Helping Hands is a ministry that has been operating for 40 years under the First English Lutheran Church. Last year, this food pantry helped approximately 12,500 people by providing about 35 tons of food.
It was a sad moment for many when First English Lutheran Church closed in November due to declining enrollment. “This was my church for over 20 years,” explained Carrie Hill Parker, Executive Director of Helping Hands. “We got married there, and our son was baptized there.”
When the church closed, the congregation decided to gift the property to the ministry in order to continue serving the community. Helping Hands has since expanded into the church building and aims to assist more people.
“With the rising price of groceries, we’ve got folks who are now able to make their rent, because we’re taking care of the groceries for them,” explained Carrie. “I think that we’re really making a difference.”
Helping Hands has recently evolved from being solely a feeding ministry into a comprehensive service hub by collaborating with organizations such as The Indian Family Health Clinic, Opportunities Incorporated, The Angel Room, and various other social service agencies in the community.
“We are now a ministry without a congregation,” Carrie stated. “If we’re going to continue, we’re going to need the support of the community. That’s both volunteering and financially. We need money to buy the groceries we purchase in bulk from the Montana Food Bank. We just go through so much food each week that no one could possibly buy what we could buy from them.”
If you require assistance from Helping Hands, their doors are open on Saturdays from 1 pm to 3 pm at 726 2nd Ave. N. If you wish to donate, you can send your contributions to PO box 1513, Great Falls, MT, 59403, or stop by and let them know you found them through The Great Falls Gazette.
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
