Helping Hands

Calling all Volunteers! If you don't mind a little bit of work to help the elderly, you'll want to get involved with Helping Hands!

 You can help our elderly neighbors maintain the dignity and self esteem that is made possible by staying in their own homes which have been made safe, secure, and weatherproof. Help repair and restore the homes of low-income elderly homeowners Form a Helping Hands team (of 10 or more) for a one-day blitz onSaturday, October 13, 2012.

Typical repairs include:
Painting, caulking, weatherstipping, window screens, insulation, set a new toilet, and clean-up. Call Helping Hands office at 227-6753 for more information

San Angelo now has an additional resource to help provide services for low-income elderly homeowners in need of assistance.  Helping Hands, a newly created organization, will work in partnership with community volunteers to help restore homes of qualifying homeowners.    

Helping Hands is led by Program Manager Mary Herbert, along with a volunteer board of community representatives, who formally announced the start of the program today during a kick-off event at City Lumber.  The organization’s mission is to restore the homes of low-income elderly homeowners making them safe, secure and weatherproof by using volunteer labor and at no cost to the homeowner. 

Helping Hands is the re-creation of a previous project called Rebuilding Together, which was formerly known as Christmas in April.  Rebuilding Together San Angelo closed its doors in 2011, creating a gap in services for the repair and rehabilitation of the homes of low-income elderly in San Angelo.  Helping Hands is a new program that will fill that gap.  It will be under the 501(c)(3) of the Galilee Community Development Corporation. 

 “The program allows these homeowners to stay in their homes for a longer period of time”, said Herbert.  “It is a way to give back to those who have laid the foundation for where we are today.”

The program will hold its first blitz day on October 13, 2012, with the focus of weatherizing 25 homes.  Some of the repairs planned will include painting, caulking, attic insulation, weather stripping on doors and windows and other simple repairs.  Individuals interested in seeking assistance from the organization may apply by contacting Mary Herbert at 227-6753.  The organization plans an additional work day in April 2013.

Helping Hands has received funding from the City of San Angelo Community Development Block Grant and from the City of San Angelo Development Corporation (COSADC).  It also received a United Way Venture Grant.  Other sponsors are City Lumber and Wholesale, who will help with building supplies and Rust Street Ministries, who will provide warehouse space.

Volunteer teams are needed to assist with the work for each of the 25 homes.  Individuals interested in volunteering can contact the Helping Hands Office at (325)227-6753 to sign up.

“The volunteers are what helped make the previous programs so successful and able to serve so many homeowners in the past,” said Herbert.  “If you would like to help and do not have a team, we can connect you with a team.  Let’s all work together – San Angelo style – to help our elderly neighbors in need.”