Heart and Hand House programs offer help
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PHILIPPI -- Whether it's aiding in an emergency situation or helping local farmers sell their produce, Heart and Hand House Inc. of Barbour County always finds new ways to lend a hand.
Many of those needing help from Heart and Hand are in a crisis situation. Unexpected circumstances, whether it's job loss or a sick family member, can put a family with limited resources into a crisis. Heart and Hand's Emergency Service programs are designed to help families who find themselves without a safety net when unplanned events become more than they can handle. If a family has lost their home to a fire or other disaster, Heart and Hand can help with clothing, linens, dishes and other items through their thrift stores, Executive Director Brenda Hunt said.
Other emergencies may require help with an eye exam, medical supplies or prescriptions. Other times, Heart and Hand can help with a utility bill if the gas or electric is in danger of being shut off. The office serves as a catchall for many crisis situations. The staff work closely with Human Services and other agencies.
"We receive many referrals from the community and in turn try to link recipients with other resources when we cannot meet their needs," Hunt said.
The following items are especially needed for distribution to families who experience crisis situations, such as a house fire: New sheet sets, new towels, new dishcloths, new blankets, pots and pans, silverware, laundry detergent, soap and shampoo.
Heart and Hands food pantry provides meals for around 275 people per month. Food boxes typically contain a variety of canned food and dry goods such as soup, vegetables, fruit, beans and cereal, as well as meat and bread when available. Heart and Hand is a member of the Mountaineer Food Bank Network and is a designated center for commodities through the USDA food program. In addition the pantry is stocked through local food drives and donations from churches and individuals.
There is an ongoing need for food donations such as peanut butter, canned meat and canned fruit and vegetables. Financial contributions are also valued because of Heart and Hand's exceptional buying power through the Mountaineer Food Bank. Just mark monetary donations as "Nutrition," Hunt said.
"For our families, months of crisis tend to be the summer months and December. Therefore these months also require an increase in food donations," she said.
The Community Garden Market at The Market Place provides an opportunity for local gardeners and bakers to earn money by selling their produce and other specialty items. The market promotes the health and well-being of the community, not only from a nutritional standpoint, but economically and socially, Hunt said.
As a participant in the West Virginia Farmer's Market Nutrition Program, the market is a place where senior citizens and WIC recipients may purchase produce with coupons designed to encourage better nutritional choices. The market also now accepts SNAP benefits.
The Garden Market has grown steadily since it was started in 1992. A new facility built by volunteers from Christ United Methodist Church in 2003 improved the market dramatically and in 2013 the market moved to its current location, The Market Place at 107 South Main St.
The Market sold more than $66,000 in produce, meat, eggs, baked goods and plants during the 2015 season and had more than 130 local participating producers.
Home repairs are another large component of giving at Heart and Hand House. Each year more than 15 churches and college groups partner with Heart and Hand to improve housing in Barbour County for those who need it most, Hunt said. Volunteers help with bedroom additions, roof repair, insulation, wheelchair ramps and many other repairs, as well as the construction of one or two new homes.
Groups are housed in churches, camps and schools while they spend the week working with the home owner. Volunteer groups raise support locally to purchase materials and supplies for their work project.
Heart and Hand House also takes care of new mothers by providing layettes. A layette contains items needed to help new moms better care for their infants. The layette consists of all new items valued at about $125.00. Layettes include: blankets, sleepers, onesies, lotion, powder, shampoo, baby wash, diapers, bibs, sweater set, crib sheet, towel and wash cloth, and a children's Bible.
Christmas is a busy time of year for Heart and Hand House, Hunt said. For many it is a joyful season of celebration, but it can be a cause of great stress for those with limited resources, who must worry about feeding children home for break and making Christmas special on a limited budget, she said. To help during Christmas, Heart and Hand House distributes Christmas Baskets. The purpose of Heart and Hand's Christmas Basket ministry is to provide a family with necessary supplies to create a special Christmas dinner, along with personal and household necessities not covered by other programs, such as SNAP.
"It is our hope that these gifts can help to alleviate some of the financial stresses of the holiday season for our families. In addition to food and hygiene and cleaning products, we also gift each family with a Bible and devotional material to enjoy together," Hunt said.
To be eligible to receive a Christmas Basket, families must meet program income and residency guidelines. Pre-registrations for this program is held in October.
"In addition to the Christmas Baskets, we also provide gift bags containing new hats, gloves, coloring books, crayons, and a small stuffed toy to children in the local Head Start program during the Christmas season. We are also able to provide a limited number of toys and gift items to families in critical need," Hunt said.
Heart and Hand House operates two thrift stores, one in Belington and one in Philippi. Both offer numerous products to the community at low prices, while the proceeds go toward supporting the many programs offered by Heart and Hand House. Regular hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Belington Thrift Store is located at 206 Bridge St. and can be contacted at 304-823-2465. The Philippi Thrift Store is located at 38 S. Walnut St. and can be reached at 304-457-3816
The Backpack Program is another staple of Heart and Hand House's efforts. In a county where more than 18 percent of families live at or below poverty level, many children rely on free or reduced meals at school to meet their nutritional needs. And when school is not in season, these children may not get the nutrition they need. The Backpack Feeding Program was developed to help ensure that every child has access to nutritious food when school is out by providing a pack of child-friendly, healthy food to take home before school dismisses for the weekend or holiday break.
Each week volunteers pack plastic grocery bags with nutritious, non-perishable, "open-and-eat" items suitable for breakfasts, lunches and snacks and deliver them to school personnel who discretely place the bags in the children's backpacks during lunch or recess. Backpack items may include cereal, peanut butter or cheese crackers, granola bars, applesauce or fruit cups, snack mixes, juice boxes, fresh fruit and pudding cups.
"We currently serve approximately 65 students each week at Junior Elementary School and Volga-Century Elementary School. Several local churches and individuals have joined our efforts, providing financial support, food supplies and volunteer service," Hunt said.
None of these programs would be possible without the generosity and support of the Barbour County community. Through volunteerism and donations, hundreds reach out to help Heart and Hand House each year. Hunt expressed her gratitude toward the entire Barbour community for allowing Heart and Hand House to keep its doors open and its missions in progress throughout the year.
Heart and Hand House can be found on Facebook or at heartandhandhouse.org and also can be contacted by calling 304-457-1295