Giving Helping Hands to the community for 10 years

Helping Hands is celebrating its 10th anniversary today and has a couple of new projects to mark the occasion.

In addition to their current services, Helping Hands has launched a Sponsor a Family program to help residents combat rising food costs. They also plan to begin teaching locals how to garden and have started operating their pantry shelf, primarily consisting of dry goods.

Founded in 2013 by President Wendy Gutcher, Helping Hands has been serving the Sault Ste. Marie area for the past decade and relies solely on donations, some sales, and fundraising to continue providing its services, a news release says.

"Helping Hands was created to serve those in need in our community, and it's been an honor to be a part of that mission," said Gutcher. "I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished in the past 10 years. If we only help just one person a day, that's 365 members a year. We are committed to making sure that no one is being ignored as our services and clothing are available to everyone in the community."

Helping Hands is a non-profit organization and registered charity that collects, organizes, and offers gently used clothing and household items, as well as donated new, single-use, or non-transferable personal care items, to those in need within the community.

It has recently expanded its space to 5,000 square feet in response to the increasing demand for its services. Board Member John Korab expressed his pride in the organization's achievements, stating, "I am proud to be a part of an organization that has made a difference in the lives of so many people in our community, and I look forward to continuing to support Helping Hands as it grows and evolves in the years ahead."

Vice-President Elizabeth MacMillan emphasized the importance of community support in achieving its goals, saying, "We are grateful for the generosity of our donors, volunteers, and all new board members and we look forward to continuing to serve the community for many more years to come."

To celebrate the 10th anniversary and recent expansion, Helping Hands is inviting the public to an open house and BBQ at their new location on May 13, 2023, from 12-4 pm.

The event will take place at their newly expanded store at 346 Wellington Street West, where attendees can take a tour of the facility, have lunch, and meet volunteers and board members.

"We are excited to celebrate this milestone with our community," said Gutcher. "Our new location allows us to serve even more people in need, and we want to show the community what we have accomplished with their support."

For more information on Helping Hands and the upcoming open house and BBQ, please visit here or call 705-943-8363.