NORWICH — Helping Hands will be hosting their free June giveaway at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 19 in front of the Norwich Family YMCA, located at 68-70 North Broad Street in Norwich.

Helping Hands is a Norwich-based nonprofit that aims to support the community through free monthly giveaways of food, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and pet food.

Each month, volunteers set up stations in front of the YMCA, where individuals can walk or drive through and pick up pre-bagged items free of charge and no questions asked.

"There’s no criteria, you don’t have to fill out a form, you don’t need to you know fall in a certain bracket. It’s anybody that’s in need," explained Helping Hands Founder Lorri Race. "I always tell all my volunteers, it’s our one day 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."

Helping Hands receives support from a variety of community organizations and businesses through donations and volunteers helping out with shopping, set up, and running the giveaway nights. In the past, Helping Hands has received assistance from City Church, M&T Bank, NYCM Insurance, the Northeast American Dairy Association, cvFree Church, Chobani, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, the Broad Street United Methodist Church, Valley Ridge Center for Intensive Treatment, Kerry Bio Science, Perkins School of the Arts, Achieve, Preferred Mutual, and many more.

"If it wasn’t for our supporters and volunteers, it wouldn’t be possible to do what we do," said Race. "I would like to give a very big thanks to everyone that supports us in one way or another."
Those who would like to support Helping Hands can do so by purchasing items for the giveaway nights through the Amazon Wish List link pinned to the top of the Helping Hands Norwich Facebook page.

Additionally, used sneakers and cleats can be dropped off in the Go Sneakers donation bin in the lobby of the Norwich Family YMCA. Shoes in good condition are given to individuals in need, while the rest are recycled. Helping Hands will receive a small amount of money for each pair of recycled shoes.

Empty bottles and cans can be returned at SOPO Redemption Center, located at 6653 NY-12 in Norwich, with the proceeds donated to Helping Hands. Simply let an employee know the funds from returned bottles and cans are to benefit the organization.

Helping Hands giveaway nights are always held at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at the Norwich Family YMCA, rain or shine.

Helping Hands giveaway nights for 2025 are as follows:

Thursday, July 17

Thursday, August 21

Thursday, September 18

Thursday, October 16

Thursday, November 20

Thursday, December 18

For more information on Helping Hands, visit the Helping Hands Norwich Facebook page.