OUR MISSION
Hand2Paw’s mission is to provide a safe and supportive work environment for youth, ages 16-24, who are experiencing housing insecurity or foster care involvement, as a means of enhancing resilience, compassion, and connection with people, animals and the community of Philadelphia.
OUR BELIEFS
We believe every person and animal deserves:
- A clean, supportive, enriching and stress free environment that promotes learning in positive ways
- A sense of purpose and control
- Opportunities for social connection and support
- To learn coping skills that will help them navigate the stresses and challenges of life
At first, just the paycheck. But later I cared about finding a home for each animal that was adopted. Hand2Paw has been more consistent than other programs. We made realistic goals and you didn’t waste our time. The program showed me that I can be committed to coming to work every day. It was a great atmosphere – there wasn’t too much stress. The internship showed me the positive results of me improving on my work skills.
I view this program as different because I could feel the compassion and the genuine care for my success.
I feel I have more confidence because I have maintained two jobs since being with Hand2Paw.
I do believe that this program made an impact on me, a positive one, I will forever be changed because I went to this program. If you’re reading this and you work with Hand2Paw, Thank You.
I thought that it helped that I was never quit on, I was always pushed to do more and that mentality that I always have to do more helped me in life.
I feel my favorite thing about Hand2Paw so far is that it is a meeting space of healing & aiding the transitional periods of animals and those of humans, particularly youth. Hand2Paw provides an alternative to stressful shelters where animals & adopters aren’t moved by pity but rather compassion!