Margo Nielsen, Helping Hands Executive Director, welcomes Royse City council member Janet Nichol to Centsible, the new Helping Hands Thrift Store located at 117 Main St. Centsible offers select merchandise at bargain prices including antiques, home decor, furniture and clothing. Thrift Store revenue helps fund operations of Helping Hands, a non-profit critical assistance agency. "We are so excited about our new Royse City store," said Mrs. Nielsen, "and we appreciate the overwhelming welcome we've received from Royse City."



Karalyn Heyst, 2, enjoys a pony ride with the help of her dad Randall Heyst at the free carnival benefiting Rockwall County Helping Hands that was hosted by Floor N More, 1860 E. I-30. The day-long carnival drew a large crowd that enjoyed events such as a petting zoo, pony rides and face painting. Along with a cash donation to the non-profit critical assistance agency, there were donations of household goods. "Everyone at Floor N More worked very hard to ensure that the public had a great time at this terrific event," said Kay Dutta, events coordinator for Helping Hands, "We so appreciate their efforts, and we especially thank owner Moh Yasin for his support." For more information about Helping Hands, please call 972-771-HELP.

Boutique Treasures

Irma Reid, her sisters Margot Montemayor and Dr. Adela Alfaro and Adela's husband Jose T. Alfaro display jewelry the sisters design and make for the Helping Hands Rockwall Thrift Store.








Diane Jones of Bel Fiore Salon and Day Spa gets a big "Thank you" from Kay Dutta of Helping Hands for her generous door prize donation for the agency's recent Business after Hours.








Good friends, good food and opportunities to shop the Rockwall Thrift Store at Helping Hands and sign up for the new health card program for small businesses with the Health Center at Helping Hands topped the May Business after Hours event at the agency. Thanks go to the Rockwall County Chamber of Commerce for their support of the non-profit critical assistance agency. For more information about Helping Hands, please call 972-771-HELP.




Diane Jones(left), manager of Bel Fiore Salon and Spa in Rockwall, learns about the new health maintenance card for individuals and small businesses from Crystal Rooney of the Health Center at Helping Hands during the Rockwall chamber's recent Business Expo. Read more..







Christopher Ricket with Scout Crew 904 (Gray Owl District) helps deliver food to the Food Pantry at Helping Hands, a non-profit critical assistance agency that continues to have high demand from residents in need. The scouts collected 90,888 lbs of food, 6,000 pounds more than they collected in 2009. To make a financial donation or hold a food drive, please call Sherry Hamm at 972-771-HELP.





Heath Lofland, Aaron Moody and (in truck) Sam Warren, Peyton Young, Charlie Warren and Paul Forness (getting in truck) with Troop 989 (Gray Owl District) unload food for the Food Pantry at Helping Hands. Lincoln Warren and Cy Young are assistant scoutmasters. Helping Hands, a non-profit critical assistance agency, continues to have high demand from residents in need. To make a financial donation or hold a food drive, please call Sherry Hamm at 972-771-HELP.




Margo Nielsen (left), executive director of Helping Hands, receives a Royse City gift from Kari Hollifield, vice-president of the Royse City Chamber and the city's executive director of Main Street. Ms. Nielsen spoke to chamber members recently about the non-profit critical assistance agency's plans and needs for 2010. Tables at the chamber luncheon were decorated with merchandise from the Thrift Stores at Helping Hands by store manager Melody East. Please visit the Helping Hands' booth at the Aspasians fair in April to purchase one of the table decorations.


Vince Rinehart helps shoppers at the Thrift Stores of Helping Hands "trendy" booth at the Aspasian's Fair. The booth provided a peek at treasures found everyday at The Boutique in the Rockwall store. "Taking The Boutique to Aspasian's has given the Thrift Stores great exposure," said store manager Melody East. "Many individuals didn't know about Helping Hands or the store, and they were amazed at the quality of the merchandise." The Rockwall Thrift Store is located at 950 Williams St. and the Royse City Thrift Store is at 508C Interstate-30. Helping Hands is a non-profit critical assistance agency that has served the Rockwall community for more than 30 years.


Kids enjoy the fun and beautiful weather during the CROP Walk on April 11 at Myer's Park, an event organized by the Rockwall Area Ministerial Alliance. Church World Service to Haiti received 75 percent of the more than $4,500 raised by the event and its more than 150 walkers - and 25 percent went to Rockwall County Helping Hands, a non-profit critical assistance agency. Helping Hands thanks the Ministerial Alliance for its contribution. For more information about the agency, please call 972-771-HELP.

The Health Maintenance Plan has finally ARRIVED!

The Health Center has a new program: The Health Maintenance Card
A program to provide preventative care to the uninsured. This is great for the self employed, realtors, small business owners, and with Healthcare rates continuing to rise more and more cannot afford quality Healthcare.
The Health Maintenance Card includes: 4 office visits, annual exam for women, PSA exam for male, set of labs (CBC, lipid panel, CMP, HGB A1c, and UA) and A flu shot.
If you use all visits then it is just $45 for an office visit.
The cost...only $300 annually..as you know we can spend that in one visit sometimes! We are conveniently located in Rockwall off of Hwy 66.
I would love the opportunity to come share with you the card and all its benefits.Please contact: Crystal Rooney @ 972-772-8194

Helping Hands is on the move to collect donations!

The Helping Hands truck will be in the Caruth Lake subdivision on Saturday, May 1 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. to pickup your donations of clothing and household goods to the Thrifts Stores of Helping Hands. Please leave your donations on the curb in front of your home.
For large items, please call 972-771-HELP to arrange for pickup.
Non-perishable food items for the Food Pantry of Helping Hands will also be accepted. Proceeds from Thrift Store sales are used to help Rockwall residents in crisis.
Please call 972-771-HELP for information.

Helping Hands needs food donations to serve the community

The Food Pantry of Helping Hands needs donations to continue serving the growing number of residents turning to our non-profit agency for critical assistance.

Items needed for the Food Pantry include: flour, sugar, cooking oil, canned fruits, meats and Hamburger, Tuna and Chicken Helper, jelly, pasta and spaghetti sauce, and sandwich bread, eggs, mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard.

Utility items such as tooth paste and brushes, toilet tissue, laundry detergent, deodorant, shampoo and razors and diapers (sizes 3-4-5-6 and adults).

Food donations can be dropped off at 950 Williams Street, Suite A, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. To make a donation or to schedule a food drive, please call 972-771-HELP.

Rockwall Helping Hands Receives Donation from Rockwall Disc Golf Association

Sherry Hamm, Helping Hands Director of Assistance and Referral, accepts a check and the remainder of 665 pounds of food for the agency's Food Pantry from Daniel Luneau, Jeremy Standifer and Chris Kelley with the Rockwall Disc Golf Association. The group hosted the "Not so Sub-Zero Shootout" disc golf tournament held at Myers Park on Feb. 27. The event benefited Rockwall County Helping Hands, a non-profit critical assistance agency. "We are so appreciative that this group made Helping Hands a part of its event," said Mrs. Hamm. "It is groups such as this that help keep our food pantry shelves restocked at a time when the need is so great."

Health Center volunteers needed

If you are looking for a way to help your community, The Health Center of Helping Hands needs volunteers. Bilingual volunteers are needed and help is needed with answering telephones and filing. Read More


Jerrel Denton, director of business development for Dickey's Barbecue, presents a check to Marsha Chapman, manager of the Helping Hands Food Pantry. The amount of money raised by employees of the Rockwall Dickey's in December was matched by the restaurant's corporate office. Dickey's employees are planning another food drive in June to benefit Helping Hands.













Rian Flowers presents a check to Marsha Chapman, Helping Hands Food Pantry Manager, for $145. The money represents half of the amount the Flowers family saved by turning off the heat in their home for December. Rian"s brother Carson donated the other half to the Rockwall animal adoption shelter.











Helping Hands employees wish Nate Lasby a Happy Birthday on Nov. 25. Nate asked that his friends bring donations to Helping Hands to his birthday party instead of gifts for him.












Lydia King and Kylie Clark (above) and Caleigh Demien went door-to-door asking neighbors to pledge money or make a donation to their Fitness Fundraiser held Dec. 14 at Hartman Elementary. Their efforts raised $1,248 and two bags of toys for Helping Hands.

Eagle Scout good deed

Scout Nathan Baldwin and Marsha Chapman of Helping Hands unload food donated by Troop 1020. Nathan enlisted the help of his troop to build carts for the Thrift Store to process donated clothing and in collecting more than 400 canned goods for the Food Pantry. As an incentive, Nathan gave prizes to the three scouts that donated the most canned goods. "We appreciate the food Nathan collected for the pantry. His efforts came at a time when our food supply was low so the food he collected really helped us out," said Sherry Hamm, director of the agency's Assistance and Referral Program. For more information about the agency and how you can help, please call 972-771-HELP.

Thanks Volunteers

Bennie Daniels, Helping Hands Board of Directors President, congratulates Bob and Karen Clements on receiving the agency's Ethel Moss Award for their long-time support of Helping Hand and their fundraising efforts. Other recipients were: Richard Slaughter (Dr. David Lensch Award), a former board member honored for his distinguished service to the Health Center; Mildred Brown (Health Center Volunteer of the Year); Bonnie Cunningham and Emma Edwards (Thrift Store Volunteers of the Year); and Sandy Rice and Ed Frazier (Assistance and Referral Volunteers of the Year).









Dr. David Lensch, right, congratulates Richard Slaughter for being the recipient of the Dr. David Lensch Award at the annual Helping Hands Board of Directors Meeting in January. Mr. Slaughter was recognized for his service on the Helping Hands board and his work with the agency's Health Center. Other recipients were: Bob and Karen Clements (Ethel Moss Award) for their long-time support of Helping Hand and their fundraising efforts; Mildred Brown (Health Center Volunteer of the Year); Bonnie Cunningham and Emma Edwards (Thrift Store Volunteers of the Year); and Sandy Rice and Ed Frazier (Assistance and Referral Volunteers of the Year).

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