Helping Hands,

Thank you so much for allowing m the opportunity to volunteer with your amazing organization.  The staff is truly wonderful and it’s amazing the work and time that you all put into the service you provide.  It was great to work with you all and I look forward to volunteering again soon.  Thanks again!!!  Good luck with the new clinic, I know it will be a great success!

P.S.  Keep doing what you are doing because it is much needed and much appreciated!

Sincerely,

(Temple College Nursing Student)

My first experience working at Helping Hands was with my church during the month of September about three years ago.  My first job was breaking down shredded coconut into smaller bags for the annual Thanksgiving baskets given to our clients.  I enjoyed the experience and gradually started coming on a regular basis, usually working at the window filling the grocery bags with canned goods, fresh produce, meat and bread.  By then, I had become addicted to the job.  I enjoyed the camaraderie of the other volunteers and the feeling that I was helping someone in need.  Now I work at least two days a week in the office area working with the records of the clients and really miss the work when I’m unable to go.     — Joan Meharg

I first heard about the Helping Hands Ministry through a believer in my church.  I decided to help out by collecting plastic and paper bags as well as plastic bottles to donate.  After taking the needed bottles and bags to Helping Hands, I found that I could help by breaking down large volumes of food into smaller bags or containers so that the food could be passed out the our clients.  My family started volunteering with me on a regular basis and we try to volunteer weekly.  To my wife and I, the most amazing part of the ministry is that there are over twenty different church bodies represented by way of volunteers.  All of the volunteers work in harmony, spending time praying and laughing together each day the doors are open.  The spirit of the ministry isn’t led by any certain set of theological ideas or a certain denomination or any certain person, but rather it is led by the need to love the clients who need to feel and know the love of Jesus Christ.  Because of the common purpose is to share the love of God by meeting people’s needs, my family has grown more and more involved with Helping Hands each year.     — Anonymous

I have known about Helping Hands for a long time, as it was moved to the basement of our church after Ken and I moved to Belton.  At that time we were working and had young children.  After Ken retired in 1996, members of our church asked him to pick up the bread and pastries donated from H.E.B.  He would deliver the food to Helping Hands and then stay to help pass out the groceries to the clients while I was at work.  When I retired, Ken said that I needed to come help too.  I began volunteering in 1997.  At that time, we had about twenty clients per day.  I could make the sacks of groceries as they came in, check the clients in and help in the office.  I get to know the clients and I really enjoyed spending time helping.  After a while, we moved to location at Avenue D.  Just recently, we moved to the newest location on Holland Road.  We have more space for our clients, for the clothing department and for additional groceries that may come in.  Ken and I both look forward to the time that we spend at helping hands each week.  I enjoy helping the clients, meeting and working with the volunteers and doing all the jobs necessary to keep Helping Hands in operation for the clients of Belton.     — Cleta Baker

God has blessed my family in so many ways: good health, comfortable living conditions, friends, and time.  One way to pass on those blessings is to help others by volunteering at Helping Hands Ministry.  Even though I work behind the scenes, I know that by doing my job the organization is helped and runs more smoothly.  I have the satisfaction of knowing that I indirectly help those who come for food each week     — Bart Meharg