“Papa Steve!”, “Papa Steve!” the toddler room kids shout as they run out onto the playground, tiny buckets at the ready. Papa Steve, as he’s affectionately known at Hand in Hand, is getting his hands dirty, helping fill the playground with mulch and is having our littlest participants help.

Hand in Hand’s 16^th annual Chili Cook-Off presented by Quad City Bank and Trust is not just an event; it’s a community celebration that brings people together to support children and adults of all abilities. This exciting event wouldn’t be possible without the help of dedicated volunteers like you! Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or new to the cause, there’s a place for everyone at the Chili Cook-Off. Here’s how you can get involved and what you can look forward to as a volunteer.

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

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.

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!