saving lives~giving hope~preserving dignity
Many Thanks
to Orange & Rockland Utilities
Trish Austin (O&R), Chris Hughes, Jean-Max Naissant, Ruth Wainwright, Kathy Lathrop
Recently, we received a call from Trish Austin, Public Affairs Manager of O&R, notifying us that as part of their community outreach, Helping Hands was the recipient of a cash donation of $500. As part of this award, we arranged a site visit to our Outreach Center. Trish and her colleague Linda Feger were so impressed by the work we are doing to lift our neighbors out of homelessness that the following week their Community Investment Committee approved our grant application for an additional $4,000. Orange & Rockland joins a distinguished list of corporate donors, including Chestnut Ridge Transportation, Seaside Park Travel, Nice-Pak, A&T Healthcare, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Becton Dickinson, the Mackenzie Group, Celtic Sheetmetal, Pfizer, and Avon.
“Why support Helping Hands?”
Spring Appeal!
Because we are the only organization in Rockland County whose sole mission is to help the homeless! But a few numbers may give even a better answer to this question:
150 X 25 = 3,750
On 150 nights, from November to April, an average of twenty-five people, neighbors of ours, come to us for Safe Haven—a hot, home-cooked meal and shelter from the elements. This means 3,750 nights on which someone has not slept on the streets!
50 X 52 = 2,600
At least fifty homeless Rocklanders come to our Outreach Center in Spring Valley every week of the year for free showers, clothing, hygiene items, mental health counseling and expert case management.
10,000
Each year volunteers in dozens of communities of faith all over the county donate over ten thousand hours to helping our homeless neighbors through Helping Hands programs.
1 + ¼
One full-time employee and one part-time case worker coordinate this vast volunteer effort.
86%
We need you! Eighty-six percent of our income is donated by individuals, houses of worship, foundations, service clubs and local businesses. Only fourteen percent of our funding comes from government. (As a Rockland County contract agency, we receive a grant that is cut every year by our fiscally stressed local government.)
Please consider a generous donation to Helping Hands and join this growing effort to end homelessness in Rockland County—one person at a time. Use our donation button at the top of the page, or send your donation to:
Helping Hands, PO Box 240, Nyack, NY 10960
A Former Guest’s Story
Recently, a formerly homeless couple described their lives on the street before they found Helping Hands. In their desperate search for shelter they slept anywhere, for a time even slipping into a heating duct at night to escape the cold of winter. The Safe Haven gave them the courage to turn their lives around.
Read Gail’s letter–”How to save lives”–below.
New Service: Counseling at the Outreach Office
If you are depressed or worried and need to talk with a counselor
Call Jean-Max at 845-709-2415 for information
Free services for the homeless:
Showers, laundry, clothing and toiletries–all free of charge.
Jean-Max is available to help you. Se habla español.
Donations of clean, gently used and seasonally appropriate clothing welcome.
The Helping Hands Outreach Center is located in the United Church of Spring Valley
11 E. Church St. (upstairs from the Breakfast Program)
We have new hours:
Mondays 7:00 – 11:00 Am
Tuesdays: by arrangement only
Wednesdays: 9:00 – 12:00 Noon
Thursdays: by arrangement only
Fridays: 7:00 – 11:00 AM
A fond farewell to Chris Murray, who
retired as Executive Director of Helping Hands
after seven years of pioneering service.
“May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”
Read the article:
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011112120320
