Nearly 200 people show up for free donations at Helping Hands event at YMCA
(Photo by Zachary Meseck)
NORWICH – According to Helping Hands representatives, nearly 200 people attended Thursday’s donation night, with a line of people in need wrapping around the Norwich YMCA towards the Howard Johnson building.
The event was an hour long, with volunteers providing free goods including fresh food, hygiene items, and clothing in the Norwich YMCA Community Room.
Helping Hands is an organization dedicated towards relieving hunger, improving the health and quality of life towards people in need. 30 volunteers attended Norwich’s Helping Hands on Thursday night, and provided goods such as toothbrushes, soap, socks, yogurt, and soup to anyone who said they were in need.
According to Norwich Helping Hands Director Lori Race, the need was so great Thursday night that volunteers ran out of food during the event, but thanks to the dedicated efforts of specific volunteers, more food was able to be donated.
Race said the goal of the night was to help people and it was a success. She added that it was an emotional night for volunteers, as a line of people numbering nearly 200 started to form outside in the cold, hours before the event began.
“When I saw everyone all the way out the door and all the way around the corner of the building, that brought tears to my eyes - it was overwhelming,” said Race. “Then to look inside and see my volunteers with a smile on their faces, greeting people and handing things out, it was – I can’t even describe it.”
She said the people who received items as part of the event were incredibly grateful and polite, with humbling stories.
“Throughout the night I had a mom come to me and say ‘Thank you, because tomorrow my daughter can have a snack in school like the other kids,’” Race said. “I started this after recognizing that we have people in our community with no homes and no food.”
“I had an idea to make a difference, but this has already moved way beyond me – we’re going to make an impact on this community.”
Norwich YMCA Executive Director Jamey Mullen helped coordinated the event that took place at the Norwich YMCA saying, “I am overwhelmed with what I witnessed tonight – the generosity of few supporting the many.”
“This is a community that cares for everyone, and I mean everyone,” said Mullen. “200 community members in need were supported by 30 volunteers.”
“Truly a real mission moment took place by strangers for strangers and I felt the emotion and the thankfulness.”
A man who said he was a homeless army veteran received donations at the event, and thanked Helping Hands volunteers for helping the community.
“I wanted to make sure everyone knew that this means something to us, and that we really appreciate it,” said the man. “I was at the back of the line, and I didn’t think I was going to be able to get any food by the time I made it in.”
“I was amazed when people left to get more, I can’t tell you how much that means.”
Race said on Thursday night an amazing group of people receiving, donating, and coming together in an incredibly passionate way. She added that the event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Norwich Family YMCA, and all of the organizations who donated to make it happen.
“I think a lot of people were surprised that nearly 200 people waiting outside in the freezing cold,” said Race. “Moving forward we’re reflecting what was right, what went wrong, and what we can do differently.”
“What I can say that is to see volunteers with tears in their eyes – I know that it made an impact - we’re on the right track in Norwich.”
The event was an hour long, with volunteers providing free goods including fresh food, hygiene items, and clothing in the Norwich YMCA Community Room.
Helping Hands is an organization dedicated towards relieving hunger, improving the health and quality of life towards people in need. 30 volunteers attended Norwich’s Helping Hands on Thursday night, and provided goods such as toothbrushes, soap, socks, yogurt, and soup to anyone who said they were in need.
According to Norwich Helping Hands Director Lori Race, the need was so great Thursday night that volunteers ran out of food during the event, but thanks to the dedicated efforts of specific volunteers, more food was able to be donated.
Race said the goal of the night was to help people and it was a success. She added that it was an emotional night for volunteers, as a line of people numbering nearly 200 started to form outside in the cold, hours before the event began.
“When I saw everyone all the way out the door and all the way around the corner of the building, that brought tears to my eyes - it was overwhelming,” said Race. “Then to look inside and see my volunteers with a smile on their faces, greeting people and handing things out, it was – I can’t even describe it.”
She said the people who received items as part of the event were incredibly grateful and polite, with humbling stories.
“Throughout the night I had a mom come to me and say ‘Thank you, because tomorrow my daughter can have a snack in school like the other kids,’” Race said. “I started this after recognizing that we have people in our community with no homes and no food.”
“I had an idea to make a difference, but this has already moved way beyond me – we’re going to make an impact on this community.”
Norwich YMCA Executive Director Jamey Mullen helped coordinated the event that took place at the Norwich YMCA saying, “I am overwhelmed with what I witnessed tonight – the generosity of few supporting the many.”
“This is a community that cares for everyone, and I mean everyone,” said Mullen. “200 community members in need were supported by 30 volunteers.”
“Truly a real mission moment took place by strangers for strangers and I felt the emotion and the thankfulness.”
A man who said he was a homeless army veteran received donations at the event, and thanked Helping Hands volunteers for helping the community.
“I wanted to make sure everyone knew that this means something to us, and that we really appreciate it,” said the man. “I was at the back of the line, and I didn’t think I was going to be able to get any food by the time I made it in.”
“I was amazed when people left to get more, I can’t tell you how much that means.”
Race said on Thursday night an amazing group of people receiving, donating, and coming together in an incredibly passionate way. She added that the event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Norwich Family YMCA, and all of the organizations who donated to make it happen.
“I think a lot of people were surprised that nearly 200 people waiting outside in the freezing cold,” said Race. “Moving forward we’re reflecting what was right, what went wrong, and what we can do differently.”
“What I can say that is to see volunteers with tears in their eyes – I know that it made an impact - we’re on the right track in Norwich.”
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