We have a new location – Miracle Ridge! Read more about it here.
As we grow into a larger home, simultaneously we can grow our ministry. Through your generosity, our Miracle Ridge location will provide an indoor classroom, office space, participant housing and outdoor serenity. The 3.5-acre property needs repairs and renovations, as well as annual maintenance. Your support goes directly to the home and upkeep. To learn more about the Miracle Ridge property click here. Thank you for choosing to support Hand UP for Women.
El mundo de los medicamentos online sigue evolucionando, lo que es una oportunidad para ver cómo se regulan y accesibles son en el futuro artículos como el Cialis. Pero yo, como experto, opino que la seguridad del enfermero debe ser lo primero. Comprar Cialis en España seguro de forma segura en España el producto con la mayor garantía si das los pasos correctos, evitando las opciones no reguladas. Lo más importante es tu salud, y merece el respeto que se le debe.
Life Management | Career Readiness | Spiritual Development
At Hand Up For Women we offer a hand UP to women who want to live a self-sufficient, abundant life free of loneliness and fear. We understand you have been through things many of us can only imagine. We believe you were created for MORE and deserve to live the abundant life God has planned for you. We’ve helped hundreds of women like you become self-sufficient, successful and full of hope.
Here’s how:
- Make the decision that you want to change your life for the better
- Work with us to create a personalized plan to achieve your life goals
- Meet the supportive family of women who will walk alongside you
- Begin classes. You’re on your way to abundant living!
Are you ready to take the first step toward a changed life?
Complete the online application or call 865-525-9696 or email hufwinfo@gmail.com to receive one in the mail. Once we receive your application, we’ll contact you to set up an interview.
Our volunteer instructors are the backbone of our program. They teach a variety of subjects from professional development to how to change a tire.
INSTRUCTORS
Every woman in our program is matched with a trained mentor to serve as her personal support and encouragement source.
MENTORS
We love celebrating! Throughout the year, we’ll celebrate holidays, birthdays and graduation, but mostly the achievement of our ladies.
CELEBRATIONS
A Second Chance Christmas: Michelle Schermer’s Journey of Transformation
Christmastime often brings feelings of joy, warmth, love and connection. For Michelle Schermer who had spent much of her life facing struggles, one Christmas in particular marked a turning point—a season of healing and hope.. "I’ll never forget that Christmas in 2006," Michelle shared, her voice filled with emotion. Having been released from jail the previous fall, Michelle was taking it one step at a time to rebuild her life. She attributes much of her recovery to her Hand UP for Women mentor, Brenda Kerns, who became a lifelong friend and source of support. A Special Christmas Tradition Brenda invited Michelle into her home that Christmas, where a large, beautiful tree stood—untouched, waiting to be decorated. Brenda turned to Michelle [...]
A Night of Celebration: The 23rd Annual Hand UP For Women Gala
Over $130,000 Raised – But We’re Not Done Yet! Fundraising is still open! Every dollar helps us continue empowering women with mentorship, life skills training, and career development. 
Donate today by clicking here, emailing HUFWinfo@gmail.com or calling 865-525-9696. The 23rd Annual Hand UP For Women Gala was an inspiring evening of transformation, hope, and generosity! Held on Thursday, March 13th, at The Grande Event Center, this red-carpet event brought together supporters, program graduates, and community members to celebrate the life-changing impact of Hand UP For Women. To be a part of the experience, watch the night as it occurred live: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1J456Gebcp/ Executive Director, Eva Pierce, takes the stage to introduce our amazing graduates. An Evening [...]
HUGS co-leaders share higher calling with program empowering Hand UP For Women graduates
The work at Hand UP for Women doesn’t stop once graduates complete the program - it’s a lifelong support system. Kim Davis and Betty Anderson have a special place in their hearts for the women they’ve helped over the years while volunteering with Hand UP for Women, a Knoxville-based nonprofit that offers life-building classes to participants who have chosen to rise up to a higher calling after hardship. Both Kim and Betty’s hearts have felt the pain, the hope and the empowerment experienced by the participants of not only the Hand UP For Women program, but also what comes afterward with the Hand UP Graduates in Service, or HUGS alumni program, which the two women co-lead. HUGS alumni meet once [...]
Melissa Davenport’s 180-Degree Transformation with Hand UP for Women
Born into a family marked by addiction, Melissa Davenport’s early years were full of challenges. Adopted by her aunt and uncle at a young age, Melissa longed for connection and sought it in the wrong places. Her life took a dramatic turn following her high school graduation, and it wasn’t until she found Hand UP for Women that she began to truly transform—not only her present but her future as well. Struggles, Arrest and a Turning Point In 2014, at the age of 24, Melissa was arrested for what she calls “young and dumb” decisions. With no career path in mind, she ended up with a felony on her record. Seeking comfort and healing from her childhood trauma, she turned [...]
Athena Gray’s Financial Transformation with Hand UP for Women
When Athena Gray began Hand UP for Women in 2021, she didn’t even have a bank account. Her understanding of financial literacy was limited. Through the program, Athena was able to transform her finances, learn the importance of building credit, save for large purchases and gain financial stability. From Debt to Financial Awareness Athena’s last bank account had been closed, and she was in debt by a few hundred dollars. But everything changed when she started her housekeeping job at a Knoxville hotel. One of the first things she did with her first paycheck was reopen a bank account and start a 401(k). As she moved through the Hand UP for Women’s financial classes, Athena took a closer look at [...]
A Second Chance Christmas: Michelle Schermer’s Journey of Transformation
Christmastime often brings feelings of joy, warmth, love and connection. For Michelle Schermer who had spent much of her life facing struggles, one Christmas in particular marked a turning point—a season of healing and hope.. "I’ll never forget that Christmas in 2006," Michelle shared, her voice filled with emotion. Having been released from jail the previous fall, Michelle was taking it one step at a time to rebuild her life. She attributes much of her recovery to her Hand UP for Women mentor, Brenda Kerns, who became a lifelong friend and source of support. A Special Christmas Tradition Brenda invited Michelle into her home that Christmas, where a large, beautiful tree stood—untouched, waiting to be decorated. Brenda turned to Michelle [...]
A Night of Celebration: The 23rd Annual Hand UP For Women Gala
Over $130,000 Raised – But We’re Not Done Yet! Fundraising is still open! Every dollar helps us continue empowering women with mentorship, life skills training, and career development. Donate today by clicking here, emailing HUFWinfo@gmail.com or calling 865-525-9696. The 23rd Annual Hand UP For Women Gala was an inspiring evening of transformation, hope, and generosity! Held on Thursday, March 13th, at The Grande Event Center, this red-carpet event brought together supporters, program graduates, and community members to celebrate the life-changing impact of Hand UP For Women. To be a part of the experience, watch the night as it occurred live: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1J456Gebcp/ Executive Director, Eva Pierce, takes the stage to introduce our amazing graduates. An Evening [...]
HUGS co-leaders share higher calling with program empowering Hand UP For Women graduates
The work at Hand UP for Women doesn’t stop once graduates complete the program - it’s a lifelong support system. Kim Davis and Betty Anderson have a special place in their hearts for the women they’ve helped over the years while volunteering with Hand UP for Women, a Knoxville-based nonprofit that offers life-building classes to participants who have chosen to rise up to a higher calling after hardship. Both Kim and Betty’s hearts have felt the pain, the hope and the empowerment experienced by the participants of not only the Hand UP For Women program, but also what comes afterward with the Hand UP Graduates in Service, or HUGS alumni program, which the two women co-lead. HUGS alumni meet once [...]
Melissa Davenport’s 180-Degree Transformation with Hand UP for Women
Born into a family marked by addiction, Melissa Davenport’s early years were full of challenges. Adopted by her aunt and uncle at a young age, Melissa longed for connection and sought it in the wrong places. Her life took a dramatic turn following her high school graduation, and it wasn’t until she found Hand UP for Women that she began to truly transform—not only her present but her future as well. Struggles, Arrest and a Turning Point In 2014, at the age of 24, Melissa was arrested for what she calls “young and dumb” decisions. With no career path in mind, she ended up with a felony on her record. Seeking comfort and healing from her childhood trauma, she turned [...]
Athena Gray’s Financial Transformation with Hand UP for Women
When Athena Gray began Hand UP for Women in 2021, she didn’t even have a bank account. Her understanding of financial literacy was limited. Through the program, Athena was able to transform her finances, learn the importance of building credit, save for large purchases and gain financial stability. From Debt to Financial Awareness Athena’s last bank account had been closed, and she was in debt by a few hundred dollars. But everything changed when she started her housekeeping job at a Knoxville hotel. One of the first things she did with her first paycheck was reopen a bank account and start a 401(k). As she moved through the Hand UP for Women’s financial classes, Athena took a closer look at [...]
A Second Chance Christmas: Michelle Schermer’s Journey of Transformation
Christmastime often brings feelings of joy, warmth, love and connection. For Michelle Schermer who had spent much of her life facing struggles, one Christmas in particular marked a turning point—a season of healing and hope.. "I’ll never forget that Christmas in 2006," Michelle shared, her voice filled with emotion. Having been released from jail the previous fall, Michelle was taking it one step at a time to rebuild her life. She attributes much of her recovery to her Hand UP for Women mentor, Brenda Kerns, who became a lifelong friend and source of support. A Special Christmas Tradition Brenda invited Michelle into her home that Christmas, where a large, beautiful tree stood—untouched, waiting to be decorated. Brenda turned to Michelle [...]
Every woman in our program is matched with a trained mentor to serve as her personal support, accountability and encouragement source. Mentors attend a one-day training on a Saturday then, once matched, they meet with their participant once a week. Written covenants are used to outline the boundaries of these relationships.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TRAINING TO BECOME A MENTOR, PLEASE CONTACT KAREN MILLS AT karen@ahandupforwomen.org!! To get started please complete the online mentoring application or contact us.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, before class, groups and/or individuals provide a meal for the ladies. This is invaluable for the ladies and instructors that come straight from work. This is also a wonderful time of getting to know each other and just decompressing after a busy day. Some meal providers sign up for the entire year’s classes and are scheduled for the same night each month. Others prefer to just provide one or two meals a year.
There are openings in the meal schedule for the 2024-2025 class year. Contact Amanda Roberts at amanda@ahandupforwomen.org for openings if you would like to provide a meal.
Several times throughout the year, we will have celebrations for our ladies when they graduate, meet a goal, or for a holiday. Special treats and prizes are always needed for those celebrations. We also have a yearly fundraising gala that utilizes sponsors and table hosts to make it a success.
ANNOUNCEMENT!! One of our wonderful volunteers have agreed to take over the collecting of prayer concerns from all the folks and friends of Hand UP For Women and doing some follow-up on those prayer concerns. If you have prayer requests, let us know. If you are part of a prayer team or maybe there is one at your church and would like to receive a weekly prayer list from Hand UP, please email Karen your contact information and she will pass it along to our leaders. (karen@ahandupforwomen.org)
Our volunteer instructors are the backbone of our program. We are occasionally looking for new and additional instructors in all subject areas. The night classes are on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In the event that we begin daytime classes we will need instructors that are available during morning hours on Monday and Wednesday as well as new topics that would be helpful..