{Helping Hands}

It was Helping Hands Day day down our way on the weekend.

This year I've been involved in the organizing of our service projects.


We participated in Red Cross Training {so we can be ready to serve in a crisis or become volunteers}

and we packed 2500 hygiene kits
for Rosies on the Street, a domestic violence shelter, 139 club and The Red Cross.

Sams Warehouse kindly gave us a discount in our purchaseing of so many items. The emails have been flying back and forth for months with our orders, changes, budgets, where to find so many of the items. Most of which was done by the Public Affairs director and not me! It's definately a long process!

A long process to have so many 'helping hands' available on the day that the kits were all packed in just over an hour! Some very capable people I work with had the room set up for production line and we whipped those kits together in no time. Each Kit was packaged in a large zip lock bag and contained - a face washer, hand towel, toothbrush, toothpaste ,soaps, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, mints.

The children and youth ran around replenishing stock on each table. We had babies to the elderly all working together. The spirit in the room was wonderful. Everyone was happy, everyone was helping. Everyone asking what do we do, put us to work.

I was able to talk to a few representatives from the charities receiving the kits and they expressed their thanks and said that the kits are truly appreciated. From people ripping open their kit the minute they receive it to spray deodorant all over themselves, to a mother and children forced to flee their homes running on adrenalin and when they see that hygiene kit laying on a hotel bed they break down for the first time. That someone had thought of them in their hour of need - its something they distinctly remember.

Service without any reward is good.

But knowing a few back stories on how much these kits mean to people also helps.

Its nice to know they will be appreciated.


Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this Helping Hands Day Happen!!