Inside an old church in the heart of Waynesburg, you’ll find Helping Hands Network, a pillar of hope with the community. From the outside, there is not much that sets this building apart from the others on the street. But from the inside, it’s clear to see why this place is so special.
“We’re a small community so we’re very much on a first name basis with the people that come in,” said Becky. “We often hear how grateful they are for our help.”
Helping Hands Network serves families in other ways, too. The second floor is lined wall-to-wall with clothing items available to the local community. But the organization and its staff offer much more than just clothing and food to people.
“When you’re in this kind of field, you provide more than just food — you provide a listening ear.”
The lower level of Helping Hands Network is lined wall-to-wall and stacked high with food. Formerly known as Sandy Valley Community Center, the pantry has been feeding residents of Sandy Valley and the surrounding area for 37 years.
“Our goal is to help people make ends meet by providing nourishing food so they can stay healthy,” explained Becky Larson, the organization’s director.
Serving as director for six years, Becky said the pantry offered support to more than 700 individuals, 200 families in 2019.
“We have folks who have gone through devasting illnesses and hardships. For me, it is very gratifying to uplift people and let them know we are thinking of them.”
Together, the Foodbank and Helping Hands Network are committed to providing nourishing food for families facing hunger. “If we were not a partner with the Foodbank, we would not be able to offer nearly the quantity or quality of food that we do,” Becky said.
Your contributions help families make ends meet while offering them hope at the very same time. Thank you for supporting your Foodbank and the dedicated food programs within our network!