One of my favorite things about publishing Macaroni Kid is the chance to connect with other moms in our community. Often times these connections inspire me and remind me of the ability of one person to make a difference. It is with this in mind that I launch a new article series called Parent with a Purpose. The hope is to introduce you to some amazing moms living right in our communities who are doing unique and wonderful things, while bringing some attention to their mission.
I was first introduced to Joyce Guthrie and Joshua’s Hands when my family attended the Joshua’s Hands Fall Festival in Waterford many years ago. This amazing annual festival is entirely free, from kids’ games and crafts, petting zoo, food, entertainment and more. And through Macaroni Kid, I came to understand that Joyce and her organization do so much for the community and she truly is a Mom on a Mission.
What is your MISSION? What do you want to accomplish?
In short, my mission is to extend hands for service and education from a grateful heart. With a few more words, I’d say I strive to continue Joshua’s legacy of service in our community and beyond.
What inspired/encouraged you to start Joshua's Hands? Is there one specific moment when you knew this was what you wanted to do?
My son, Joshua, died in a car accident when he was 16. He was a huge community servant. When we held his memorial service, almost 1000 people came. We had an open mike for them to share remembrances and it went on for hours. People talked about the ways in which he helped people move, collect food for the needy, encourage kids in gymnastics and on and on…When the last person spoke, he said, “We’ve heard a lot about Joshua’s Hands, but I don’t think we’ve heard the end of Joshua’s Hands.” That stuck with me as I grieved. A few months later, I decided to start a nonprofit to continue Josh’s legacy of service — Joshua’s Hands.
What lessons/values are you learning through this process? What lessons/values do you hope others are learning?
Many well-intentioned people have said, “I’m sorry you lost your son.” Josh was the second of my seven children. I’ve lost track of each of them at some point. I even left one at the base of the Washington Monument… But I didn’t lose Josh. Because he was a young man of great faith, I know exactly where he is. I did lose the hopes and dreams I had for him…the dream that he would compete in the Olympics, the hope that he would marry and have children, the dreams of his continued service…his legacy. I’ve learned that bad things happen to good people, but you can’t let them define you, you have to let them motivate you. Josh’s selfless service inspires me. It’s my hope that it inspires others to look outside of themselves to see the many opportunities to serve others every day, to learn one of life’s best kept secrets: service is NOT ONLY about helping others — it’s about learning from others.
What do you do to take care of yourself and how do you make time to do it?
I dance. Clogging is America’s dance form and I love it. It’s something I could do with my daughters as they were growing up — great exercise for both body and mind! The dance floor is a place where I can set my cares aside and just enjoy the music, the activity and the friends — exercise shouldn’t be that much fun! Sometimes it’s really hard to make/take the time to get on the dance floor. We all have busy schedules, long lists and tons of commitments but we always seem to find time for the things that are important to us.
What can the Macaroni Kid community do to help you with your mission?
Cultivating a servant’s heart starts early in life. Joshua’s Hands strives to provide opportunities for people of all ages to serve. We pick up bread from a local restaurant on a weekly basis and redistribute it to the needy, we make quilts for wounded warriors (we prefer to call them our Valiant Warriors) and we offer a free Fall Festival to the community each year. Each of these activities requires willing hands and servant hearts. We like to encourage parents to work alongside their children to model service.
The Joshua’s Hands Fall Festival is this Saturday, October 8th in Waterford.
Learn more about Joshua’s Hands and the festival on their website. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Know of a local mom that should be featured in our Mom on a Mission series? Please email me at stefaniee@macaronikid.com with your recommendation. 
