Because we feel it is important that you know how and where your donations to Helping Hands are spent, here is what was done last week:
Electric 4 families $ 1,002.93
Rent 11 families $ 14,080.65
Transportation 1 family $ 1,568.15
Medical 1 family $ 2,582.87
Total: $ 19,234.60
A few years ago, we received a letter, and we felt it would bear repeating. The letter read:
My husband and I appreciate the way you all manage Helping Hands:
* How you update the community
* How you select recipients
* How you try to use every donated item or cash to maximize the benefits.
I hope we can be regular donors and volunteer time. Thanks for all you do.
What a great letter! This couple certainly had their fingers on the pulse of Helping Hands. We have always felt it key to let everyone know just exactly where our money goes. Since we survive solely on donations from the public, we feel obligated to let you know just how your money is being spent. Our books are wide open to anyone who cares to examine them. All our workers are volunteers. There are absolutely no paid salaries. Money to pay utilities, gas for the trucks, garbage disposal etc. are paid from proceeds from the thrift store, so you can be assured that ever penny that you donate to us goes to help those in need. And how blessed we are to be able to do so much each week for our neighbors in need. God bless you for making that happen!
We are careful in selecting recipients. When someone calls our helpline, we ask that they leave the last four digits of their social security number. Most of the benevolence agencies in Midland use Charity Tracker, a computer database that contains each person’s history on getting assistance. It becomes easy to weed out those people who are or who are trying to be, habitual abusers of the system. Granted there are some people who do require repeated assistance due to age, medical infirmities, or other reasons, but they are few. Each person that we meet with is counseled, if necessary, on how to change their living situations to prevent them from getting into that situation again. If someone tries to come back again and again and they have done nothing to better their situations, then we will decline them. The money is better spent assisting someone who is in a crisis over when they have no control.
We work poor. If a piece of office equipment breaks down, we look in our store to see if we have a similar item that has been donated to us. If necessary, we repair it. We try never to buy new.
How we would love to have this wonderful couple come and volunteer time with us! If anyone is interested in joining our family, all they need do is come on down! We are here Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Or you can call Mary at (432) 528-6265 anytime. Thanks, and God bless!
HELPING HANDS TRUCK AT ST. STEPHEN’S NEXT SATURDAY
Our trucks will be at St. Stephens on Saturday, May 1(and the first Saturday of every month) from 9 am until 1 pm in the parking lot across from the office, and at St. Ann’s on Saturday, May 15 (and the third Saturday of every month) from 9 am until 1 pm to accept donations for Helping Hands. Please bring your items to the Helping Hands truck on those days. The Knights will be happy to help accept them and will have tax receipts for those of you who wish them. People with large items (furniture) are asked to bring them directly to Helping Hands, 1301 Brinson Lane.
