Helping Hands
Family Ministry
The Helping Hands Family Ministry (HHFM) was organized in April 1997, one year after a 37-year old mother of three children from Westerly, RI, survived the devastating medical diagnosis, and subsequent treatment, for Hodgkin’s Disease. The crisis began in January 1996 and continued for five months, during which time she had to undergo surgery to remove her spleen and eight weeks of daily radiation treatments, not to mention the countless check-ups, blood work and CT Scans. During this time, there was an overwhelming outpouring of prayer and support from family members, neighbors, friends, clergy and church parishioners, all of whom helped the family through the crisis that had so unexpectedly hit them. This support came in the form of personal notes, telephone calls, prayers, prepared meals, babysitting and daily rides or accompaniment to Providence to get the radiation treatments. It is this experience that is the foundation of this growing ministry.
Today this ministry has more than 40 members. The efforts of the group are coordinated by Lora Brodeur and assistance is given as the needs arise. Helping Hands Family Ministry’s goal is simple: to provide support to individuals or families who may be dealing with some form of temporary crisis in their lives. This support most often comes in the form of financial assistance or meals. A (fee-free) checking account is in place (for a non-profit organization) and donations are accepted and deposited when they are received. Once we are notified of a need, the situation is evaluated and a course of action is determined. Although the group is open to providing whatever help is needed, the most frequent benefit of the ministry has been to prepare and deliver meals, provide gift certificates to grocery and/or department stores or to make payments for basic utilities (heat, electricity, etc.). The members will receive correspondence from Lora 3 or 4 times a year in the form of a newsletter, keeping them abreast of the activity of the group. Helping Hands Family Ministry is always eager to accept the names of new volunteers who would like to join our cause, as well as to be informed of situations where we can be of service.
For further information on this group, please contact Lora at (401) 596-3443 or via e-mail (lorajbro@cox.net). We feel blessed to be able to extend our “helping hands” to our friends and neighbors in need.
You can also drop us a line at Saint Pius X Rectory if you need further
assistance!
