It’s hard to believe we are already a month into the new year. For many, 2022 could be described as a challenging year, but for us at the Seeing Hand, it also brought so many blessings.
Volunteers Got Their Hands Dirty and Learned Valuable Lessons at Edelman Garden
After opening in April, 117 students from 11 different schools volunteered to prepare the Edelman Garden. We hosted volunteers for the United Way Day of Caring, and our employees also participated in youth education programs. To wrap up the season, two of our own, John and Debbie, entered produce, flowers and a market basket in the Ohio County Fair. No better way to end the gardening season than bringing back 7 ribbons!
A Record Summer for Fun and Giving
When summer came, everyone was ready to have some fun and we did just that. We hosted friends and community members at Oglebay for our annual Dueling Pianos Event, and we were lucky enough to receive donations from the Stone Presbyterian Church’s Ice Cream Social. But the cherry on top for our summer was when we were chosen to be the charity recipient for the 8th annual Mountaineer Brewfest. Crowds showed up to taste beers from 16 breweries across the state, listen to a stellar line up of musical acts, eat from some of the area’s finest food trucks, and just enjoy a great day out. After the event, we gathered at Market Vines in Wheeling to receive a $40,000 check, the largest donation in the event’s history.
Honoring Bob Hicks
The end of 2021 brought sadness to our organization with the loss of our beloved employee, Bob Hicks. The void he has left is still ever present, but last year we initiated the Bob Hicks Memorial Scholarship to keep his memory alive. The scholarship is open to any visually impaired or blind person ages 17-23 that reside in the counties served by The Seeing Hand, and we will continue to receive applications through the end of March this year. We are so excited to pay this gift forward the way that Bob did for so many years.
Never a Dull Moment
Whether it was the St Patrick’s Day pet kissing booth, our Mothers’ Day basket giveaway, wine tasting in Centre Market, or our annual Christmas gift card raffle, we continued to engage with our community. We are so grateful for all of those who participated this past year! Everyone’s gifts (great and small), attendance, and work have made an impact on those we serve, and we thank you.
Support Seeing Hand Association in 2023
If you would like to give of your time, talent, or treasure in 2023 you Contact Us, or feel free to stop by. We’d love to see you. There are already so many things in the works for this year and you can keep up by following our Facebook Page. Thanks to those who support us, our service gratitude will continue for years to come.
