The Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock Has Been Assisting Central Arkansas Residents For Over 50 Years

Founded in 1970, The Helping Hand of Greater Little Rock is one of the largest non-profit, interfaith agencies in continuous operation assisting people in crisis in Central Arkansas. Services available include a food pantry, a thrift shop, and limited financial assistance (rent, utilities, and medication) to individuals and families in Pulaski County, Arkansas. Operations at Helping Hand are funded through donations and grants.

Gayle Priddy, a retired nurse, is the Executive Director. She first started volunteering in December 2000 and has been with Helping Hand for over 23 years. Gayle graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She worked for 30 years mainly in Nursing Administration. Gayle was appointed to the Board of Directors in April 2006 and was later nominated and appointed Board Treasurer.

ASSISTANCE

To receive assistance from Helping Hand, individuals must meet the following requirements:

Provide a photo ID, which could be one of the following:
- State Identification / Driver’s License
- Federal Identification
- Consular Card
Households that earn less than $1,500 per month
Live in Pulaski County, Arkansas

FOOD PANTRY

Helping Hand is open four days a week and routinely assists 100 families a day, resulting in approximately 400 families each week. A typical week at Helping Hand will see more than 2,800 canned goods disbursed to those in need.

While food availability is dependent on donations and purchasing capacity, the grocery sacks prepared by volunteers typically include jars of peanut butter, canned vegetables and fruit, dry beans, rice, bread, and dessert. Through relationships with local grocery stores, Helping Hand is also able to provide fresh produce, meat, milk and other dairy products when possible.

THE KITCHEN CAPACITY

Currently, Helping Hand has six commercial freezers, three commercial refrigerators, and three residential freezers. The ideal kitchen layout would include a walk-in freezer and walk-in refrigerator, large commercial sinks, and a more efficient shelving system.

THE THRIFT SHOP

The thrift shop sells donated items in good condition at nominal prices, including:

Clothing and shoes for children, women, and men
Household and decorative items
Bedding and linens
Books
Toys

On occasion, the thrift shop will offer specials including a $5 bag sale and give aways of abundant items.

THE VOLUNTEERS

Photo Courtesy of Helping Hand

Helping Hand would not be able meet such a large demand for assistance without the efforts of a network of volunteers, community members, schools, churches, and businesses.

Daily volunteers staff the thrift store, conduct eligibility interviews, sort food donations, and prepare grocery sacks.

Churches and schools organize food drives and other fundraisers to benefit Helping Hand.
Individuals and businesses offer extra help during high volume donation periods like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

A network of local grocery stores provides surplus food donations.
Students from Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock routinely volunteer as part of the school’s community service curriculum.

Individuals also make regular monthly and annual contributions as well as name Helping Hand as a beneficiary of their estates.

SPECIFIC SITUATIONS

Helping Hand strives to meet the clients needs, including addressing specific situations and circumstances:

Free vouchers are available from the thrift shop that are redeemable for certain circumstances such as:
Appropriate clothes for a job interview
Work boots for outside employment
Assisting individuals and families that have experienced loss through fire or other natural disaster. They are eligible to receive clothing and household items from the thrift shop at no cost.

In partnership with Arkansas Children’s Hospital, grocery sacks are available in ACH clinics for families identified as food insecure.

The Thrift Shop is open to the public during the business hours of The Helping Hand.

Baskets of infant clothes along with bedding and diapers are regularly given to new moms

THE NEEDS

As with many non-profits working to help our neighbors most in need, Helping Hand also has needs that, if met, allow for more individuals and families to be served:

Donated wheeled suitcases, bags, and folding wagons help clients transport groceries home when they are riding the bus or walking.
Donated groceries keep the food pantry stocked and ready to help those who are food insecure.