"O Divine Redeemer"

Concert of Sacred Classical Music featuring Junior Archer, presented by HANDS International and the University of Southern Caribbean Alumni Association
Chan Auditorium, Loma Linda Academy
26 May 2012

A Time to Heal: An Opportunity to Serve

HANDS International Official Launching - March 25, 2012 from Brian Weed on Vimeo.

HANDS International - 10-minute promo - April 2011 from Brian Weed on Vimeo.

Belize Initiative - April to May 2011

While in Belize, HANDS medical teams served people at 10 different clinics, including Cleopatra, Loyola, Ladyville, Crooked Tree, Double Head Cabbage, Burrell Boom, Hattieville, Gracie Rock, La Democracia, and Mahogany Heights. A total of 655 individuals as young as 1 month and as old as 88 years received some form of medical service.

WELLNESS SEMINAR IN TOBAGO

During the weekend of March 5-7 Dr. Hedrick Edwards conducted a seminar in Tobago on the topic of Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Wellness. Beginning with an overview of the theme on Friday evening and ending with a dedication ceremony on Sunday evening - with didactic presentations and interactions throughout Saturday - the seminar was extremely well received by the approximately three hundred persons who attended. Based on this positive response, the organizers and sponsors are eager to invite HANDS to lead a similar seminar next year. The hope is that a larger facility could be secured, the wider community invited, and support staff (such as a therapist and a counselor) could be included in the team. Because the need is so deeply felt, HANDS executive is willing to consider any such request.


TAX EXEMPT STATUS RECEIVED
In a letter from the IRS dated March 18, 2010, HANDS was informed that it has been granted Tax exempt status. The letter reads in part:

"We are pleased to inform you that upon review of your application for tax exempt status we have determined that you are exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to you are deductible under section 170 of the code. You are also qualified to receive bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the code".

This is great good news, and all HANDS partners and prospective supporters may now breathe a sigh of relief. We wish to thank all those who contributed so unselfishly in the past, even without such clear assurance that their gifts are tax-deductible. Let us take advantage of this new opportunity afforded us by the government to support the programs and projects of this Public Charity agency with our generous contributions. Not a single penny of such contributions will be used for anyone's personal gain or self-interest. Our commitment to minister to the chronic needs of vulnerable populations and to those going through critical crises remains undiminished. In the spirit of Christ, we are volunteers without borders serving the under-served without pay.

Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Wellness Seminar

On March 3, HANDS executive Secretary leaves for Tobago to conduct a five-part seminar of Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Wellness

A Letter to Outgoing Executive Director

Dr. Hedrick Edwards, you had a dream of an organization that would bring grace and healing in brokenness. You acted on the idea with dedication and persistence and HANDS International is the result. I applaud you and on behalf of the many who have benefitted from your helping hand I say: Thank you and God bless you.

I am profoundly privileged to join hands with you in facilitating the continued growth and development of this association. Together with the existing team of associates we envision a strong and consistent stream of continued service to those in the most need of it.

The continued blessing of God on our acts of kindness towards others is guaranteed. We are part of this movement because we are compelled by the Spirit of the Lord who has transformed us into a living version of the Gospel, we will find the poor in means and spirit, heal the broken-hearted, free those in various forms of captivity, and support a medical ministry that brings healing to anyone who is sick, without hesitation.

Our main task as a corporation will continue to be to harness human and material resources and organize, direct and execute missions of care in a coordinated, efficient and effective manner.

In the year ahead of us, some of the critical structures necessary to accomplish our goal need to be further completed and set in place. We need people who are dream builders, who have insight into how human systems work, and who want to roll up the sleeves and shoulder some of the weight.

I look forward to a busy, but rewarding year with you, our current and future partners.

Thank you again.

Most caringly,

Tony Brandon
President, HANDS International

CHANGING OF THE GUARDS

Hello Friends and Partners:

Last Sunday, February 7, the HANDS board convened at the Del Rosa Church and completed its annual year-end agenda. The focus of the agenda was on electing new members of the board to replace several whose term had expired. We were pleased that Drs. Lawrence Weekes, Charles David, and Paula Fox were voted in as new board members. Other members to serve for the new term are Norman Mitchell, Linbrook Barker, Naomi Modeste, Antonius Brandon, Paul Thorpe, and Hedrick Edwards. Norman Mitchell was re-elected as chair.

After serving as Executive Director from the inception of HANDS five years ago, I am pleased to have had a part in its creation and its evolution to this point. I am very satisfied with the progress the corporation has made - the principles upon which it is founded, the causes it has espoused, the projects it has conducted. Though still very much a work in progress, it has begun to fulfill its mission of service to the underserved in the spirit of Christ. With that foundation in place, with a core of stable supporters here in the west, and with a widening cadre of enthusiastic partners in the east, I have chosen to step down as the Chief Executive officer and allow for new personalities to assume leadership. Accordingly, I recommended, and the board has elected, Dr. Antonius Brandon (Tony) as the new CEO, who will now be designated as President.

Tony is an ordained minister and an experienced, active clinical psychologist who has been a member on the two action teams during our projects in Guyana and Grenada. I am happy to welcome him to this responsibility for which he is eminently qualified. Let us all now pull together as he leads us to the next level in the development of this service agency. My commitment is unquestioned, and I will now serve as Executive Secretary with Paul Thorpe as Treasurer. In due course others of you will be asked to fill various roles and we do hope that all will serve with the same spirit of exuberance and dedication that has inspired us in the past.

Thanks so much to one and all of our action team members who have helped to stay the course and ventured on the front line during these formative years- to Paul, Daphne, Joselito, Hope, Naomi, Norman, Tony, Julihana, Gus, Beth, Ranju, Steve and Ingid, the Shapiras, Susan, Lester and Ava, and others. And thanks to others who supported with their kind thoughts and generous gifts. Without your smiles and prayers, your passions and perhaps your tears, your personal sacrifice under God's blessings nothing worthy of note could have have been achieved. Thanks, thanks, thanks to
one and all.

Sincerely,

Hedrick Edwards
Outgoing Executive Director, now Executive Secretary, HANDS International