For nearly 30 years, Hand in Paw has helped children, seniors, and patients find comfort through the unconditional love of animals. Your gift today powers every tail wag, every smile, and every moment of connection that changes lives.
Donate Now
November 5, 2025
Dear Friends,
As we look ahead to 2026 — Hand in Paw’s 30th year of spreading comfort and connection — I want to begin with heartfelt gratitude. Your support has made every wagging tail, every gentle nuzzle, and every moment of healing possible. Because of you, thousands of lives have been touched, and together, we’re ready to make next year our most impactful yet.
Approaching this milestone, I can’t help but think about why our mission matters so deeply right now. Life feels heavy. I know I’m not the only one who feels that way.
Every headline seems to bring a new reason to worry. Families are feeling the squeeze of rising costs. Our communities are divided and tired. And even in the quiet moments, our devices buzz and blink with unending demands — notifications, alerts, and updates that keep our minds spinning and our hearts restless. The noise of it all can be overwhelming.
But in the middle of that noise, there’s a sound that never fails to bring peace: the gentle wag of a tail, the quiet purr of contentment, the soft sigh of a Therapy Animal resting its head in your lap.
At Hand in Paw, we believe connection is the cure — and every visit, every wag, every moment of comfort proves it. We see every day how this kind of love — steady, nonjudgmental, and pure — can calm chaos and restore hope.
And it’s not just the people we serve who are transformed; our volunteers often share the many ways they’ve grown through this work. They receive as much joy as they give.
“Interacting with so many people from different backgrounds, each with their own challenges, fears, joys, and excitements, has helped me grow in empathy, compassion, and love for others. Every therapeutic interaction between Hasley and another human in need makes me want to do another visit and help even more.” —Therapy Team Volunteer Laura Power
Without a doubt, our world needs more heroes like Laura and Hasley. Demand for Hand in Paw’s services continues to grow, and we need more Therapy Teams ready to meet that need.
Will you donate by December 31 to help us recruit and train 30 new volunteers who can visit children, students, patients, and workers across Central Alabama and Tuscaloosa?
From mothers preparing to welcome new life at UAB to tiny patients at Children’s of Alabama fighting big battles, from students managing anxiety at school to seniors living with memory loss, from law enforcement officers working to keep us safe to nurses carrying the weight of others’ pain — our Therapy Teams meet people where they are and bring comfort that words alone can’t deliver.
In retirement communities, nursing homes, and hospice centers, Animal-Assisted Therapy helps spark memories, rekindle joy, and restore dignity. In workplaces, hospitals, and schools, it eases stress, nurtures connection, and reminds people they’re not alone.
Our work spans lifetimes and touches every part of what it means to be human, but this healing isn’t possible without you.
Your gift today ensures our Therapy Teams can keep showing up — at no cost — for every vulnerable person who needs them. In a time when the world feels unpredictable, you can help make compassion the constant.
Please give today and help Hand in Paw continue to share comfort, connection, and healing through the love of animals.
Thank you,
Margaret Stinnett Executive Director
