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Welcome to Helping Hands Caring Hearts

To Learn More About Some of Our Past Events See Below...

December 2020 Food Drive

WE did it!!

1250 boxes of food out of First Presbyterian Church - Marengo in one-weeks’ time. We knew that three locations was going to be tough, but we did. We hit our goal!! Thank you to the Stone Soup - Marengo Social team, HELPING HANDS and CARING HEARTS, Girl Scouts of Marengo. 1250 boxes, weighing around 35 lbs each!! 43,000 plus total weight of boxes plus hams, turkeys and pork tenderloins and a bag of bread and chips and pastries were handed out.

Here is a quick story that really illustrates what a blessing you were for so many families…

There was a lady in a blue Chevy pickup truck. She was towards the end of the line. As she pulled up she pulled up she said, “Would it be possible if I can get a box of food for myself and my daughter-in-law? My son is in the hospital and I’m gonna take care of his wife and kids along with my family.” I said “Of course! We have everything you need!” Right after that, one of the pastors comes up to me as says “Mike look at that lady she’s crying. That’s is exactly why we do this. Isn’t this a blessing!” The pastor that told me that in addition to her son being in the hospital, she recently lost her husband as well. That nearly did me in and I could barely hold back my tears. Before she left I told her, “May peace be with you this holiday season and sorry about your husband and have faith your son will be fine and get out of the hospital soon”.

The pastor was right, sometimes I feel like we receive as much of a blessing as the people we serve. This lady had lost so much, but her only thought was to bring a little happiness to her family.

If you are reading this story and you are new to Helping Hands and Caring Hearts, we need your help. Unfortunately, there are so many others that need our help and we would love to get you involved. Make sure to join our Facebook Group so you can learn the many ways you can serve and please consider making a monthly donation to HHCH.

I want to personally thank all those sponsors and the teams of people that made this years toy and food and coat drive a huge success. Distribution days just 6 and 7 days away. We can’t wait to hand out the items we collected we are going to literally hopefully change life’s and bless at least 450 families if not more.

Thank you D & D Comfort, Inc. Heating and Air Conditioning. Niko's Redmill Tavern. Allying Force Port to Port Logistics. Schroeder Asphalt Services Inc. The Singleton Family McDonald's. First Presbyterian Church - Marengo and all the team at HELPING HANDS & CARING HEARTS for making this week possible.

We are going to make something that wasn’t even started till three weeks ago a reality. The hardest part is over now just go pick up ordered food and pack the boxes and spread some holiday cheer.

Thanksgiving 2020

Long day! 6700 lbs of turkey gone!

All the jackets (gone)except one bag. Around 100 boxes of dry food the Girl Scouts put together (gone) but memories made and I can’t wait to do this at Christmas this was amazing a few people in tears today yes one of the three I know of was me I lost it in Marengo. The other two were two ladies driving down the tree then being blessed with a 20 plus lb turkey, Everyone's thank you for your support we are for sure 100% doing this for Christmas and going to bless even more families.

I am already asking for support and planning it started immediately. We will change a few things and try to pick great locations We now know a few do’s and don’ts now but thank you to all that made this day possible. My 8yr old Ryan said it best on the way home “this was the best day ever” donated 9 of the last 10 turkeys to the Elgin crisis center the last turkey was left on a doorstep for a family who has a son in a wheelchair. We were given exactly what we needed even for awhile it didn’t look that way.