Meet a few of our volunteers: Steve, Izzy, and Heidi!

I knew I wanted to send my girls to Hand in Hand as soon as I toured the facility. It is a beautiful facility, and I was sold on inclusion for ALL abilities.

Real Estate Buyer Agreements, Electric Power Generation, Alcohol Compliance Training, Physician Wellness Programs, EMS License Plates, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Public Officer Bonds, Termination of Parental Rights, Public Lake Vessel Regulation, Misbranded Food Products, Small Business Linked Investments.

What do all these things have in common?

They were all topics discussed by lawmakers at the capital on February 27th.

The Occupational Therapy Department at St. Ambrose University has been an amazing partner with Hand in Hand for many years, connecting us with students who want to learn more about child development while being sensory friendly and adaptive. We find that we learn just as much from them if not more as they show us ways to implement occupational therapy techniques in our programs to help improve the lives of our participants. Hannah is our latest occupational therapy student to join us at Hand in Hand.

Rhythm City Casino Resort® was awarded the fifth annual Happy Joe Whitty Award at Hand in Hand’s 15th Annual Chili Cook-Off Saturday, February 3. The award is given to a company or organization in the Quad Cities that makes hiring people with disabilities a priority and contributes to the programs that provide people with disabilities opportunities to build their confidence, self-esteem, and provide social interaction.

As we gear up for another exciting Chili Cook-Off, we’re taking a walk down memory lane to explore the rich history of the Chili Cook-Off and what makes it a cherished tradition for the organization and families and friends alike.

I’m 14 years old and have volunteered at the summer camp and am now volunteering in the rec program. I was inspired by helping in a STEM class for special needs at my school and heard about Hand in Hand from my dad. I started volunteering during the first week of camp on July 2023.

People with Purpose have been volunteering at the Figge Art Museum for about two years. The group helps the museum maintain their Family Activity Center.

Maddie has been a long-time member of the Hand in Hand family with a tall stack of camp and Hand in Hand t-shirts to prove it. She started attending our recreation programs and camp as an elementary school student and now attends our adults dayhab program, People with Purpose part-time and is also a staff member now. She serves as a Program Assistant and is always willing to lend a helping hand and a warm smile.

People with Purpose has had a long-standing relationship with GiGi’s Playhouse, volunteering with the organization over the last 7 years and visiting about 2-3 times a year. The crew helps clean, sort, and package outreach and awareness kits and most recently worked on getting items ready for GiGi’s upcoming fundraiser.

People with Purpose has had a long relationship with New Kingdom Trailriders but reenergized their partnership earlier this year and the crew remains consistent volunteers for the organization.

Adaptive clothing is clothing designed specifically to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities, mobility issues, sensory issues or other medical conditions that may affect their ability to dress themselves or wear conventional clothing.

People with Purpose began volunteering at Family Resources in June of 2020. Hand in Hand was busting at the seams at the time for space during our summer programs so the group needed a new home base during that time. We formed a partnership with Family Resources to use some of their free space and PWP began volunteering for them soon after.

Kim Nielsen, a Pediatric Physical Therapist with Genesis Pediatric Therapy Center, joined us for our first week of camp this year and was paired up with one of our campers to help give her a fulfilling experience as she went swimming, did archery, made crafts, and went fishing.

Have you ever wondered how to get involved with Hand in Hand? Maybe you’ve volunteered at our Chili Cook-Off but don’t know what else to volunteer for. Maybe you’ve donated to us but want to get involved in person. Maybe you want to get involved virtually. Either way we’ve got an opportunity for you!

People with Purpose have been volunteering with the River Bend Food Bank for several years now. The group helps in the food bank’s warehouse sorting through donated food, ensuring that it is safe. The group then organizes it into weighted categories that are made available to the food bank’s Agency Partners through their online order form.

John and Sue Lawson have been part of the Hand in Hand family since the beginning, giving us our first gift to continue Camp Hand in Hand and help us grow to what we are today.

The Quad City Botanical Center has been a partner with People with Purpose for over 5 years now. The crew helps with a lot of tasks at the Center including cleaning up the Sun Garden, preparing craft materials, helping plant the ability garden, helping clean up the outdoor gardens, and more.

It’s just about that time. Summer vacation! If you’re looking for some fun, sensory-friendly summertime activities to take a day trip or just stops to make along the way of an already planned trip we’ve got you covered.

Heart of Hope Ministries is one of our newest community partners. PWP started volunteering with them March 1 of this year doing light household chores like emptying garbage receptacles, vacuuming, mopping, folding donated clothing, picking up debris on the grounds of the facility, and packing food boxes.