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
Christina Duncan’s Story: From Federal Prison to Hope for Pardon
Christina Duncan’s world was upside down. At 25 years old, she was imprisoned at Alderson Federal Prison in West Virginia for three and a half years. Thanks to completing a residential drug and alcohol program, she knocked some time off her sentence. “I always say that was probably one of the best experiences of my life because that’s what turned my life completely around,” shared Christina Duncan, a 2015 Hand UP for Women graduate. She was locked up for federal drug conspiracy charges, something she doesn’t deny. “My life before that [going to prison] was so crazy and so filled with chaos. It’s hard to see the entire circumstances while we’re in the midst and it was a breath of [...]
Why Hand UP for Women Works
Hand UP for Women, a 501(c)(3) non-profit has grown, developed and matured with time and love since its inception in 2001. The Knox County Association of Baptists assisted with the organization’s startup, but the real momentum came when Eva Pierce was chosen as Executive Director. The organization began serving women in 2003. When Diane Gross was attending a Baptist church in East Tennessee, she learned about the organization and felt drawn to the program. At the time, Diane was a single mom who had been through challenging years in her own life and she saw many parallels between the women Hand UP was helping and in her own life. Diane had safety nets between her family and church family and [...]
Program Extension Builds Camaraderie and Enhances Knowledge
Expanding a program can be daunting, often seen as both a financial and time-consuming investment. Yet, for the dedicated team of staff and instructors at Hand UP for Women, extending the program from one year to a year and a half felt like the natural next step in transforming women’s lives. Program Evolvement Over the Years For more than a decade, Karen Mills has been the driving force behind Hand UP for Women’s program coordination. Alongside Eva Pierce, the executive director, they review curricula together. “When I started it was a year-long program,” When Mills started, the program was one year, but the said classes have evolved in tandem with the transformation of the women they serve. Current classes include [...]
Class Members Fueled by Food and Fellowship
“Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate.” - Alan D. Wolfelt Meals have served as a conduit for fellowship and love for centuries and spans across cultures and oceans. Hand UP for Women views food as just that - a time to serve their women and show their support and caring. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, our Hand UP for Women participants gather for a heartwarming dinner before their class sessions. It's a cherished time for them to bond, exchange stories from their days, and gear up for the upcoming lessons. Graciously prepared by dedicated volunteers such as Anita Coward and Kay Smith, these dinners are a culinary delight infused with care and compassion. It's where the magic [...]
Healing Broken Beginnings: Hand UP for Women’s Bridge to God’s Love
Isaiah 40:31 reads “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” This scripture articulates the promise of renewal and strength for those who trust in the Lord. This passage symbolizes the dawn of new beginnings, akin to the vibrance of blooming flowers and the invigorating warmth of the sun. Through Hand UP for Women two graduates have experienced God’s profound love. They have cultivated their relationship with Christ, embracing him and envisioning a future with Him at the forefront. Ashley’s Story Tazewell native Ashley Myers called Claiborne County home her whole life. Married with three kids [...]