Helping Hands Belton

Volunteer Featured in the Killeen Daily Herald

rpreston — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:26:44 +0000

Check out the wonderful story about Helping Hands Ministry’s volunteer, Mary Anderson, the Assistant Director of the Food Pantry.

Spring BREAKfast: Altrusa of Temple Partners with Helping Hands

rpreston — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:22:05 +0000

For the parents of so many children who receive free/reduced breakfasts each morning at schools across Belton, spring break isn’t much of a break. Lower income families who rely on the free breakfasts for their children have to make their dollars stretch even further during the school holidays in order to feed their children. Altrusa International of Temple is making spring break for these parents a little easier this year.

A $2,500 donation from Altrusa is being given to Helping Hands Ministry of Belton in order to provide breakfast for 700 needy children. Every parent will receive a Snack Sack for each elementary aged child or younger. Each Snack Sack will contain five days’ worth of breakfast items. Each day’s breakfast will have a package of oatmeal, apple sauce, raisins, and string cheese. “The idea is to provide a healthy breakfast for the children during Spring Break,” says Rucker Preston, Executive Director of Helping Hands Ministry in Belton. “We are extremely grateful for this partnership with Altrusa International of Temple. Without their assistance, this would not be possible.”

About a dozen volunteers from Altrusa International in Temple will fill 3,500 breakfast bags in order to assemble the 700 Snack Sacks.

Carpenter Foundation Gives Major Donation to Helping Hands Ministry

rpreston — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:27:34 +0000

Thanks to the ER Carpenter Foundation in Temple, the balance of the building loan of $400,000 for which Helping Hands Ministry is due to pay by May 1^st is $30,000 less. Helping Hands Ministry began a lease purchase agreement with Sonny Wooley Properties Management, L.C. in September of 2008 for their current building, located on 2210 Holland Road in Belton. The $400,000 loan was set to be paid by May 1^st, less than four years from the beginning date of the loan.

“It was a huge leap of faith when the board decided to trust God for this facility. Over time He has affirmed that decision”, said Mike Bergman, Senior Director of Helping Hands Ministry. “We have been paying down the balance of the building loan very aggressively during the last three years. Without the help of significant donations, like this one from the E.R. Carpenter foundation, we wouldn’t be as close as we are.”

In December of 2011, Helping Hands Ministry still owed $99,000 for the building. Tommy Stinson, Division Manager for E.R. Carpenter, gave the $30,000 check to Helping Hands Ministry in January, significantly reducing the amount still owed. Additional donations from the community have brought the indebtedness to 37,000 for the building loan.

“God has provided the funds for this building through the grant from the Carpenter Foundation and individual donations over the past three years. We can only believe that He will provide the last bit needed by May 1^st,” said Rucker Preston, Executive Director of Helping Hands Ministry.
Helping Hands Ministry assists approximately 3,400 individuals with groceries, clothing, household items, school supplies, rent and utility assistance as well as free education classes each month.

2012 Begins with New Opportunities

rpreston — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:53:27 +0000

The first education classes of 2012 began in January. The Family Finances class (taught by the Collegiate Financial Organization of the College of Business at UMHB) was presented first. On Monday the Child Safety (Crib, Car and Home) was taught by Safe Kids from Scott & White hospital. Both classes gave clients of Helping Hands many useful tools to use in life. The goal of these classes is to help those who attend to become more cognizant of the opportunities that they have to enhance their own lives and the lives of those in their family and neighborhoods. Hopefully, the clients will not only graduate from the free education classes offered by Helping Hands Ministry, but will graduate to a life of independence in which they no longer need to come to Helping Hands for groceries and rental assistance as they move out of a life of poverty.

Other classes include, Energy Efficiency in the Home, Nutritious Cooking, Healthy Life Decisions, Child Obesity Prevention, Becoming a Love & Logic Parent and Homework Help for Parents. All of the classes are taught by professionals from other organizations in the community who have partnered with Helping Hands Ministry. Classes are offered in both English and Spanish.

Fall Newsletter

rpreston — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:36:11 +0000

Click to read the Fall Newsletter; stay up with all the happenings at Helping Hands Ministry!

Eat at Casa Ole

rpreston — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:39:26 +0000

By eating at Casa Ole (Temple Mall) this Thursday, you will contribute to Helping Hands Ministry. 20% of every bill (accompanied by the attache flyer) will be given to purchase food at Helping Hands! REMEMBER TO PRINT THE FLYER AND PRESENT IT WITH YOUR BILL.

Fall Classes Begin!!!

rpreston — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:17:54 +0000

The first education class of the fall took place Thursday. Becoming a Love & Logic Parent, a class taught by STARRY Ministries, was the first parenting class available to the clients of Helping Hands Ministry. Clients stayed an hour after the class had concluded to further discuss parental issues with the class presenter. This class is a two-part class and will finish next week.

Additional classes to come during September and October are Healthy Cooking, Financial Literacy, Child passenger Safety, Life Nutrition, Energy Efficiency in the Home and Crib Safety. All classes are free to clients of Helping Hands Ministry. Each is presented by a professional from the field from which the curriculum stems. All of the education classes are taught with biblical principles in mind.

Wednesdays @ Bodega Bean

rpreston — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:06:25 +0000

Bodega Bean of Belton is giving 10% of its proceeds from Wednesdays to Helping Hands’ Project Apple Tree. Just go by and order whatever you would like during any Wednesday in July and August and 10% will go towards the purchasing of school supplies, clothes and shoes for children of Helping Hands Ministry. Learn more about Project Apple Tree.

FBC Belton VBS makes major contribution to Helping Hands

rpreston — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:53:57 +0000

The children gathered daily with the anticipation of finding out who would win the contribution competition. Kids across Belton attended Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Church Belton last week and brought the loose change from their pockets, car seats, couch cushions and the sidewalk. The boys were trying to bring more than the girls and the girls were doing likewise. In the end, the clients of Helping Hands were the winners. The children brought $3,050.28 in change! Half of those coins are designated to help purchase clothes, shoes and school supplies for Helping Hands’ Apple Tree ministry.

A big thank you is in order to all of the children who gave to help those in need! This, and every contribution, helps to share the Gospel of Jesus to those in our community by sharing His love and providing for the needy.

Reduce Your Use Granted

rpreston — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 04:30:57 +0000

On June 9th, First Choice Power presented Helping Hands Ministry with a check for $2,000. The “Reduce Your Use” funds were granted the with expectation that HHM would use the money to make energy efficient upgrades to the facility. The clothing ministry received a wonderful addition with a new Energy Star washer and dryer. Clothes given to the clients of Helping Hands will not only be clean but will have used less electricity during the process!