About Hand in Hand

In February, two sets of parents from the Quad Cities agreed. They wanted their children who had disabilities to have the same opportunities for fun and learning as typically developing children. So they formed Hand in Hand. They started small, offering a one week summer camp for children with disabilities, where they can enjoy a full camp experience. That year of camp was so successful, our co founders knew they had created something special for parents and participants.

Hand in hand originated from many dreams of parents. We wanted something special for our children. There wasn't much available in the community and we wanted to offer more. And that was the beginning of Hand in Hand. I remember that donation very well.

We didn't know if Hand in Hand was gonna continue. We prayed it would. We hoped it would. And I was shoveling snow on a December day, and my wife, Benny, ran out of the the house and said, we've got a big gift we can do hand in hand again. That gift was from John Lawson and his family, and they have supported us ever since.

Over the last twenty years, our programs have expanded from one summer camp to over fifteen year round programs. From integrated childcare, after school and summer activities, evening and weekend programs, a young adult volunteer program, and summer camp where it all began. We focus on creating fun, inclusive learning and recreational opportunities for children and young adults of all abilities. Our programs aren't just about having fun. They lead to improved self esteem, increased independence, and social skills.

Our life before coming to Hand to Hand was really crazy. Nathan was in preschool and then in school, and we were juggling where he was gonna go, after school, what activities were we gonna be able to get him involved in. There just really wasn't anything out there that, could fit his needs. A friend mentioned hand in hand one day and we called up, I think Mark actually answered the phone, and put me at ease and said come and see what we're all about. And so we did and three days later Nathan was ready to come to Hand in Hand and he's been coming ever since and he was seven.

Hand in Hand has helped me a lot. I listen and follow directions. I do activities like like SEL, tie shoes, safety hazards, telling time, my temperature, money through Hand in Hand. Ethan's favorite part about coming to Hand Hand in Hand is seeing his friends. He'll tell you it's either food fun and friends, or he'll tell you it's movie night or a teen night, but really, it's just any activity that he can come.

Every day he asks me, is there something at hand in hand tonight? Is there something going out at hand in hand? Am I going to hand in hand tonight? So it's just the interaction of being here. I want to see my all my friends at Hand in Hand.

If there's new people and they want to have new kids at Hand in Hand, you can see if they can go here and and draw a hand in hand. Socially, he's now a social butterfly with everybody here. He really interacts well with not only the the kids that are here, but the adults. For me, I found inspiration here when Nathan was little that there is places for for kids like ours. Hand in hand serves 800 children and, family members each year.

That year was 40 children one week. And slowly step by step we added evening programs, after school programs, childcare programs, programs for teens, exercise programs, art, countless things each year trying to respond to the needs that were in our community and try to make something for that next step for that child that is growing to be a young adult. Donors have really given us the tools to accomplish everything we've had at Hand in Hand. All their support, big and small, volunteering or giving gifts, they've really made Hand in Hand happen from that very small beginning of 40 children all the way to 800 now annually in year round programs. We just couldn't have done it from there to now and into the future without their help.

We just couldn't have. It was really a we. If there was one thing I could say to the donors of Hand in Hand is thank you is not enough. Step foot in the in here and and see what what goes on here. Our kiddos, they don't have a place to go a lot in our community, and so this is their space.

This is their place. And without this, some of us would be really lost. And it's about the kids. I know us parents talk about being able to go to dinner or being able to get groceries because Saturday morning has inspiration studio and we can go get groceries by ourselves all those things, but that's really not what this place is about. This place is about our kids and them having a community that they belong in.