Tim is a husband, father of four, and an employee at RSM, a longtime supporter of Hand in Hand. Outside of work and volunteering, he enjoys wrestling, video games, horror movies, spending time in nature, and being involved with his church community at Adventure Christian Community in Davenport.
Tim's connection to Hand in Hand began years ago when his youngest stepdaughter attended our childcare program. While he was familiar with our organization through his family, it was through his employer, RSM, that he learned more about the many programs Hand in Hand offers to children and adults of all abilities.
RSM has been a dedicated community partner for several years, supporting Hand in Hand through volunteer opportunities, bringing volunteer groups to Camp Hand in Hand, and even selecting us as a recipient of its Power of Love fundraiser. The company has also hosted Lunch and Learn presentations to introduce employees to our mission and ways they can get involved.
It was through one of these opportunities that Tim first began volunteering with us.
Giving Back and Building Connections
For Tim, volunteering is rooted in his faith and a desire to give back to a community that has given so much to him.
"My faith is a big motivator to give back to the community, along with what others have done for me," Tim shared. "I feel I receive more love, compassion and grace than I deserve and want to pay it forward in some regard."
That desire to give back extends beyond Hand in Hand. Tim also volunteers with King's Harvest in Davenport and regularly serves food at the café at Adventure Christian Community.
While helping others is important to him, Tim says one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering is the relationships he builds along the way.
He especially enjoyed getting to know our participants and staff, hearing about their lives, and learning about the activities they enjoy.
One of his favorite memories was attending a Penguin Project performance last year. He was excited to see participants take the stage and discovered that a friend who attended the performance with him also knew several of the performers through his own volunteer work.
Making Memories at Camp Hand in Hand
This year, Tim had the opportunity to volunteer at Camp Hand in Hand for the first time.
Camp brings children and adults with disabilities together for outdoor adventures, new experiences, and friendships. With the help of volunteers like Tim, campers can enjoy activities such as swimming, fishing, canoeing, archery, and more.
"This year was the first year I did, and it was pretty cool to be a part of," Tim said.
He enjoyed the experience so much that he's already hoping to return next summer.
And camp isn't the only Hand in Hand event on his radar. Tim is also looking forward to getting involved with our annual Chili Cook-Off after missing last year's event.
"I missed it last year and I hear it's a pretty big deal for Hand in Hand," he joked.
A Little Action Makes a Difference
For anyone considering volunteering but unsure where to begin, Tim has some simple advice.
"Start small. Do something."
He encourages people to think about what they're passionate about and find an organization that shares those interests. Volunteering doesn't have to mean making a major time commitment. Sometimes, all it takes is reaching out and trying something new.
"If you have any passion or remote interest in a topic where help might be needed, look up volunteer opportunities, or an organization that is aligned with that topic and reach out to them," he shared.
Tim believes everyone has something to offer, whether it's their time, talents, or financial support.
"Hand in Hand is a great organization to support financially and volunteering. They are serving many needs in the community," he said. "There's plenty of other needs out there too. I do encourage everyone to do something. A little bit of action makes a difference."
We're grateful for Tim's willingness to give his time, get to know our participants, and support our mission. We're also thankful for community partners like RSM who encourage their employees to get involved and make connections with organizations like ours.
Interested in volunteering at Hand in Hand? Whether you have a few hours to give or want to get involved regularly, we'd love to have you join us! Learn more at handinhandqc.org/volunteer.