Hannah's "Helping Hands"

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, CAA transitioned all programs into a virtual format….
Hear from our Blue Hat Baking Program Volunteer about her experience:

As a volunteer for CAA’s Blue Hat Baking Program, I have been meeting with the program participants, along with the program coordinator and other volunteers via online sessions every Saturday for the last several months. The online sessions consist of two activities: the first is about cooking or baking, and the second is usually project-oriented.

For the second part of the program last Saturday, we broke out into smaller groups. I was assigned to work with Hannah on a storytelling project, along with a first-time volunteer. The goal was to tell a story verbally and draw supporting images on paper. When Hannah heard the word “draw,” she said she would sit back and watch because of her inability to draw. In an effort to keep Hannah engaged, I told her that we could be her “helping hands” if she could tell us the story verbally. Hannah was very excited by the idea, and within ten minutes, Hannah was able to complete the story and describe the images for the first-time volunteer to draw on paper. Before the program ended that day, Hannah and her “helping hands” successfully presented her story to the entire group. In the end, everyone was happy, and Hannah was able to participate instead of sitting back and watching! The first-time volunteer was able to assist as Hannah’s “helping hands,” and I got to see Hannah’s beautiful expressions of accomplishment!!”

-Peggy Au, Blue Hat Baking Program Volunteer