Abstract
Hand-In-Hand is a festival designed to bridge the gap between adults with disabilities in the Omaha area and CU students. While providing a day of recreation for adults with disabilities, the festival helps to enrich the educational experience of CU student volunteers. Thanks to Ollie Webb Center of Omaha, student volunteers receive training to help their special guest enjoy the festival as fully as possible. The unique community service event is organized and conducted by CU students, supported by Creighton Campus Ministry Staff. This group works to create a festival atmosphere, plan the entertainment, recruit student organizations for game booths, and obtain funds, prizes, and food. It involves between one hundred to two-hundred CU students each year.
During the festival, adults with mental and/or physical disabilities from the Omaha area are partnered with CU student partners. Together they share an afternoon filled with activities, including game booths, bingo, dancing, karaoke, and the ministry of presence.