Helping Hearts & Hands (HHH) gives one-time emergency assistance to individuals and families in need. We give assistance when it will help a family attain self-sufficiency or when it will keep a family financially stable. HHH is able to respond quickly to most applications. All clients must be referred by human services agencies and have been declined assistance by three other sources before they are eligible for HHH help.

We operate using the time and talents of a volunteer advisory board supported by a full-time administrative staff person. This structure keeps our administrative costs as low as possible.

In 2008, we received more applications for assistance than ever before; 1,323! We need help from you in order to keep up with the continuously increasing number of families needing assistance in these unsteady times.

Donations from individuals are the cornerstone of our organization. We work diligently to assure that 100% of donations from individuals go to families in need. Additional funding comes from grants, churches, businesses and civic organizations. Give to HHH

• Mission, Purpose and Goals
• History
• How our Program Works
• FAQ's

Mission Statement:
Helping Hearts & Hands provides one-time assistance for individuals and families who have special needs that cannot be met through their own resources and threatens their self-sufficiency. We provide the community the opportunity and privilege to help people "who fall through the cracks" and cannot get help from anywhere else.

Organization's Purpose: [BACK TO TOP]
To provide emergency financial and/or in-kind support in a timely manner when all other community resources have been exhausted.

Statement of Goals: [BACK TO TOP]

Provide one-time, timely financial and in-kind support -

• To enable individuals/families to remain self-sufficient and independent.
• To enable individuals/families to remain intact.
• To enable individuals/families to avoid more serious situations.

Avoid duplication of services -

• By providing support only when all other community resources have been exhausted.
• By collaborating with other community agencies.

Give the community the opportunity and privilege to help our families -

• By submitting articles describing our cases at least monthly to community newspapers.
• By maintaining and developing new communication avenues with civic-minded organizations.
• By developing communication strategies that take advantage of electronic and emerging technologies.
• By holding fundraising events.
• By actively seeking grant opportunities.

HISTORY [BACK TO TOP]

A Program Is Born

Helping Hearts & Hands (HHH) was conceived in 1981 when Lou D'Aurio of the Lakewood Chamber (now West Chamber) came to Betty Proctor, Human Services Coordinator and told her about a program in the East that helped those who "fall through the cracks" of the system, by placing a profile of the needy family or individual in the newspaper and asking for donations.

Betty was encouraged by the Jefferson County Department of Social Services to start a similar program. Other organizations and individuals helped to make the idea a reality. Jeffco Action Center provided our first 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship. The Sentinel Newspaper became our first press partner. In the early years, students from DU School of Social Work helped run the program. Catholic Charities and ARC of Jefferson County each provided office and meeting space for one year. For many years, HHH was a holiday program operating from October through December. Prior to 1998, our services were limited to Jefferson County. At the request of human service agencies in the City and County of Denver, who also had folks "falling through the cracks" of the system, we expanded our services to Denver and became an all-year-long program.

Growth and Service

Our broader geographic scope increased our caseload. In 1999, we were able to assist 60 individuals or families. This number has grown each year, reaching 584 in 2002, 601 in 2003 and 944 in 2006. Since its inception, our organization has provided over $1,300,000 of in-kind and monetary assistance to more than 5,000 families and individuals - helping them to maintain self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life.

In January of 2001, we became a program of Caring Connection which allowed us to continue our work while keeping operating costs down. In July of 2004, we came under the fiscal sponsorship of Family Tree. In January of 2008, HH came under the fiscal sponsorship of Jeffco Action Center, Inc. They now provide our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship as well as office and meeting space. For most of our existence, HHH has been operated entirely by volunteers. Betty continues to work full time from her home office (also known as her kitchen table) volunteering as program director. In April of 2006, a grant from the Theodore and Chandos Rice Charitable Foundation made it possible for HHH to hire a half time person to help Betty and our advisory board members.

Clients are referred to HHH by caseworkers from schools, churches, government and private non-profit agencies. We now have more than 200 agencies referring families. All clients must be referred by human services agencies and have been declined assistance by three other sources before we accept their application. The help given to families and individuals is based on need. We have helped remodel several homes for handicapped individuals, given and repaired cars, assisted with rent and deposits, paid car insurance, obtained dentures, and the list goes on. Recently, the majority of our clients have asked for rent or energy assistance. Since 2001, Colorado Energy Assistance Foundation/Energy Outreach Colorado grants have increased our ability to assist needy families facing shut off notices.

Public Awareness and Support

The Sentinel/Transcript Newspapers were our first press partners. Since then, other Denver and Jefferson County community newspapers have joined them in publicizing selected cases throughout the year. As a result, individuals and businesses are made aware of the numerous needs of people in the community. We also contact chambers of commerce, service clubs, churches and other groups. Now we are reaching out to the community through the web. For the past twenty-six years, 100% of gifts from individuals have been used to help clients.

How Our Program Works [BACK TO TOP]

More than 200 agencies refer families to us. Helping Hearts & Hands (HHH) has helped:

• remodel homes for handicapped individuals,
• with rent and deposits,
• with energy payments,
• provide and repair cars,
• pay car insurance,
• obtained dentures and wheelchairs,
• with medical expenses.

All clients must be referred by human services agencies and have been declined assistance by three other sources before they are eligible for HHH help.

• A social worker reviews and evaluates each request.
• The request is verified by talking with the caseworker (person from the agency working with the client), family and party requesting payment.
• The needs and resources of the client are evaluated.
• A decision is made to approve or deny the request.
• Once a request is approved, a payment is made to the appropriate party. Money is never distributed directly to the client.