Helping Hearts & Hands

Helping Hearts & Hands was established in 2007 to provide food, referral information and support services for our Gooding County neighbors in need of a helping hand.  It is operated by community volunteers and is open five days a week.  Monthly food boxes given out are filled based on the number of people in the home and provide food for one week.  In 2013 we distributed 1382 boxes of food.  Our average boxes distributed monthly (at this time)  are up to 140, serving about 440 people each month.  At Christmas we distributed an additional 248 boxes of food to food insecure families in Gooding, Wendell, Hagerman and Bliss.  In addition to food, we give out infant items - i.e. diapers, formula, baby blankets, etc.  We provide limited emergency cash assistance for rent, utilities, gas, prescription medicines and other critical needs when funds are available.

Helping Hearts & Hands operates and funds a Food For Kids backpack program using referrals from Gooding School District and North Valley Academy.  Currently we are supplying over 70 children with weekend food they can easily prepare for themselves.  Each carefully prepared bag contains three dinners, three lunches, three breakfasts and six snacks. 

In 2013 we provided coats to 306 people.

Recently a man came in with a shut-off notice from his utility.  He had lost his job due to an injury and would be receiving SS Disability within a few months, but his need was immediate!!  He was going to lose power within a few days and there were children in the house.  Due to donor contributions we were able to help keep his power on.

In 2013, volunteers served 4,288.24 hours to keep this facility open and running.  THANK YOU TO ALL WHO SERVE AS VOLUNTEERS OR DONORS TO HELPING HEARTS & HANDS. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!!!!!!!!!!

 

Won't you help us help our neighbors?