Minnie's Mission in Life...How Can You Help?

By Aishah Schwartz February 17, 2006 (Alexandria, Egypt) - Meet "Minnie" a Capuchin monkey with a very important mission in life. Minnie is a part of a program I learned about in a TV news broadcast this morning that just made me say, "subhan'Allah...subhan'Allah" over and over again, so I just had to share what I learned with you. There is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that trains Capuchin monkeys as helpers for the disabled, providing an invaluable service to quadriplegics and other people with severe spinal cord injuries or mobility-impairments. "Helping Hands", based in Boston, Massachusetts, provides highly trained monkeys to assist with daily activities, and to act as live-in companions to the disabled; a service that lasts the lifetime of a Capuchin monkey, which can be anywhere from 20-30 years of service (talk about the gift that keeps on giving!), bringing the gifts of independence, companionship, dignity and hope to the people they serve. Please take the time to learn more about the Helping Hands project in this January 17, 2006 Special Report by Scott Wahle of CBS4 Boston - Monkey Helpers For The Disabled. No fee is charged to the recipients of these wonderfully trained monkeys. All costs are underwritten by donations from individuals, foundation grants, and corporate partnerships. Helping Hands offers a variety of different ways you can support this important initiative. Please visit the Helping Hands website for additional information. Be sure to also click on the "Programs" link to learn more about how you can help by support Helping Hands through programs designed to educate the community. The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "One who helps a fellow Muslim in removing his (or her) difficulty in this world, Allah will remove the former's distress on the Day of Judgment. He who helps to remove the hardship of another, will have his difficulties removed by Allah in this world and in the Hereafter. One who covers the shortcomings of another Muslim, will have his faults covered up in this world and the next by Allah. Allah continues to help a servant so long as he goes on helping his own brother (or sister)." (Muslim) Contact Anne Stein in the Helping Hands Public Affairs Office at (617) 787-4410 Ext. 105 or by email to let her know about a Muslim brother or sister who could benefit from Helping Hands services, or to let her know about how you or your organization would be willing to help, insha'Allah. Copyright © 2006 Aishah Schwartz, Founder and Director, Muslimah Writers Alliance Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications. Contact author for all other rights, which are reserved. Image Melanie Stetson Freeman On the web: Service monkeys: Bill would give disabled a hand (Atlanta, GA) January 21, 2006 Learning to lend a hand (Andover, MA) January 13, 2005 Monkeys lend a 'Helping Hand' (La Habra, CA) September 1, 2005 No monkey business (UAE) September 25, 2005 Monkey helpers get first 'college' (Boston) June 16, 2004 Monkeys Assist Disabled (Boston) June 17, 2004 Support Legislation in Georgia: House Bill 695, the Disabled Assistants Act [Doug Holt (R-Social Circle) (Bio)] Text of Bill.