Helping Hands Tree Project exhibit at Belknap Mill through December

LACONIA — What began as a simple idea has grown into a community project, on exhibit in the Riverside Gallery during December at the Belknap Mill. The Holiday Helping Hands exhibit emphasizes a simple idea, kindness. 

The Helping Hands Tree Project features silhouette hands covered with promises of kindness from children, teens, adults and senior citizens, who will be spending the Christmas season helping others in their communities around the Lakes Region.

“Although much of the season is focused on raising money and providing gifts for those in need, this project focuses on the simplest of gifts we can provide to each other,” suggested Artist in Residence Larry Frates. Together with Tara Shore, operations and program manager, and Maggie Leary, administrative assistant of the Belknap Mill, they have collected over 3,000 helping hands and designed the 10 trees. Each tree is unique in size, shape and direction.

Belknap Mill staff members Matthew Tetreault and Ginny Welch helped construct the trees, each filled with assorted hands. Kind thoughts were generated from local schools including Woodland Heights, Elm Street, Pleasant Street, Holy Trinity, Laconia Middle and Laconia High, as well as from senior centers in Laconia, Belmont, Pittsfield, Suncook, Tilton, Alton, Horseshoe Pond Place, and the Trip Center. Hands also came from friends at community partners Navigating Recovery, Frates Dance Studio, and visitors to the Belknap Mill during the recent Yuletide Traditions event.

Stop by the Belknap Mill to add a hand to one of the trees, contributing to the exhibit highlighting individuals, families and organizations who believe in the gift of kindness.

To learn more about the Belknap Mill Society, visit www.belknapmill.org, or email operations@belknapmill.org.