Street mission offers hand up — as well as a handout
As a regular volunteer at the Helping Hands Street Mission Christmas breakfast on Barton Street East, the boisterous Sandra Howard blends right in.
But unlike most helping the 50 or so hungry people get breakfast at the 345 Barton St. E. facility, the 54-year-old is intimately familiar with the other side of the coin.
Just five years ago, Howard could be found on the streets in Hamilton, involved in prostitution and heavily addicted to crack.
“To be honest, I was afraid of her when she used to come in then,” said Ann Jung, the organizer of the annual Christmas breakfast, describing Howard’s naturally brazen attitude back then.
“One day, she came in and said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’”
“She became a completely different person,” said Jung, noting Howard is unrecognizable from her former self.
Howard credits the people at Helping Hands and finding God.
She has been clean for five years and volunteers at 345 Barton at least a few days a week.
“Even if they don’t get better, they deserve someone to love them,” she said of the people whom Helping Hands serves.
All 90 of the Christmas meals in the Helping Hands food truck, and the 30-plus gift bags — with hygiene products and winter clothing — were handed out by noon Christmas.
One of the beneficiary’s of the Christmas meal, 27-year-old Samantha Greenlaw, says she’s thankful for the people helping those who might not be able to afford to have a good Christmas. “Every bit helps,” she said. “Especially, when you’re on assistance.”
Greenlaw says she has the most use for the clothing programs, as she proudly displays a brand-new sweater she was able to pick out during the holiday season, a time, she says, “you see people donating more brand-new items than usual.”
More importantly, Greenlaw added, Helping Hands never discriminates with its help, connecting those with problems to the right people and will even help calm her down when she gets agitated.
Richard Ladd, 43, who made sure to arrive early for the breakfast, says his primary reason for coming to Helping Hands is social.
While the program offers free clothing — which is always in short supply for men — it also has men’s groups, women’s groups and game nights to give people an opportunity to hang out.
“I don’t like going to bars,” Ladd said, adding he’s happy there’s a place to socialize where people aren’t drinking or doing drugs.
Howard still makes use of the street mission for her own needs. She’s getting help to obtain her high school education.
“We are in this Barton area for a reason,” said Sherry Huisman, who has been volunteering at Helping Hands for more than seven years. “Demand is constantly growing.
“It was initially just about the clothes, but the clothes are now the means to get people in.”
Clothing is helpful, noted Greenlaw, adding things would be better if donors could lend a hand to the same degree as they do during the holiday season.
Helping Hands is always looking for more donations, financial or otherwise, said board chair Harmen Huisman. It’s particularly difficult to find decent men’s clothing.
The agency has stayed afloat financially by renting two neighbouring storefronts on Barton, “by the grace of God,” he said.
“One month, the analyst will say we have enough to stay open for two months, then it’s one month, and all of a sudden, donations come through, and we’re back to four months.”
The group is also always looking for more volunteers.
“We’re all suffering,” Howard said.