GWIL2014 Nonprofit Profile: Meet Helping Hands Dripping Springs

Week of Online Giving:
April 20-25, 2014

The 2014 Givin’ Where I’m Livin’ (GWIL) campaign provides support and publicity for local non-profit charitable organizations competing for GWIL matching funds during the campaign’s Week of Online Giving, April 20-25th. Around Dripping Springs is pleased to feature this series of GWIL non-profit profiles to help publicize their unique missions to the community. We invite you to get to know these wonderful organizers and learn more about the important work they are each doing to enrich our community. Please share their stories, and be sure to donate to your favorite during the Week of Online Giving! Learn more at: http://www.GivinWhereImLivin.org

NOW MEET HELPING HANDS DRIPPING SPRINGS WITH FOOD DRIVE COORDINATOR, CARRIE ISAAC:

WHEN, HOW, AND WHY WAS YOUR ORGANIZATION FOUNDED?

The origins of Helping Hands dates back to the late 70’s-early 80’s with a thrift store on Mercer, which was organized by a few churches in Dripping Springs. Helping Hands of Dripping Springs is an all-volunteer organization, created in the holiday season of 1986 as a result of the community becoming aware of a neighbor in need. In 1991 HH was registered as a 501-c3 non-profit.

Helping Hands now has a 12 person volunteer Board of Directors. We are presently located behind the Dripping Springs Christian Academy on Ranch Road 12 North. We have never had a big building, but the impact on our community has been significant and grows yearly. Our original mission has not changed over 27 years but the need has certainly grown.

WHAT IS YOUR MISSION?

The mission of Helping Hands is to provide the local community with a framework of compassionate care designed to assist neighbors in time of need, regardless of their age, creed, or ethnic origin.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THESE EFFORTS?

Helping Hands touches so many lives throughout the by giving food on a weekly basis, and through several special projects such as school supplies, summer supplemental bags, Thanksgiving dinner and Project Elf. It is very difficult to choose just one memorable thing that has changed a family’s life in the community. We see bright smiles and happy tears all year round. We get to see children’s faces light up during “Stuff the Bus” when they get to shop for school supplies. We get to see parents faces light up when we hand them an extra “summer supplement bag” during the summer months to help feed their children that extra meal each day during the summer. We get to see the excited families take home a whole turkey and fixings for Thanksgiving dinner. We also see a lot of bright smiles and happy tears during Project Elf. Project Elf is when we give families Christmas presents that the community has so graciously come together to provide.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS IN 2014?

Helping Hands is working toward a new program in 2014 called “Groceries To Go”. It is our goal to be able to deliver groceries to neighbors who are unable to shop at the pantry. We are currently looking for a Groceries to Go Coordinator to coordinate deliveries and schedule volunteers for delivery and volunteers to deliver groceries.

HOW CAN FOLKS DONATE OR VOLUNTEER YEAR-ROUND?

Shop from a list of needed items by going to the online food drive link on our website:

www.helpinghands-drippingsprings.org

Or, mail a check payable to “Helping Hands DS” to:

Helping Hands DS

P.O. Box 804

Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Anyone who would like to do a fundraiser, food drive or volunteer, can contact us by filling out a contact form on our website. Or reach us by phone at (512) 858-7219