By Sarah Whitman
The line for Helping Hands Food Pantry forms early Wednesday mornings outside Atonement Lutheran Church of Wesley Chapel.
Helping Hands, a weekly outreach of the church, has served more than 3,000 Pasco County families since opening last March. Some are homeless or living below the poverty line. Others have been hit hard by the economy and need a place to turn until things get better.
“So many people come now who just need help getting back on their feet,” said Helping Hands administrator Carla Haberland. “When they find work they come back and say thank you. Sometimes they bring something to donate as a way to give back.”
When Helping Hands first started, only a few people took advantage. Within a few months, a few turned into more than a 100. Now, 140 to 160 visit each week to pick up groceries, household staples and even clothes.
Mary Spittka and her two daughters, ages 11 and 8, drive from Zephyrhills every week to collect items. Spittka is unable to find work, so her family relies on her husband’s modest paycheck. She said they visit Helping Hands because the economy is tough and every little bit helps.
“The food selection is good and my oldest daughter likes to pick out clothes,” Spittka said. “It’s a blessing.”
When people arrive at Helping Hands, they sign in before going into the pantry.
There, canned goods, produce, breads, household items and clothes donated by the public are presented in a general-store-style atmosphere. Anyone in need is welcome to come and fill up a bag. Some things, like toiletries, are limited to one per household.
The pantry receives donations from the community and from local businesses. Sweetbay donates bread and produce weekly. Bagelicious donates bagels.
Helping Hands is also partnered with USDA, which serves families requiring government-funded assistance. USDA donated foods are bagged ahead of time and given to families who qualify. Applications are available on site.
So far, no one has left Helping Hands empty handed.
“We have never run out of food,” Haberland said. “It’s amazing. On Tuesday night, the storage shed will be completely full and by the end of the day Wednesday it is completely empty, but we always have enough for everyone.”
Atonement Lutheran Church senior pastor Scott Linder said he is continually humbled by the success of Helping Hands.
” In the beginning we weren’t sure our small church could handle it, but every time there was a question the volunteers and the donations just kept pouring in,” he said.
Volunteers, including Haberland and director Caroline McKinney, help set up the pantry on Tuesdays. They distribute the items on Wednesdays and carry bags out for pantry users. Volunteers come from the church, the community and local schools.
Retiree and Wesley Chapel resident Jean Butler volunteers whenever she can.
“I’m so glad I found this place and I can help,” she said. “I think it’s a good thing what they’re doing. People helping people is what life is about.”
Violet Moore, a Wesley Chapel resident raising teenage grandchildren, came to Helping Hands after her husband passed away. She needed assistance but also became a volunteer.
“I needed some help and I found it,” Moore said. “I also wanted to give back because the people here are wonderful. This place has made a big impact on the community. It reaches so many people, especially families in need.”
Helping Hands needs more volunteers to help pick up and transportation large food donations.
“We need someone with a pick-up,” Haberland said. “A lot of the volunteers that helped with that were only here for the winter, so we need help getting the food to the church. We pick up the USDA foods at Suncoast Harvest Food Bank in Land O’ Lakes once a week.”
Haberland said as long as people keep helping, no one will be turned away that lines up Wednesdays mornings.
Helping Hands is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays at Atonement Lutheran Church of Wesley Chapel, 29617 SR 54. For information, call (813) 973-2211.
