Creative Discovery Museum will bring back "Helping Hands" for a second year starting Saturday, complete with oversize gingerbread people and a gumdrop mountain to teach children about worthwhile causes during the holiday season.

The exhibit returns by popular demand, according to museum officials. At each station, children learn the importance of giving, can add a new word to their vocabulary (philanthropy) and realize the personal significance of a charitable nature.

In one area of the exhibit, children can explore how Chattanooga and Chattanoogans have benefited from the generosity of its citizens.

"One of the goals of this area is to demonstrate the widespread impact that philanthropy can have on a community and that all people can help by helping others," according to a news release.

In another area, visitors can ride stationary bikes to help raise money for the Chattanooga Candlelighters Family Support Group. The bicycle is a nod to a former CDM teen volunteer, Samantha Gilley, who is blind and a cancer survivor. She completed a bike ride from Chattanooga to Memphis to raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The exhibit also gives children a chance to vote for a cause. Visitors will be presented with brief case statements from different causes, and then they will be asked to select the cause they would like to support. At the conclusion of the exhibit, which runs through Jan. 3, a donation will be made to a local organization that represents the top vote-getter.

HANDS-ON HELP

Various stations give children a chance to help others. These include making:

* Designing cards to send to military personnel in Afghanistan or Iraq.

* Making mason bee houses for use by the Tennessee River Gorge Trust.

* Making bookmarks that will be distributed through United Way of Greater Chattanooga's Project Ready for School.

* Ringing bells to learn about the Salvation Army's bell ringer and Angel Tree programs.

* Using building to learn about Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga.

SHARE THE WARMTH

In conjunction with the "Helping Hands" exhibit, Creative Discovery Museum has set up a Share the Warmth Tree in the lobby. Guests may donate warm clothes such as gloves, hats, scarves and blankets. Items will be donated to the Salvation Army to help keep children warm this winter.