NORWICH — Local volunteer group Helping Hands has planned a full year of giveaway nights to continue their mission of helping the community.

"[We're] providing for the community as a whole, anyone that's in need," said Helping Hands Founder Lorri Race. "There's no criteria, you don't have to fill out a form, you don't need to fall in a certain bracket. It's anybody that's in need."

Giveaway nights always take place on the third Thursday of every month, at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Norwich Family YMCA. The next giveaway is scheduled for tonight, Thursday, January 20.

"Third Thursday at the YMCA, we don't ever change that. 6:30 [p.m.]," said Race. "The only time that we've closed is COVID, because we were forced to close. Otherwise, we like to keep the same time, same date, so you don't ever have to take a guess."

Volunteers will be set up at stations along the YMCA front driveway, and area residents can either drive or walk through to collect items such as food, hygiene items, and cleaning supplies, all provided through community donations.

"Thanks to the community that provides donations we are able to give food items such as macaroni, pasta, we always do breads, we do milk, we do eggs," said Race. "We do hygiene items, so things like shampoos, deodorants, chapsticks. And then we do cleaning items, so we will have bleach, which is really important during this time, hand sanitizer, dish soap, bar soap, laundry pods."

Race said items at each station will be packaged separately, and each individual or vehicle is welcome to take one bag per station. Volunteers will load them into the cars, and assist individuals that came on foot in any way they can.

In addition to the Norwich Family YMCA, Helping Hands also works with the Chenango United Way to ensure donations and giveaways are all accounted for. Race said an informal committee at United Way also provides feedback and advice to make the program even better.

"When I first came up with the idea, I went to them just because I know that they're a huge benefit to our community, and that they're involved in all sorts of areas and agencies. So I went to them as kind of advice, and they were just absolutely phenomenal, and kind of took me under their wing," she said. "I tell them what our success was for the month, how many numbers, how much did we give out, how much did we collect in for donations. And then it's a sounding board, they give me advice back. It's just another checks and balances."

Since the agency's inception in January of 2020, several other individuals, organizations, businesses, churches, and schools also contribute to Helping Hands, through donations of items, monetary donations, and volunteering. According to Race, the list of contributors is too many to name.

"It's just amazing how within two years, the community has just stepped up. And that is just exactly what I was hoping for. It's amazing, behind the scenes what so many agencies and businesses put into this," said Race. "The volunteers are fantastic. Like, this is not a Lorri Race operation, this is about volunteers and the community."

Those looking to volunteer can reach out to the organization through the Helping Hands Facebook page. Volunteering options include Friday shopping, Monday packaging of donations, and the Thursday giveaway nights. Due to COVID, volunteering has been limited to ensure the safety of all participants, and Helping Hands keeps a waiting list for those who have signed up.

For those looking to donate, Race emphasized that the organization is always accepting pantry items, but that they are always in need of more hygiene and cleaning supplies.

"Always we're looking for the hygiene [items]. Shampoos, conditioners, bar soap, deodorants, shavers. Those are really the main, popular things," she said. "We're always looking for bleach, disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizers, those kind of things ... Women's feminine products, because they're so costly, that's a huge help for donations. Toothbrush, toothpaste. You know, those are things we take for granted. Those are huge."

There are three ways to donate to Helping Hands: the Helping Hands Amazon wish list, the Chenango United Way website, and the Norwich Family YMCA collection days.

"We have an Amazon wish list that's on our Facebook page. It's very easy, especially during COVID, to get on and it's automatically sent to the address, either United Way or the YMCA," said Race. "It goes right to us, which is great."

"We have the United Way website. You can make a monetary donation on there, there's a little box that you just check for Helping Hands, and it goes directly into our account," she continued. "The second Friday of every month we shop at the Dollar Tree. So any monetary donations that have come in through the United Way, we take that and we go shop."

She added that Helping Hands will post a list of things they need as a distribution day approaches, and items on that list can be purchased and dropped off at the YMCA. Donations can be dropped off any time, or on collection days the third Monday of each month, from 4 to 6 p.m. Donations can be left with the YMCA front desk, who will store them for Helping Hands.

"I want to say kudos to the Y," said Race. "Jamey Mullen, him specifically, leaving that racquetball court open for us for storage, and allowing us to have people drive through every third Thursday. He just really supports the mission, and it's phenomenal."

All in all, volunteers and visitors at the giveaway nights can expect a welcoming atmosphere of community togetherness and hospitality.

"This is about the community, and the community has rallied around the community. That's the best that we can hope for, and just a great thing to see happening and unfolding," said Race. "We don’t judge. It’s not for us. We’re not the ones who are going to decide who gets what or any of that. We don’t judge by your car, whether you walk, what you look like ... We're your friend, we're happy to see you."