04/23/2026
Next up, we are shining a light on two incredible members of the HandsOn family, Dan and Kim Owens.
Dan and Kim are near and dear to our hearts because they are a real life HandsOn love story! ❤️ They met in 2004 at HandsOn’s Read to Me project at UMOM New Day Centers. Kim shared their story in her own words:
“The program grew so quickly at UMOM that we needed a lot of volunteers—about 100 each week—so we set out to build a “village.” What started as simple email updates turned into dinners after sessions, then salsa nights, concerts, and holiday gatherings—just ways to bring people together.
Before long, there were really only two kinds of volunteers: friends and family… and those who would become both. Serving side by side created a special bond. Dan became one of our regular “core” volunteers, and somewhere along the way, our friendship turned into something more. He proposed at Read to Me in 2006—with flowers colored by the kids—and we were married the following June. We kept coming back, volunteering together each week.
A few years later, our world shifted when we learned our time with our daughter Zoey would be limited. We stepped away from everything—but the same village we helped build showed up for us in ways we’ll never forget.
After Zoey’s passing, we eventually found our way back to volunteering. Today, we serve as a family with our kids. Our annual event, Zoey’s Day, honors her life and celebrates that same village spirit. It’s our way of showing our children—and ourselves—the power of community, and what it means to be part of something bigger than just ourselves.”
HandsOn is honored to help plan Zoey’s Day each year. We sincerely thank Dan and Kim for embodying the spirit of service and instilling the value of volunteerism into the next generation. We appreciate you!🫶🏼
