<div><strong>Welcome to Hand to Hand </strong>
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<div><strong><em>A small but mighty service project seeking to provide essential aid to remote communities across Nepal and India. </em></strong>
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<div><em>"I know I am dying. What else should I do? Might as well leave people with better memories." - Sonam</em>
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<div><strong>What is Hand to Hand?</strong>
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<div>Two years I met two incredible humans, Pema and Sonam. A brother-sister duo from a remote village in Nepal. The two have spent the last nine years working in America, saving most of their wages, and to travel back to Nepal and India to give to those in need.
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<div>When Sonam, Pema and I connected, they explained their work and how the were attempting to spread the word about their annual, very small but mighty, service project. At the time they did not have a name for it and as they explained what they did, the name <strong>Hand to Hand</strong> fluttered across my mind.
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<div>Their mission is simple. Travel to remote, forgotten villages in Nepal and India and ask people, "What do you need." Then, when possible, go get it. They have given thousands of goods over the last nine years, all of which have been delivered straight to the hands of those who asked for them. Donations have included socks, school supplies, monthly tuition, backpacks, medical supplies, tents, tarps, clothing, blankets, water, food and money for medical care.
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<div><strong>How it Works</strong>
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<div>Sonam and Pema have relationships with several leaders and teachers from monasteries across Nepal and India -- namely the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Tso+Pema+monastery+in+India&amp;oq=Tso+Pema+monastery+in+India&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRigAdIBBzE5NmowajeoAgCwAgA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8#vhid=0x0:0x43418d0c695858da&amp;vssid=lclsmap&amp;eim=CAEQBRoSMzUuMTU3MjY1MjYzMzUyMDE2IhE3NS42MjgzMjQ0MTY1MTAxOCoTNDg0NjMwOTc1ODQ3Mzg4NTkxNA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tso Pema monastery in India</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=boudhanath+in+nepal&amp;sca_esv=ec8958702b1a5c1e&amp;sca_upv=1&amp;ei=7FS1ZonpCY-HptQP3NTn4AU&amp;oq=Boudhanath+monastery+in+India&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiHUJvdWRoYW5hdGggbW9uYXN0ZXJ5IGluIEluZGlhKgIIATIIEAAYgAQYogQyCBAAGIAEGKIEMggQABiABBiiBDIIEAAYgAQYogRItiFQtgJYxRJwAXgBkAEAmAFWoAGZBqoBAjExuAEByAEA-AEB-AECmAIMoAK8BsICChAAGLADGNYEGEfCAggQABiiBBiJBcICCBAhGKABGMMEwgIHEAAYgAQYDcICCBAAGA0YHhgPwgIGEAAYDRgewgIGEAAYBxgewgIKEAAYgAQYQxiKBcICBRAAGIAEwgIKECEYoAEYwwQYCpgDAIgGAZAGCJIHAjEyoAeONg&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boudhanath</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashupatinath_Temple" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pashupatinath</a> and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=swayambhunath+temple+in+nepal&amp;sca_esv=ec8958702b1a5c1e&amp;sca_upv=1&amp;ei=iFW1ZpzZCY-gptQP_Nj6mAI&amp;gs_ssp=eJwFwUEOQDAQAMA48gdJL862Kum2T_CLXV1BtGmo4PdmmrqPPXC25w6V7-A1TlgjBsc4zEjBw0tiNAcZNVhnebFTez30UeT1TlRWVSTmQ9SWVJJMxw_eMhns&amp;oq=Swayambhunath+temple+in+nepal&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiHVN3YXlhbWJodW5hdGggdGVtcGxlIGluIG5lcGFsKgIIATILEAAYgAQYkQIYigUyCxAuGIAEGMcBGK8BMgYQABgFGB4yBhAAGAgYHjILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMggQABiABBiiBDIaEC4YgAQYxwEYrwEYlwUY3AQY3gQY4ATYAQNIxTFQtBFYtBFwAXgAkAEAmAFroAG1AaoBAzEuMbgBAcgBAPgBAvgBAZgCA6AC9hPCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHwgINEAAYgAQYsAMYQxiKBcICDhAAGLADGOQCGNYE2AEBwgIZEC4YgAQYsAMYQxjHARjIAxiKBRivAdgBApgDAIgGAZAGDroGBggBEAEYCboGBggCEAEYCLoGBggDEAEYFJIHBzEuMS44LTGgB5Ib&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Swayambhunath</a> monasteries in Nepal. They look to these community leaders for guidance on where, in each region, they should focus their efforts. Pema and Sonam speak several languages, which help them to communicate with the locals to determine how best to allocate funds. Listening and responding to the needs of the people rather than bringing pre-decided resources that might not be useful.
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<div><strong>Why Sonam &amp; Pema?</strong>
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<div>Pema and Sonam are not wealthy people. Sonam works year-round as a dishwasher, cook and grounds keeper for various retreat centers. Pema teaches Tibetan language courses and also works as a nanny. Regularly working 14-18 hour days, Sonam and Pema live together in an apartment in upstate New York. They drive an old car, buy only what is needed and save all they can in order to give back. Sonam says, <em>"I know I am dying. What else should I do? Might as well leave people with better memories." </em>His purpose, he says, is to leave this world a little bit better than when he found it.
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<div>This, I've realized, is my purpose as well, and I think, if you were to quiet your mind, you might find you share this same desire.
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<div><strong><em>Now... why me (Atlee)?</em></strong>
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<div>Hello! My name is Atlee. Nice to e-meet you! I'm so glad you're here! If you don't already know me here's a little intro. :)
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<div>Over the last few years I've taken stock of my life. What I'm doing? Why I am doing it? Where is my energy going and to whom, or what, is it going towards?
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<div>A sinking feeling grew in my gut over the last few years as I watched the world seemingly deteriorate. There has to be more I/we can do other than simply sermonize on the grave state of the world and what we think, or what we hope, might fix it. What can we actually do? What can I actually do to make a difference?
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<div>These questions led me down a path of rediscovering the reasons why I am, and I think most people, are here. To connect, to care, to reach out, to give, to acknowledge each other, to be of service, to be human, to be with... each other. This rediscovery is what led me to Hand to Hand.
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<div>Sonam and Pema have been doing this work without me for years. They are tireless in their dedication and incredibly resourceful, but their work is stretched thin. Bringing on a partner to help communicate their message to a wider community and expand their reach is the logical next step.
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<div>That's where I come in! I've spent the last decade in TV/Film production and editing. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/atleefeingold/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">I worked in TV marketing for the last 5 years</a> and before that as a production coordinator for networks like BBC, TLC, VH1 and ABC. I am a storyteller, and have worked independently/freelance as an artist (singer/actress), writer, producer and director.
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<div>Equally as important, I think Sonam, Pema and I connected as humans. We all share a curiosity for others and a need to be of service. I worked as a Hospice Volunteer for seven years both in Seattle and NYC and for the last two years have been working as a volunteer chaplain at Mount Sinai West each weekend.
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<div>Sonam has expressed, and I agree, that in order for me to fully get behind this work I need to experience its impact first hand. Experiencing the work of <strong>Hand to Hand</strong> personally will undoubtedly inspire me to develop innovative strategies to help them continue their work longterm and expand their impact.
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<div><strong><em>Why</em> Hand to Hand? </strong>
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<div><strong><em>"To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."</em></strong> - Ralph Waldo Emerson
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<div>This is what Jesus believed. Mother Teresa, Gandhi, St. Nicholas and so on. These saints and humanitarians dedicated their lives to others. Giving whatever they could, even if just a smile. Mother Teresa was known for holding the hands of all those she served.
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<div>I believe it is this simple, personal, human connection that we've lost in this modern world. We've forgotten the power we hold in our own two hands. The power of giving. The power that lies in acknowledging each others humanity, as well as our own. The acknowledgment that it is only birth and circumstances that separate our realities. That I could be you just as easily as you could be me. We seem to have lost our individual strength and rely too heavily on unresponsive governments, religious organizations and for-profit companies to shepherd and save us. We have forgotten our ability to make change.
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<div><strong><em>What if we took matters into our own hands? What if we chose to care for each other now? </em></strong>
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<div>We can do more with our privilege than pontificate on the problems of the world. We can ask what is needed and we can choose to give. Now. Not later. We can be of service. We can remember our humanity... together. We can change the world, <strong>Hand to Hand.</strong>
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<div>I would love for you to join me, Sonam and Pema in our mission to re-inspire <strong>Hand to Hand</strong>. Your support will be a confirmation of our innate connection with one another and the belief in the positive impact we wield.
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<div>Thank you for your joining us! We can't wait to show you how your generosity changes lives.
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<div><a href="https://www.hand-to-hand.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>HAND TO HAND WEBSITE</strong></a><strong> </strong>
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<div>Many Blessings,
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<div>Sonam, Pema &amp; Atlee
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<div><strong>Additional Info: </strong>
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<div>Follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/handtohand_org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564134661412" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook</a>
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<div><strong>Character References for Sonam:</strong>
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<div>I have known Sonam for over a decade I am truly inspired by his tireless passion to relieve the suffering of others. His humility and the desire to care for those in need is a testament to who he is in the world. I am honored to call him a friend and will continue to support him and the important work he is doing. Please join me and donate to this worthy cause.
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<div><a href="https://zencare.org/about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chodo Robert Campbell Sensei</a>
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<div><em>澄道 慶悲</em>
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<div><em>Vice President &amp; Co-Guiding Teacher </em>
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<div><em>New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care</em>
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<div>I’ve known Sonam for almost 5 years. Since I’ve known him, he has shown himself to be a consistently kind, generous, and reliable person. He truly lives his commitment to those Buddhist values by giving of his own time and resources to help other humans. Now, he is seeking to expand his compassionate mission of helping those who have less than we do. I am honored to participate, and I hope you will too.
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<div><em>Jill Benjamin (Freelance Writer)</em>
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<div>I met Sonam at a retreat in October of 2023. My first impressions of him were of his kind and caring ways. He told me of his work in Nepal, Tibet and India. I have rarely have met a person as kind, caring, and selfless as Sonam. I will continue to support his work and encourage anyone who is so inclined to support him too.
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<div><em>Nick Tummillo ( </em>Treasurer, <a href="https://www.myosi.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Orphan Sponsorship International</a>)
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