Helping Hand of South Whidbey

Benefit Concert for Helping Hand June 9 at 6 p.m. at Trinity Church

Admin — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 22:50:58 +0000

The fabulous Sojourners are coming back to Whidbey to provide another benefit concert for Helping Hand at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland on Sunday, June 9 at 6 p.m..

If you love old time Gospel favorites, you’ll want to attend this concert. Why not bring friends and neighbors? A freewill offering will be taken during the intermission to help Helping Hand help others in our community.

And here’s a preview of the concert taken from last May’s performance:

Vote for Kelly’s video entry and help Helping Hand win $5,000!

Admin — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:39:44 +0000

Helping Hand volunteer Kelly Henriot did a stellar job in our video entry to win a $5,000 grant from Verity Credit Union’s: ‘Cartwheel for a Cause’.

We’ll remind you when and where to vote for the video (Feb. 26-March 11 at http://veritymom.com/2013-cartwheel-for-a-cause/).

Meanwhile, enjoy this one-minute video put together by Laura Canby.

Note: Kelly will also be one of the Women of Whidbey featured in the WOW! Stories event at WICA on March 9.

Trinity Youth Group and Parents Volunteer for Yardwork at Helping Hand

Admin — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 17:24:35 +0000

Where else would youth from Trinity Lutheran Church be on Labor Day? Why, laboring at Helping Hand of South Whidbey’s offices across from the Fairgrounds. They trimmed bushes, pulled weeds, added beauty bark, and did general cleanup of the grounds outside. Thank you TLC youth!

“101 Things to do on Whidbey Island” Benefits Helping Hand

Executive Director — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:27:47 +0000

Looking for new things to do on Whidbey? Do you have company and want to show them some of Whidbey’s hidden treasures? Stop by local bookstores and gift shops and purchase Deb Crager’s “101 Things To Do on Whidbey Island.”

Deb is graciously donating $1 per every book sold to Helping Hand. The books also make nice presents, hostess gifts, and Christmas gifts. This spiral bound book is chock full of beautiful color photos, maps, and information about Whidbey’s locations and events that will make you an expert the next time someone asks, “What’s there to do on Whidbey Island?”

For a complete list of places to buy the book and also to buy it online, visit: http://www.101thingsonwhidbey.com/

Visit and ‘like’ our new Facebook page

Admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 07:42:03 +0000

Helping Hand of South Whidbey now has its own Facebook page which will feature news, videos, links and information relevant to concerns of our clients, volunteers, donors and the South Whidbey community as it touches upon assistance for people facing financial emergencies, and in particular eviction and utility shut-offs. Please visit us at www.facebook.com/HelpingHandOfSouthWhidbey by clicking on the icon below, and then invite your friends to visit by sharing the link. Thank you.

Thanks to Trinity Youth Group for Yard Makeover

Admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:53:47 +0000

Thank you, teens and parents of Trinity Lutheran Church’s Youth Group, for trimming bushes and tree limbs, pulling weeds, and planting flowers at Helping Hand on Wednesday, July 20. Thanks to Youth Group Coordinator Jenny Staats, plus parents Ed Coleman and Kristi Etzell, and teens Brendan, Will and Marisa. We really appreciate your service! — Rosemary Martin, Executive Director

Helping Hand Announces Its “Warmth and Shelter” Fund Drive

Admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:52:19 +0000

Helping Hand of South Whidbey, a 30-year old nonprofit charity staffed by a coalition of South Whidbey Christian churches, is attempting to get ahead of the curve of proposed federal budget cuts by announcing a “Warmth & Shelter” Fund Drive for the winter of 2011-2012’s expected increase of South Whidbey clients seeking help with heat, utilities, rent and mortgage payments. The charity operated on a $70,000 budget in 2010, (with 89% of expended funds going directly to help clients), and is hoping to increase that amount to $100,000 in 2011 through increased community donations and foundation grants.

“We’ve just come out of a long, cold winter,” said Executive Director Rosemary Martin, “and if this next winter is anything like the last one, we have real concerns about people in our community who will be without means to heat their homes or even stay in their rentals.” She cited a family with four young children, whose father had lost his job last December, and who had all been sleeping in their clothes to stay warm for three weeks before finally seeking assistance at Helping Hand to fill up their propane tank.

What concerns Martin most is a proposed 5o percent reduction in the federal Low Income Heat And Energy Program (LIHEAP) which would mean a cut of approximately $250,000 to Island County residents. This money is disbursed through the Opportunity Council of Island County to which Helping Hand refers clients. When the Opportunity Council runs out of funds or a client does not meet their funding criteria, Helping Hand is often able to help with crisis funding of vital services.

Of the 869 individuals who called or came to Helping Hand’s Langley office, 41 percent involved emergency heating and utility bills and 42 percent involved overdue rent or mortgage payments. Households representing 353 adults and 222 children had emergency heating, utility, rent and mortgage bills paid directly to utility companies and landlords on their behalf.

Helping Hand is part South Whidbey’s HELP Network and refers clients to other area nonprofits such as Good Cheer Food Bank and Friends of Friends Medical Fund or services such as woodcutting ministries or CMA’s Soup Kitchen.

“We are fortunate that South Whidbey has various groups working together to help families and individuals in crisis. Most people who live on South Whidbey are not even aware of some of the dire situations our neighbors are facing,” said Martin. Though the charity has often helped young single mothers and elderly individuals who have run low on resources, last year’s statistics showed a surprising upturn in middle aged individuals, many of whom had lost jobs and exhausted their unemployment benefits.