Don's Helping Hands

Our Don's Helping Hands ministry's mission is to perform corporal works of mercy in our community by primarily feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty, and secondarily to clothe the naked.

We serve a bagged lunch to those less fortunate in our community weekdays out of the rectory's Red Door Room from 9:30-10:30 am and we rely on the help of volunteers to provide supplies, make sandwiches, assemble the lunches and serve them.

For more information about Don's Helping Hands, please contact Jen Magyar-Marlowe at [email protected].

Who was Don, you ask? Watch this video:

There are many opportunities to serve this ministry:

At Home - Assemble 20-30 Sandwiches

Volunteers shop and donate the materials for sandwiches (we currently serve about 25 people daily) and prepare them at home for our guests, then drop them off at the Parish Office on your designated day. Sandwiches are 2 slices of white or soft wheat bread, 1 slice of lunchmeat (usu. turkey) and 1 slice of cheese (usu. American) in a ziploc bag (no condiments). We trust you will take safety precautions as you make the sandwiches at home.

Onsite - Volunteer to Serve our Guests

We need two volunteers each day to hand out lunches from the Red Door Room at the rectory. Children under the age of 18 must have an adult present with them. Please arrive at 9:15am to set up, then begin to serve at 9:30am for one hour. You can view or download our current Don's Helping Hands Server Protocols by clicking the file below:

Protocols for DHH Servers

IMPORTANT! If you are a NEW volunteer (or haven't served in a while and would like a refresher) please sign up to request a training session before signing up for volunteer shifts.

Donate Supplies

Clothing & Toiletries

We gratefully accept the following items for distribution to our guests year-round:

- Trial sized toiletries (toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, shampoo, hand sanitizer, etc)
- Men's white t-shirts (size L or XL)
- Thick, white men's socks

In the colder months, our guests also appreciate:

- Gloves
- Winter Hats
- Hand and Foot Warmers
- Sweatshirt Hoodies or Jackets (men's size L or XL)
- Small Lap Blankets

Please...no other clothing or items are accepted. We cannot accept used clothing, shoes or appliances - please drop off these donations at The Salvation Army (on Clybourn south of Ashland) instead.

Food Items

- Coffee (ground, not whole bean)
- Cans of Pop
- Bottled Water
- Maruchan Instant Ramen Soup Cups - the ones in the styrofoam cups, not the packages without a cup because we cannot prepare those without disposable bowls
- Individually packaged snacks (cookies, chips, chocolate, etc)
- Fresh Fruit - "soft" varieties preferred like bananas and clementines

Because many of our guests suffer from dental issues, they cannot enjoy "hard" items (bagels, french bread, hard candy etc.) and these items usually go to waste, please find another use for them.

Serving Supplies

- Brown paper lunch bags
- Plastic forks
- Disposable coffee cups with lids
- Stir sticks
- Coffee creamer and sugar/sweetener packets
- Individual sized condiment packets

Donate Financially

These funds will go directly to our Hands of Mercy Outreach Ministries which supports Don's Helping Hands (to which Don contributed so much of his time). Our shoppers will use this to purchase whatever supplies are needed most.

Shop For Us

We could use help purchasing and picking up some supplies on occasion. Contact our Don's Helping Hands coordinator for details or sign up below. Multiple purchasers can help us to replenish much needed supplies that are quantity restricted. Strong arms are helpful to purchase and deliver bottled water. Have time to search the internet for deals or best pricing - or reach out to organizations for potential discounts? Have a large vehicle (that can make big purchases easier to deliver)? Many hands make light work!

We are entitled to tax exemption when making any purchases, so please don't forget to present our Tax Exemption Certificate (available from the Parish Office or our DHH coordinator) at the point of purchase. Once you have delivered purchased items to the rectory, don't forget to turn in your receipt along with a reimbursement request form (available from the Parish Office).