What's It All About?
Since 2000, the fraternal benefit system has presented JOIN HANDS DAY, a day of national service that brings together youths and adults across the country for local projects that build bridges of understanding, trust, and respect between generations, while improving the lives and communities of millions of Americans. JOIN HANDS DAY is the first Saturday in May. The National Fraternal Congress of America (NFCA), founded in 1886, unites 73 not-for-profit fraternal benefit societies operating in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Texas fraternal societies are strong supporters of the JOIN HANDS DAY initiativea. It isn't unusual for our fraternal organizations to join forces on this national day of service that specifically targets and develops relationships between young people and adults through neighborhood volunteering.
Young people and adults work together on an equal basis to plan, organize and implement the day’s activities.
Today, the separation between the ages is more predominant than ever before. The old are isolated from the young and lack opportunities for building cross-generational relationships in their day-to-day lives.Young children are placed in age-segregated child care and pre-school settings. Most adults work in environments without children or adults past age 65. Older adults move into age-segregated housing. Those in the same household watch television in different rooms. People become comfortable with their peers, and only their peers.
JOIN HANDS DAY brings young people and adults together, and begins the process of developing understanding and trust across the generations. It is a day to begin a year round process of relationship building.
JOIN HANDS DAY will be known and practiced by a variety of groups, organizations, and businesses ?in every community in America. Young people and adults will replace false impressions and stereotypes ?with the truth about each other. Together, they will build a community of support for healthy cross-generational relationships. This will improve life in neighborhoods, and increase optimism about the future.
For more information, please visit the Join Hands Day web site at http://www.joinhandsday.org
