volunteers) and drove into the midst of the reality of Friday’s storms. Unknown to us, it was ground zero for one of the largest of Friday night’s tornadoes. It was unrecognizable and impassable. I have no words to describe what we saw. Sure, I can describe it; debris, insulation, collapsed houses. For me it hit home. This was the debris of the living of life around you. These were not just collapsed houses. On this Saturday morning, I saw collapsed lives. This is one of those times I wish I could "unsee" what I had seen. I have never had a van load of teenagers be as quiet as they were then.” Patrick and his group ﬁnally made it to the Auxier Center and spent the next few days delivering emergency relief supplies and hope to the region. It was the beginning of a long process of rebuilding – a process that Hand in Hand will embrace for many months to come.

Rebuilding has already begun.

The outpouring of support for our tornado relief efforts has been astounding. Countless individuals, churches, schools, and businesses have responded with amazing generosity. Those funds allowed Hand in Hand to provide emergency relief. Our focus will now shift to re-building eﬀorts, for people like Walter Blevins a 90 year-old man who lost much of his roof during the storm. For photos and details of this and other Hand in Hand projects, visit our blog at www.myhandinhand.org/blog

www.myhandinhand.org

Tornado Relief Efforts Schools and Businesses Rally to Help Eastern Kentucky Students and businesses found many ways to help those affected by the tornadoes that hit Eastern Kentucky on March 2. Hand in Hand was one of the first organizations to help the rural areas devastated by these storms. The list below shows the schools and businesses that collected and donated supplies and raised more than $24,000 for Hand in Hand's tornado relief efforts. Schools participating in the tornado relief effort: St. Agnes St. Albert the Great Ascension Assumption St. Bernard Blessed Theresa of Calcutta St. Frances of Rome St. Gabriel Holy Cross HS Holy Family Holy Trinity St. Ignatius Immaculate Conception Kentucky Country Day St. Margaret Mary St. Martha St. Mary Academy Mother Seton Notre Dame Academy Presentation HS St. Raphael St. Rita Sacred Heart Academy Vanguard Academy St. Xavier HS St. Joseph Cathedral in Bardstown Companies donating goods and services included: Karem's Grill & Pub Monty's Plant Food Penske Truck Leasing Ryder Truck Rental

Schools Respond to First Hand in Hand Lenten Challenge Children in several Louisville schools accepted our Lenten Challenge. The children were asked to reﬂect on the needs of the poor and share from their own personal treasure. The donations beneﬁt those in need through the programs of Hand in Hand. Children from these schools raised over $4,000. St. Augustine, Lebanon, KY John Paul II Academy St. Michael Lifelong Learning Center St. Mary Academy St. Stephen Martyr

Students and businesses collected supplies, loaded donated trucks, held fundraisers and went to Eastern Kentucky to help tornado relief efforts coordinated by Hand in Hand.

Auxier Center gears up for 2012 Season Presentation Academy makes 5th trip to Appalachia

Our Auxier Center serves an important function in the Appalachian community. It provides a place for people to meet, a food pantry, community meals and a library. The following list of the activities scheduled for the next few months will give you an idea of all of the things we do. You can support the work we do in Auxier by donating online at: www.myhandinhand.org There are also immersion trips available this summer to Auxier. Call the Hand in Hand oﬃce at 502.459.9930 to sign up or form more information.

Presentation Academy elected to offer an alternative spring break trip to Appalachia with Hand in Hand for the 5th year. A group of 38 including students, parents and staff members all pitched in to lay carpet and repair floors and windows. They also helped repair a home damaged by fire. They hung drywall, cleaned and painted. Two other teams each built a handicapped ramp for a family.

The lives of Verlene Jenkey and her family have been changed forever. Their home is much more livable with all the repairs and new carpet. Ansie Howell and family will also beneﬁt greatly from all the work done to restore their dining room and kitchen. The wheelchair ramps for Mr. Williams and Mr. Osborne have made life easier for them and their families.

Community Dinner Third Tuesday each month, 6 p.m., FREE. Join us for a delicious meal, dessert and friendship. Family Fun Friday Third Friday of each month, FREE. Each month something different and lots of fun for the whole family. Second Saturday Kids Camps A fun Saturday afternoon for kids, each month a different activity and project. Choices for Women A wonderful workshop from the New Opportunity School for Women focusing on opportunities for women. All attendees receive a goody bag. FAST TRACK to your own business Workshop for the budding entrepreneur. Chat’n & Cookin’ Join us for easy recipes, samples and fun! Managing in Tough Times Learn how to budget, save and plan when you’re pinching pennies. Basic Computer Class Participants who meet income guidelines will receive a computer upon class completion. Intermediate Computer & Advanced Computer Class Working with the internet and popular software. Beginning Quilting Classes Most materials provided Land the Job Learn how to make a resume, fill out an application, interview skills and other secrets to land the job you want. Goody bag and prizes for all who complete workshop. Auxier Center Community Library Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Small fees apply to some classes. For more information, contact the Auxier Center at 606.886.0709.

Have you considered remembering Hand in Hand in your will . . . leaving a lasting legacy?

Belize O’Toole Family builds the 177th Home in Belize in honor of their parents!

Early Childhood Education: Start Early and Aim High! “If a young child doesn't receive sufficient nurturing, nutrition, parental/caregiver interaction, and stimulus during this crucial period, the child may be left with a developmental deficit that hampers his or her success in preschool, kindergarten, and beyond”. Early Children Care and Education - UNESCO

Six O’Toole siblings along with friends from Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi gathered in Belize to build a house. The opportunity to provide for a young family, struggling with the difficulties of having little or nothing at all, resulted in a safe and dry home for the family. The O’Toole children did this in honor of their late parents. Patsy O’Toole, the organizer of this trip, shared how it all came about. “Our mother passed away in November 2010 after battling cancer for a few years. She was a very humble person - always doing for others and not comfortable being in the limelight. After her death, we wanted to do something to honor her. Our father passed away at the age of 54 in 1983. He, too, was a wonderful man - fun and generous. Both of them provided us with a solid foundation for life. My sister, Mary, explains: "They provided us with a loving home. We wanted to provide a loving home for someone else - to pay it forward." We planned for this trip for 1 year, and raised the funds for the house through the generosity of many friends. The experience was a bonding time for our family and the close friends who went with us. We were touched to the core by the power of the experience, and thrilled to know that Cheryl, Trevor and Ty-Ty have a new home as a result. We felt the closeness of our parents the whole week. Honoring our parents in this way helped to heal our grief. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have been part of our lives since we were born, so it was natural for us to do this through the SCN Volunteer program. We are so grateful to Hand in Hand Ministries for providing us with this opportunity.“

Hand in Hand’s Outreach Center began activities in connection with child stimulation month with a parade of preschoolers on March1. It began in Constitution Park and ended at Memorial Park with a Rally. The children went on a City Tour, to expose them to Belize City and other important landmarks. It was also to coincide with the lesson taught on "senses" such as the sense of sight and direction.

Additional trips to local parks, an Easter Egg Hunt and special movie days highlighted March activities.

Nicaragua Arte y Amistad in Nicaragua

University of Texas students make ﬁrst Hand in Hand immersion trip

Hand in Hand’s Arte y Amistad program in Nicaragua was a wonderful success. We’re just delighted with the number of students who enrolled, their enthusiasm and their enjoyment of the entire process. They produced some lovely works of art and were introduced It always amazes and inspires us when college stuto the creative process, which we hope will stay with dents – or anyone really – agrees to give up a week of them their entire lives. What a thrill. their time to help someone they don’t know, in another country, through Hand in Hand. A group from the University of Texas Catholic Center went to Nicaragua, and came back with wonderful stories and photos from their trip. Ed and Barbara Dunsworth

Ed and Barbara Dunsworth Visit Louisville

The program was led by Bill and Melanie Wolski, who traveled to Nicaragua from Colden, N.Y., to lead the classes and assist with the program. Here are photos of their class and their work on the ﬁnal days of the program. Thank you to the Wolskis for going to Nicaragua, and thanks to the Dunsworths for their consistent leadership in Nicaragua. We could not have done this without both couples.

were in Louisville in April as part of a whirlwind trip that included their daughter’s graduation at Spring Hill College, catching up at the home oﬃce and a trip to Washington DC for oﬃcial Hand in Hand business. While in Louisville, Molly Malone’s in St. Matthews hosted a dinner reception for Ed and Barbara. More than 60 people attended and everyone had a great time. Hand in Hand thanks Molly Malone’s for donating a portion of the evening proceeds to Hand in Hand.

A Gift of a Scholarship makes an immediate and lasting impact on a young life!

Local News Volunteer Appreciation Brunch

Did you know that Hand in Hand supports dozens of local non-profits from Wayside Christian Mission to Trackside Ministries? When we receive goods weʼre unable to distribute or use, we see that they support other groups locally that can make good use of them.

Mayor’s Day of Service The Mayor’s Give A Day Week was brand-new this year – and a huge hit! Planned by Louisville Metro Mayor Greg Fischer, the event called on Louisville residents and those from the surrounding area to volunteer time at non-proﬁt organizations, schools and churches. More than 40 volunteers, including a group from Humana, sorted items from donors that we will use to help those we serve, including those in Auxier, Ky., aﬀected by the recent tornadoes. Thanks to every volunteer who stepped up to help us.

Hand in Hand hosted its annual Volunteer Appreciation Brunch as a small gesture of appreciation for the large amount of work our volunteers provide on a daily basis. With hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods donated each year, our warehouse volunteers are an essential part of how these goods are prepared for distribution in Louisville, Appalachia, Belize, Nicaragua and more. Volunteers also help with mailings, oﬃce projects, and phone calls, and they help staﬀ events. They also lead immersion trips and explain the mission of Hand in Hand at Lend a Hand evening presentations.

Jewelry Trunk Show Benefits Hand in Hand Cindy Rigby, Sarah Acland and the folks at LadyBug had a trunk sale of jewelry and other items to raise money for Hand in Hand’s medical efforts in Nicaragua (medical team scholarship and supplies). It was held on Saturday, April 21 at LadyBug in Norton Commons. Thanks to Cindy and Sarah for sharing their time and talent with Hand in Hand. If you missed the show, Cindy will have jewelry for sale at the Hand in Hand Starfish Stroll, August 5, 2012.

Mark Your Calendar Aiken for Appalachia

2012 Immersion Trips

A Backyard Barbecue, Beer and Music Bash

Openings for Hand in Hand immersion trips to Belize and Nicaragua are still available. Not only will you change the lives of those served, but you will be rewarded with memories and experiences like no other trip you've ever taken.

Charlie Aiken is hosting a backyard barbecue to raise awareness and funds for Hand In Hand Ministries projects in Appalachia. Anyone who knows Charlie and his friends, knows this will be great time with music, dancing and great food - all for a good cause!

June 9, 2012 Saturday Starting at 7:00pm 1119 Red Fox Rd., Louisville KY Live music by the band "This, That and the Other" To RSVP or to donate online, visit www.myhandinhand.org/aiken.html

Hand in Hand to host

Planned Giving Seminar Tuesday, September 25, 2012 7 pm at the Hand in Hand oﬃce Join us for an informative evening with Estate Planning Attorney Kerry Miles Wright John Schmidt, CPA Financial Planners from ARGI Financial The presentation will be followed with a panel discussion and a question and answer session

Hand in Hand’s Ninth Annual Legacy Breakfast Tuesday, November 13, 2012 Make plans now to get involved. Volunteers, table captains and sponsors are needed. Contact Marla Cautilli at 502.459.9930 or email marla@myhandinhand.org to see how you can Lend a Hand.

BELIZE JUNE 17-24, 2012 OCT. 28 - NOV. 4, 2012 NOVEMBER 18-25, 2012 (SPECIAL THANKSGIVING TRIP) NICARAGUA OCTOBER 21-28, 2012 APPALACHIA JUNE 27-30, 2012 AUGUST 1-4, 2012 OCTOBER 10-14, 2012 OCTOBER 24-27, 2012 For more information, or to sign up, call the Hand in Hand oﬃce at 502-459-9930 or email maryhelen@myhandinhand.org Learn more about the work of Hand in Hand Ministries by attending a “Lend a Hand” gathering on Thursday, June 14 - 6:30 pm Wednesday, July 11 - 6:30 pm Wednesday, August 29 - 6:30 pm at the HHM office, 2225 Steier Lane, in Louisville. 502-459-9930 Make reservations online on the event calendar at www.myhandinhand.org.

Double Your Gift! Many employers match employee contributions.

A message from Marla . . . Last year at this time, Doe Anderson Ad Agency selected Hand in Hand Ministries as the recipient of a new pro-bono public awareness campaign. We accepted their offer with excitement and caution. We knew an updated image with bright, new colors would be good, but questioned if people would embrace the new look. Our core mission never changed, even if the face and color of the message did. Almost everyone was excited about seeing a new vibrancy while knowing we were still committed to our same values . . .

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transforming lives by sharing life's essentials with the poor. Today, we remain committed to a vision of empowering the poor, while inspiring generosity in those with the means to help. We invite you to share in our mission. If you are supporting us now with your donations, thank you. If you can help us in other ways, please let us know. If you wish to keep the mission alive, please share your passion with others. Exciting things are happening and we want you to be a part of it. Marla Cautilli, CEO - Hand in Hand Ministries

Starﬁsh Stroll scheduled for August 5 Hand in Hand is combining two events this year to create a bigger family fun event. The Ice Cream Social, usually held in June, has been combined with the Starﬁsh Stroll. The Stroll has been moved up to August 5, 2012. • ice cream • face-painting • magicians • stone carving • games • music • food • prizes Uncle Smiley’s barbecue will once again provide his wonderful pulled pork and more. Music by Moon Dance

New this year will be the Hand in Hand Starfish Stroll Challenge. Teams from Nicaragua, Belize and Appalachia will be looking for team captains to join their teams. Create your own fundraising page and share it with family, friends and co-workers. This year will also feature the first Starfish Toss Raffle for Prizes

August 5, 2012 • 4 to 7 pm E.P. “Tom” Sawyer Park 3000 Freys Hill Road Louisville, KY 40241