GIFTED HANDS............Touching Hearts, Changing Lives
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Gifted Hands
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We welcome you to support Gifted Hands through individual grants and contributions. Any amount is greatly appreciated! Gifted Hands was incorporated as an official 501(C)3 non-profit organization in 2003. All donations are tax deductible and go directly to serve inner-city programs. Click the logo below to donate via PayPal. Don’t have a PayPal account? Use your credit card or bank account.
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CONTACT US
email: DusteeH_gmail.comaddress: 3635 Johnson Ave., #2M Riverdale, NY 10463telephone: 917-604-6171
email: DusteeH_gmail.com
address: 3635 Johnson Ave., #2M
Riverdale, NY 10463
telephone: 917-604-6171
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
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WEB PAGE!
Our History
Gifted Hands had its beginning in 1993 when Dustee Hullinger, its Founder and Director, volunteered to serve with a "peanut butter and jelly club" at a family shelter in Harlem. She soon began to notice that her art projects gave her the opportunity to teach life skills to the shelter mothers, while keeping their children entertained. Through this outreach, she saw how the simplest art projects could make a positive impact on a fractured life.
Since then, Gifted Hands has expanded its service to many population groups in the metropolitan area. This therapeutic, restoration ministry serves a multi-cultural and socially economic diverse clientele including the homeless, senior citizens, HIV/Aids patients, at-risk youths and women & children living in transitional shelters. Gifted Hands helps marginalized individuals grow emotionally and creatively by building their self-esteem and confidence, providing new skill levels, and strengthening their community. This program is unique because of its use of biblical principles to minister through arts & crafts, education, and relationship building. Its mission and vision has spread throughout New York City with over 55 programs modeled on the original Gifted Hands program. Over 100 volunteers provide a “hands-on” approach for a healing touch to those individuals and families who have been impacted by disease, poverty, or homelessness.
PHOTOS
GIFTED HANDS VIDEO
Programs and Classes:
Through various arts and crafts projects, Gifted Hands inspires those traumatized by life’s circumstances to explore their creativity. These programs help participants to discover and develop new skills, promote creative problem solving, and build new friendships. Perhaps the most rewarding result is the enrichment of self-esteem seen in the proud smiles of participants holding up a finished work of art.
SENIOR CENTERS
HIV/AIDS CENTERS
Women & Children Residence
LAMBS UNDERGROUND ART GALLERY
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MORE INFORMATION
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Featured Jewelry Line
The jewelry pictured here was created by volunteers or clients of Gifted Hands. Your purchase of any of these selected items helps continue providing supplies and necessary materials for creating these beautiful products. Your purchase will touch the life of an individual marginalized by life’s circumstances. It’s been noted that “we can better face tomorrow because we created something beautiful today.”
Featured Art
These art pieces were also made by volunteers or program participants. Many have been featured in gallery exhibitions. Contact us by email or phone for pricing and further information.
This was the first flower ever hand painted by Dustee. The dimensions are:
Testimonials
Bill Sattan, Senior Arts & Crafts Director
My first involvement with the Gifted Hands program was as a senior attending art programs they presented at the Woodstock Senior Center. As a designer myself, I slowly got involved assisting at these programs. I felt privileged when I was asked to teach and run these same programs at the Woodstock. Helping the seniors realize their God-given talents gave me great inner gratification and appreciation of my volunteer work.
Roy Chan, Volunteer
I have been an urban planner and community organizer for over ten years, and one day I came to the realization that I was leading people to a place I had never truly been to before: community. Then one fall day, God led me to a place hidden in the Lambs Theatre basement in Times Square. It was a free art class for the neighborhood called Gifted Hands, and I soon realized that it was so much more than that. I returned every week, bringing the broken pieces of my life and laying them on the table along with others going through very different life circumstances. For two hours, we are invited to assemble these broken pieces together with our hands into works of art and reflections of Gods grace. Whether its clay sculpturing, watercolor painting, or stained glass, art has become an opportunity for me not only to share and develop artistic gifts, but offers an open invitation for me to enter into the lives of so many others. And together as we enter into a shared brokenness, we soon recognize God in our very midst. Our time of art has transformed into a time of healing, and a place where I have discovered community.
Phil Harris, Participant
I lost everything, got really sick and lived on the streets for awhile. I was too mad to live and could have snapped. I truly could have wound up in prison. I was in a dark place, and was often suicidal. Then I moved into the Crown Residence, an HIV/ AIDS residence in Times Square and discovered Gifted Hands. Dustee had a piece of jewelry when she visited the Crown and told me that they were having an art class. I asked her if I could bring my jewelry work to show her and the rest of the class. We became friends, and Dustee showed me how to minister to people through art. Through her relentless prayers and the weekly art classes, God lifted me out of the storm. It didnt happen overnight, but it didnt take a whole year either. But it was like God had put the right people in my life at the right time. These classes have become like a family to me.
Bess Coles, Board Member
Its the opportunity for an everyday New Yorker like me to be able to be a part of someones life who needs me. A volunteer doesnt need artistic talent. Its you coming in and bringing whatever skill you have. Is it talking with people? Is it holding a baby? Is it helping with a craft? Is it singing? Its bringing that to the table and offering it to someone who really needs it.
All Rights reserved telephone: 917.604.6171 address: 3635 Johnson Ave, #2M Riverdale, NY 10463 contact us at: dusteeh_gmail.com
