Monday morning update!

Happy Monday everyone!  It's been a couple of weeks since we've updated you on our status, so we thought we would check in!  We are still in really good shape to continue taking care of our Helping Hands kids on the weekends.  So many of you have made Helping Hands a priority in your lives and in your giving, and it's really helped us to be able to commit to these kids every weekend.  Such a blessing to know that even when we don't ask, you know what we need and you help us to provide.  Thanks so much and have a blessed week!

God continues to provide through our community

Hello all, and Happy Friday!  Thanks so much for continuing to check in!  It's hard to believe we are over half way through January-this year is flying by! We wanted to send out a quick update and let you know we are still in great shape as far as donations are concerned.  The kids in this program continue to be a priority for this community, and we are so thankful for the amazing and often unexpected contributions that we receive.  If you have  made Helping Hands a part of your weekly shopping and would like to donate, you can still drop off donations at Crystal City Elementary School, and rest assured they will be distributed in the next few weeks.  Every single item, and every single dollar, donated is used for children right here in Crystal City.  We are currently serving 32 children, and send home a total of 192 meals and 128 snacks every single weekend-all donated from members of this very gracious and giving community. God bless you all, and thanks so much for your continued support!

Hi everyone!
Thanks so much for all of the donations that came in last week.  We are in a great position to be able to take care of all of the kids through Christmas break and into January.  The support of this program continues to  amaze us.  As you all know, this program doesn't have a budget.  There is no guarantee or line-item expense that ensures it will continue.  This program thrives off of the generosity of each person who chooses to give week after week, month after month.  We've said it before, but it is worth repeating, that we live in an amazing and very blessed community.  Since we started Helping Hands a little over a year ago, we have always had exactly what we needed to provide for the children each weekend. As the number of children in the program grows, so does your support, and it's a beautiful thing! As  you enjoy Christmas with  your families and friends, please continue to pray for the families we serve and that God will continue to provide for them through our community.  Thank you and God bless you all!

This weekend and Christmas Break

Hello and happy Monday!  We wanted to send out a quick update for Helping Hands.  In just a couple of weeks, our kiddos are going to be out of school for Christmas break.  In addition to needing items for this weekend, we would like to be able to collect enough food to send home some extras next week for their extended break.  We need quite a few items in order to make that happen-our shelves are pretty bare!  Following is a list of things we are either low on or completely out of:

Ravioli
Beefaroni
Soup (packets or cans) 
Individual mac n cheese packets
Canned chicken/tuna
Spaghetti O's
Chili
Snacks (peanuts, popcorn, applesauce, cheese crackers are all good items to send home)
Oatmeal
Cereal/granola bars
Full size cereal (we need 32 boxes by next week for Christmas break)

If you would like to donate, please bring your items to Crystal City Elementary School any time during normal school hours.  Any items you contribute will go directly to children at Crystal City Elementary School.

We are so grateful that you have all embraced this program, and we really appreciate your continued generosity.  As you prepare for the upcoming Holidays, please continue to keep Helping Hands and the families we serve in your prayers.  Thank you and God bless you for all you do!

Needs through December

Hello everyone!

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
As promised, we're giving a quick update on needs for Helping Hands:
Immediate needs:
Peanut Butter-We need about 25 more jars to send home next week(we send one home each month)
Jelly-30 plastic squeezable for next week (we send one home each month)
25 sleeves of Ritz crackers for next week(we send one home each month)
Meals-Individual mac and cheese, tuna, beefaroni, ravioli, 
Oatmeal
Pop Tarts
Individual cereal boxes


For December (through Christmas break):
Meals-mac and cheese (individual servings), beefaroni, spaghetti -os, soup (cans or packets), canned chicken or tuna.  Any meals that are lightweight and can be easily prepared without additional ingredients are good!
Cereal-we need 28 full size boxes of cereal before Christmas break.
Lightweight snacks, such as microwave popcorn, peanuts, pretzels for Christmas break. 

Thanks so much for all you continue to do for Crystal City's kids!

Thanksgiving blessings

Hello and happy Friday!  We have received a few calls inquiring about the needs status for Thanksgiving weekend, so we thought we would provide a quick update. We had enough for the bags this weekend, and there is still enough left over to provide for next week's extended break.  In addition to the food they will receive from Helping Hands, you can rest assured that each family in the program will have what they need to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal with their loved ones at home.  We continue to be amazed and blessed with the generosity that the people of this community have. The compassion and willingness to give what they have to those in need is such a blessing, and truly something to be thankful for this Holiday season.

After the Thanksgiving break, we will post a list of the items we need to get us through Christmas break. All of your help is so greatly appreciated-thank you for helping us provide for these families each week!   God bless you!

Week of November 5

Hi!  Thanks for checking in!  A few weeks ago, we posted a request for A LOT of stuff.  Our shelves were nearly bare.  You were all so supportive, generous, and kind with your donations, and we have been able to take what we received and stretch it over several weeks!  We have enough for this weekend!  We are currently up to 31 kids in the program, and your generosity has ensured that we will be able to take care of these kids each weekend.  If Helping Hands has become a part of your weekly shopping routine, and you would like to drop donations off at the school, please feel free to do so!  We will continue to store them for future weeks.

Thanks and have a blessed week!