This past Wednesday I was invited to do an event at the Minnesota 4-H summer convention called YELLO which stands for youth exploring leadership and learning out loud hosted at the 4-H building on the Minnesota state fair grounds. Throughout the week I got to join alongside participants in official capacity as a visiting 4-H ambassador but on Wednesday led an awesome service project. At the event we spent 3 hours working together to make a total of 34 pillows far exceeding my ambitious goal! The pillows we made are going to a veterans home so that we can support those who have served because even our grace heroes are affected by memory loss and fidgeting tendencies. Thanks to everyone at YELLO for supporting our troops and supporting the work of busy hands!

Astrid

 Busy Hands had the incredible opportunity to attend the 2018 Walk to End Alzheimer's. This was a chance to truly connect with the community of people who are affected by this disease. We had the opportunity to interact with families who were walking in dedication of lost loved one, people who are caretakers, and those who are living with Alzheimer's. For both Astrid and I this was a very emotional experience, especially when remembering the loved ones in our lives that have been affected by this disease and memory impairment. However,  I think the most important thing that we took away from the experience was a reminder to ourselves of the hope we all create by supporting a cause in ending Alzheimer's. This is disease that doesn't have a cure right now, but it certainly doesn't mean it will not in the generation to come. We all walk to end the disease so the research can one day help our loved ones keep their identity until the day they die. I am proud to be a part of  change and I feel empowered by the impact our small community and Busy Hands can have on the battle to end Alzheimer's. I hope anyone who reads this feels inspired to pursue change in whatever they feel personally affected and inspired by. Remember to spread your caring hands.
With Love,
Dyuti D.

All of our events are centered around creating pillows, but the most fulfilling experiences are the dialogue we create with each patient. While our organization's goal is set to enrich people's lives, I feel myself learning more and more about each patient, while continuing to learn more about myself. I meet wonderful people everyday, and today I met Marilyn. Her infectious smile drew me to her as she shared not only her personal experiences after her stroke, but also what she loved. She told me she loves to sing and that ultimately always manages to make her happy. Marilyn ,like many people living with memory loss are often categorized as incapable of reconnecting with their past. But that is farthest from the truth. Regardless of their obstacles, memories that impact their hearts are never forgotten, and for Marilyn that was her memories with music. I felt the same way today as O conversed with her about myself  both of us communicating our lives and building a friendship. Today we were productive, but I felt this event was more than that. I made new friends who all impacted my life and that is what we all can ultimately take out of an experience. 
My heart is full and content.
With Love,
​Dyuti D.

Busy Hands had an incredible opportunity to work with the memory care patients at Memory Cafe in a very exciting collaboration with the two organizations. Although this event was different than our standard youth volunteer crowds, we were able to make new friends and bring some activity for these seniors! Alongside with memory cafe, a few enthusiastic Davies High School NHS members joined us and had the opportunity to interact with seniors and even share some stories. Busy Hands was proud is produce around eleven finished pillows at the even with around 20 partially finished products. 

Villa Maria was one of the first donations of the organization and Busy Hands had the unique opportunity to directly visit memory care patients and provide them these handmade pillows made by children across the community. This was a life-changing chance to really connect with these patients and the reactions of many were impactful in my strong belief on the impact that this organization has had on both the caretakers and the memory care patients. I will never forget the reaction of one man whose wife suffers from Dementia, as he realizes that young students had the care to create these pillows for his wife. His smile through the tears represents how much these families struggle from degenerative memory diseases. These stories all continue to motivate both Astrid and I to spread the message to help bring a light of hope to such a difficult struggle in their lives.

On February 25th, 2018 Busy Hands had the opportunity to hold another event with the Golden Kids 4H Event. Here we saw kids from all ages participate in sewing activities to designing the pillows to even stuffing them. Just within 2 hours we saw a total of six pillows and the over 10 top covers sewn!  It was such a privilege to get the opportunity to teach young kids about he excitement that comes from volunteering alongside with the impact you can have on your community even as a five year old! All the kids were incredible and we saw some many creative ideas alongside with some very talented designing to help all their Alzheimer patients in the community. 
Also huge thank you goes to parents who helped the kids out and donated bags of materials that we can use in future events. All fabric material is valuable to us and we can help transformed different kinds of material into a utility for patients in our local community. 
I just want to remind everyone that Alzheimer's is a growing illness in the United States and especially in North Dakota, so all these efforts that got these patients help give them hope and material which stimulates their senses! 
Thank You for all the hard work!
~Dyuti D.

While this post is long overdue, Davies High School opened their doors to the Key Club, Student Council, SHAPE, and NHS to help out at a volunteer event on December 19th, 2017. The event was an absolute success and we want to thank all the volunteers that came out and helped us create over 20 pillows within only a 2 hour sitting.  All these pillows will be arranged to be donated to a local retirement homes! 
In the future both Astrid and I plan on arranging more volunteer event specifically directed towards the school, and again wanted to give a big shout out to the Davies staff for their corporation for  allowing us to safely hold their volunteer opportunity for their students. 
Again out mission to spread as much volunteer spirit around the community! 
​~Dyuti D.

Both Astrid and I were very excited to donate toward the Mapleview Center for Demetia and Alzhiemer's patients. We were able to give the care center over 30 pillows for those living inthe care center. The great deal of thanks goes out to all those who were involved in the effort of making these incredible pillows.
~Dyuti D.