Growth and Steadfastness Of Our Ministry Wth Helping Hands

2003

• Fed and clothed over 400 men, women and children on the streets of Tampa.

2004

• Hosted our 1st annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner in Ybor City located just east of Tampa Florida, where we fed 150 guests a good hot meal.

• During our 1st annual Christmas Dinner, we supplied over 100 lunch bags to the homeless and needy in the area.

• During the weekends, we met the needs of over 800 men, women, and children with clothing, shoes, socks, toiletries and other miscellaneous items.

2005

• Provided clothing, shoes, toiletries and other necessities to the homeless and needy.

• During our 2nd annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner held at the Brandon Community Center, in Brandon Florida, we fed over 150 men, women and children a festive and nurturing meal.

2006

• Fed and clothed 300 individuals during the weekday in the streets of Brandon.

• Our 3rd Annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner was at the Brandon Community Center with over 150 volunteers in attendance. We fed and clothed over 600 people with provisions of over 2000 articles of clothing.  In addition, we offered socks, toiletries, blankets, baby equipment, etc. We also provided live gospel and contemporary music, haircuts, and balloon animals and other entertainment for the children. Furthermore, over 100 bags of groceries were distributed to the homeless and needy families of the community.

• Our 1st Annual Christmas Cheer Program was initiated this year where we provided sponsors from the community the opportunity to come along-side a family in need and provide for basic needs of the family. We provided sponsors for 25 families, and it was a blessing not only to the families in need, but to the sponsors as well.  

• We co-hosted the Christmas Dinner with the River of Life Cluster of Methodist Churches of Brandon where we provided over 2000 pieces of clothing, toiletries, shoes, socks, and other needful items.

2007

• Fed and clothed over 600 less fortunate individuals during the year.

• We provided over 5,000 lbs. of canned and staple foods to the needy.

• Sponsored our 4th annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner at the Boys and Girls Club in Brandon Florida, where we fed over 900 guests and distributed over 3000 pieces of clothing, shoes, toiletries, blankets, socks, and much more.

• Nurses were on site to give free blood and glucose monitoring. The ministry also provided free hair-cuts and massages while supplying the children with a fun house, face painting, entertainment and arts and crafts.  

• We provided over 300 pairs of work boots to the homeless and needy men and women who work at a Day Labor. This donation was made possible by a local church that supports this ministry.

• We provided breads and pastries weekly to a Mental Health Center for the needy.

• Our 2nd Annual Christmas Cheer Program continued this year where we provided sponsors from the community the opportunity to come along-side a family in need and provide for some of the basic needs of the family.

• We provided sponsors for 20 families, and it was a blessing not only to the families in need, but to the sponsors as well.  We co-hosted the Christmas Dinner with the River of Life Cluster of Methodist Churches of Brandon where we provided over 2000 pieces of clothing, toiletries, shoes, socks, and other needful items.

2008 - 2009

  Fed and clothed over 1600 homeless and needy men, women and children during our monthly outreach activities held at local Labor Pool shops.

• We serviced over 900 referred homeless and needy families from other agencies, with clothing, foods, furnishings, small household appliances, etc.

• We provided temporary shelter for 15 single moms and family units.

• We supplied bus tickets for homeless participants relocating with family members in other cities/states.

• We offered prayers and consolation to grieving members of the homeless and needy population who were in desperate situations.

• We paid the electric bill for 10 single moms and paid the water bill for 2 families.

• During our 5th and 6th Annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner which included a seven-course meal for over 1500 guests, we provided over 6000 pieces of clothing, toiletries, socks, blankets, shoes, school supplies, etc.  In addition, we gave out approximately 400 bags of groceries to families and over 200 bags to the homeless including breads and pastries to take home. Nurses were on site to give free blood and glucose monitoring. The ministry also provided free hair-cuts and massages while supplying the children with a fun house, face painting, entertainment and arts and crafts.  

• During our 3rd and 4th Annual Christmas Cheer Program we provided sponsors from the community the opportunity to come along-side a family in need and provide for some of the basic needs of the family. We provided sponsors for 60 families, and it was a blessing not only to the families in need, but to the sponsors as well.

• We co-hosted the Christmas Dinner with the River of Life Cluster of Methodist Churches of Brandon where we provided toiletries, shoes, blankets, socks, clothing, and canned food items for over 250 bags to families, and 125 to the homeless.

• Initiated Day Break Ministry where a volunteer goes to an area Daily Pay Shop before 6 a.m. one day per week and gives out bag lunches to the women and men who are seeking work but have nothing to eat. We also teach work ethics for these individuals desiring to advance in the work force community.

• Trained over 650 volunteers to serve during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner event.

• We participated in a weekly bread & pastry day where we gave out bags of breads and pastries to the homeless and needy.  We also provided bread and pastries for various daycare centers throughout the area for the needy moms working in the facilities.

2010 -2011

     ➢    The Ministry is currently offering Volunteer Training Classes to area churches,

in an effort to help mobilize them in At risk Areas of Outreach in their Communities.

     ➢   We also offer resources such as clothing, food items, toiletries, etc. to ministries And organizations… so that there would be a smooth start-up with the initial Outreach activity.

• Four (4) churches signed up to reach out in their neighborhoods to help the hungry, needy and displaced, and the ministry supported their initial efforts with resources, food, toiletries, or household supplies.

2012- 2015

➢ With God’s help, the ministry secured a home for the ministry in July, after 7 years. We took 3 months to prepare and stock the entire building with provisions that had been donated to us.

• There are 11 rooms to service our clients; reception area, office, conference room, waiting room, infant and toddler clothing area, men/boys clothing area, pantry, prayer room, storage area, toiletry room, and women/girl’s clothing area. We are excited finally having a place for our clients to come and shop. We believe in offering our help in a pleasing and excellent manner.

• The Grand-opening was celebrated for a full week, starting Monday, November 12, and the Ribbon-cutting was hosted by the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, and with Pastor Wes Holland (Westminster Presbyterian Church) officiating with scripture and prayer.

• There were over 100 attendees to the Ribbon-cutting, while another 25 came during the week-long celebration.

• Brian Lamb, president of Fifth Third Bank – Tampa, FL presented the ministry with a wonderful donation, as well as other great donors who are too numerous to mention here.

• Peter Madson (golden corral) provided the ministry with finger foods, and other items.

• We served the homeless with clothing, bagged lunches, toiletries, and prayers daily.

• We served individuals and families with homes, in surrounding communities with bags of groceries – clothing, toiletries and other items, depending on the number of people in each family.

• During our tenure in the building, we served over three thousand men, women and children during daily services and other outreach activities. We developed a program in which we set up food classes to educate the clients how to prepare different meals with the foods items they were being given. We felt if was important for the clients to know how to prepare the foods they were being given in a variety of ways. We gave them a list of the items of food that were available to them, and they were allowed to select the foods that fit their culture. To us that was important because – if they chose the foods they preferred, it was a 99% chance the food would be consumed, instead being thrown away.

2016 – 2017

Severe medical problems in my family made it necessary for me to close our outreach ministry building in the community. It was a sad decision for us, but it was vital for us to do so at the time. We invited many non-profits to come in and select from the over 3,000 pieces of clothing, a full pantry of food items, and other furnishings and equipment for their ministry’s use. I set up office space in our home and continued helping our less fortunate on a limited base with food, medical expenses, rent, utilities, and some household items.

10 families were supported with Rent, or utility fees.

• 90 - 160 families were supplied with food, and other necessities, every 4 – 3 months.

• 200+ homeless and needy were given food items through 2 other organizations I work with.

• Paid 4 nights hotel stay for a family.

• Purchased groceries for a college student and paid for classroom books.

• Purchased a special walker for a stroke victim.

• Gave food and toiletries to a college student.

• Provided money for work transportation for single mom.

• Provided funds for hurricane preparations.

2018 -

• Assisted (2) college students with student parking permit for college.

• Contributed food, household items (monthly) for an Outreach Ministry which usually feeds approximately 150 homeless and needy individuals weekly.

• Assisted five (5) single parents with food, and utility/electric fees.

• Paid two (2) single moms electric fees.

• Assisted mom with balance of a car payment, so her car wouldn’t be repossessed.

• Provided emergency food to family of 4.

• Paid for college student out of pocket fees for dental services.

• Assisted homeless person with food items to travel to a rescue home out of state.

• Gave bags of groceries to a hungry family of (6).

• Assisted with bags of groceries to a church to feed the homeless.

• Provided an air mattress to a single mom for sleeping.

• Provided 2 months of hotel fees for a family of (7), 2 adults - 5 children who were evicted from their home.

• Paid final notice electric fee for a family of five (5).

• Paid a portion of dental expenses for two (2) college students.

• Provided monies to six (6) students entering college.

• School supplies were provided for five (5) Special Needs families.

• Provided a family of four (4) food and other necessities.

• Provided food and household donations for a single mom.

• Provided monies for gas for a grandmother to attend a job interview. 

• Provided groceries for a family of six (6).

• For the year of 2018, we help fed, clothe and supplied other miscellaneous items to 1000+ men, women, and children. To God we give the glory and praise. amen!

2019 & On-Going - We offer assistance with food, toiletries, and small miscellaneous household items. When funds are available, we offer assistance with rent, electricity, phone, and gas for transportation purposes. I will refer to other organizations, when necessary.