Page 47 - Discover Fall 2020
P. 47
Helping Hands
of Franklin County
By Kate Hofstetter
There is a blessing for beach lovers (Solutions That Empower People)
that goes so Helping Hands of Franklin building, Helping Hands offers
County is unique among most charities, emergency assistance to Franklin
in that they don’t have food, clothing, County residents who need help
or household items to give to those with paying a utility bill, rent, or a
in need. However, they do stop such mortgage payment. They also help
things as evictions, foreclosures, gas with such emergencies as car repairs,
and electric shut-offs, etc., by offering or replacement of needed appliances
emergency financial assistance. such as water heaters, furnaces or air
conditioners. In total, Helping Hands
They also advise clients on the
has distributed over two million dollars
proper places to go for the types help
during its 26-year lifetime.
that they need, including job hunting
and family counseling. Volunteers are Kay points out that the money
also trained to provide some financial is not given directly to their clients,
counseling. but is paid instead to the company or
landlord to whom the client is indebted.
“We are small but mighty,”
Additionally, Helping Hands requires
Executive Director Kay Saleeby likes to
its clients pay a portion of the bill
remind her all-volunteer staff. Certainly
themselves. Helping Hand’s volunteers
they have been a mighty help to the
interview each person applying for
more than 7,600 “un-duplicated” clients
assistance in order to determine the type
whom they have served since their
help that is needed, and then they reach
founding in November of 1994.
out to other nonprofits that are suited
“We do have a limit to how much to the individual client’s needs. For
financial assistance we give ,” Kay example, they have often worked with
explains. “We typically do not give more the Salvation Army, and also Franklin
than $150 or $200 to the same client County Faith Network, a network of
within an 18-month period.” She added area churches. Helping Hands also
that some guidelines have been relaxed a receives funds from the Town of Rocky
little, due to the Covid pandemic. Mount, Franklin County, various civic
clubs, as well as from certain state and
Headquartered at 200 Dent
federal grants.
Street in Rocky Mount in the STEP
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