From young school-aged children to the elderly in assisted-living homes, Hand in Paw Therapy Teams provide comfort and affection to several vulnerable populations.
Last July, Tito’s Handmade Vodka awarded Hand in Paw a generous grant with the purpose of helping to recruit and train Therapy Teams to reach senior citizens and veterans who may be experiencing anxiety and isolation. We are so happy to share that with their support, over 24 brand new Therapy Teams and 6 current Therapy Teams have been trained and are making visits to the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Birmingham, as well as local nursing homes and senior care facilities!
HIP’s 2023 Therapy Team of the Year, Jennifer Haga and Darcy, share their experience visiting veterans and many other people in need: “Hand in Paw has given me the opportunity to pour into the lives of so many people. I count it as a privilege to share Darcy with others and to make their day a little brighter and their burden easier to walk though. To me it’s not just volunteering, it’s serving and ministering to the hearts and needs of others.”
These amazing Therapy Teams have logged more than 949 volunteer hours so far visiting seniors and veterans, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Hand in Paw is so thankful to generous supporters like yourself and Tito’s Handmade Vodka who make a difference in the lives of many!
Interested in becoming a Hand in Paw Therapy Team? Visit handinpaw.org/volunteer or email Stephanie Stoltzner at stephanie@handinpaw.org.
This article was written by Brittany Filby. It originally appeared in the Summer 2024 print edition of Golden News.
