For Immediate Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cindy Williams
Teaching Hands
208-343-4725
3storyteller@gmail.com
http://teaching-hands.blogspot.com/

WE KNEW IN 2008, THAT THOUSANDS OF BOISE'S HOMELESS AND NEEDY WERE FREEZING DURING THE COLDER TEMPERATURES IN IDAHO'S CAPITOL CITY.

Boise, ID - November 12, 2009 - Teaching Hands is a unique nonprofit that is developing a community through the arts. September of 2008, our volunteers handcrafted items for the needy and terminally ill to keep them warm. In return they acquired new skills. While meeting at the Library! @ Hillcrest we helped: Boise Rescue Mission, Inter Faith Sanctuary, Saint Luke's Foundation and Women and Children's Alliance. Today this doesn't exist. Because, we do not have the start-up funds (23 million), to continue with.

Toward the end of August in 2008, Williams held an awareness event at the Library! @ Hillcrest. This was to let the public know we were headed toward major difficulties for the needy. The conference table was full of hats and scarves, Williams handcrafted herself. Two children came into the room. They were taken in by all the colors and different designs. The boy asked how much. I stated, "They are free." Out they went . Several minutes later grandpa and everyone picked what they needed, "God Bless You." grandpa whispered.

Tim Woodward of the Idaho Statesman did an article about Teaching Hands, March 2009. We grew from approximately 18-23 participants to 35-40. We had an inter-generational group ranging in ages from 8-88 years of age. The Library! @ Hillcrest was filled to the brim. During our stay the volunteers managed to fill numerous bags with handcrafted items for the community. And helped others to learn new skills free of charge.

In February of 2009, Williams called the Boise Rescue Mission to see if they needed three lawn and leaf bags full of handcrafted items. Yes, they did. The men were so cold they didn't care about wearing the ladies hats. Williams was told that 2008 was the "easy year" from what was yet to come in the years that ahead. There was no "easy" aspect for Teaching Hands as they unable to keep up. The last sentence of that phone conversation still rings in Williams ears, "They are freezing out there."

Teaching Hands is a free service to help the community develop skills through the arts. The volunteers are ready to get back to work and make these necessary handcrafted items for the community. They are more than happy to share their skills and help anyone else to learn.

For more information: http://teaching-hands.blogspot.com or
Contact: 3storyteller@gmail.com
Phone: 208-343-4725

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Building World-Wide Communities -- Together!
http://teaching-hands.blogspot.com/