How and why was Helping Hands formed?
When it became apparent that Covid-19 was going to keep our schools closed for a while, we launched Helping Hands of Chatham (HHOC) aka Weekend Meals for Chatham Students in Need. One of the primary missions of HHOC has been to raise money to provide ShopRite grocery gift cards to families in need. We began raising awareness on March 20th, 2020, and we received our first donation on April 26th, 2020. The School District of Chatham (SDOC) was providing lunch on Mondays (for two days) and again on Wednesdays (for the rest of the week). When parents arrived to pick up lunch at Chatham Middle School, we gave out one $25.00 ShopRite gift card per child, per household.
Since March 2020, when school initially closed, Helping Hands has donated over $60,000 in gift cards to SDOC students on the free lunch program and to other families in the community and beyond experiencing food insecurity. This new to Chatham initiative – Helping Hands of Chatham - facilitated a way for neighbors to donate to help feed families finding themselves “insecure” as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions. Some families find themselves in need as result of an unexpected financial set-back due to a loss of employment, divorce, death of a family member or a catastrophic illness due to COVID-19. With the great uncertainty as to when things might return to normal, Joann felt that we must “lend a hand”.
While the School District of the Chathams provided assistance to students who qualify for the federal lunch programs through June 10th, 2020 that program was no longer available to them until September. There are families in need who do not quite fall into the federal lunch program guidelines. There are more who do not have children in the school system, such as our senior citizens on fixed incomes. That is why Helping Hands of Chatham was created, with its by-line “Lend a Hand, Fill a Heart”. Inspired by all the different ways the Chatham community has stepped up to support one another during this crisis, Helping Hands wanted to be part of the solution to help those in need.
The $25.00 grocery card facilitated a way for families to purchase weekend meals. Once the school year ended, Joann began to mail cards to SDOC families that shared their email and home address. We also have a list of senior citizens, the suddenly unemployed, sick, divorced, separated, battered, young and old, which has grown into the hundreds including people from every town that touches Chatham and beyond.
As donations decreased during the summer of 2020, Helping Hands changed the denomination of the gift card value from $25.00 to $20.00, so that we could continue to service as many people as possible. Once our fundraising budget hits $1500 (every two or three weeks), it allows us to purchase 75, $20.00 gift cards. Our priority has been and will remain, the SDOC students; whatever we have left over is made available to the other families in need. The concept is straightforward - a person can donate via check, Venmo or QuickPay with Zelle. The funds collected go towards providing for families in need in our community and beyond. In addition, Boxcarapp.com is selling boxes of produce. Those purchasing from Boxcar will pay for a box of produce plus milk & eggs and they can donate another box for those in need.
Families in need should not be shy about accepting help; after all, we are all in this together and Chatham residents look out after one another. To learn about the program and for resources, please visit us on our Helping Hands Link Tree - https://linktr.ee/helpinghandsofchatham which provides information ranging from raffles to ways to donate.
Since March 2020, when school initially closed, Helping Hands has donated over $60,000 in gift cards to SDOC students on the free lunch program and to other families in the community and beyond experiencing food insecurity. This new to Chatham initiative – Helping Hands of Chatham - facilitated a way for neighbors to donate to help feed families finding themselves “insecure” as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions. Some families find themselves in need as result of an unexpected financial set-back due to a loss of employment, divorce, death of a family member or a catastrophic illness due to COVID-19. With the great uncertainty as to when things might return to normal, Joann felt that we must “lend a hand”.
While the School District of the Chathams provided assistance to students who qualify for the federal lunch programs through June 10th, 2020 that program was no longer available to them until September. There are families in need who do not quite fall into the federal lunch program guidelines. There are more who do not have children in the school system, such as our senior citizens on fixed incomes. That is why Helping Hands of Chatham was created, with its by-line “Lend a Hand, Fill a Heart”. Inspired by all the different ways the Chatham community has stepped up to support one another during this crisis, Helping Hands wanted to be part of the solution to help those in need.
The $25.00 grocery card facilitated a way for families to purchase weekend meals. Once the school year ended, Joann began to mail cards to SDOC families that shared their email and home address. We also have a list of senior citizens, the suddenly unemployed, sick, divorced, separated, battered, young and old, which has grown into the hundreds including people from every town that touches Chatham and beyond.
As donations decreased during the summer of 2020, Helping Hands changed the denomination of the gift card value from $25.00 to $20.00, so that we could continue to service as many people as possible. Once our fundraising budget hits $1500 (every two or three weeks), it allows us to purchase 75, $20.00 gift cards. Our priority has been and will remain, the SDOC students; whatever we have left over is made available to the other families in need. The concept is straightforward - a person can donate via check, Venmo or QuickPay with Zelle. The funds collected go towards providing for families in need in our community and beyond. In addition, Boxcarapp.com is selling boxes of produce. Those purchasing from Boxcar will pay for a box of produce plus milk & eggs and they can donate another box for those in need.
Families in need should not be shy about accepting help; after all, we are all in this together and Chatham residents look out after one another. To learn about the program and for resources, please visit us on our Helping Hands Link Tree - https://linktr.ee/helpinghandsofchatham which provides information ranging from raffles to ways to donate.
As you approach your 1-year anniversary, what has the organization accomplished in this time?
As HHOC marks its first anniversary in March 2021, we gratefully acknowledge the generosity of the Chatham community – both individuals and businesses alike who have made it possible for us to donate over $60,000 in gift cards to SDOC students on the free lunch program. Our partnership with ShopRite of Wakefern enables every dollar donated to go farther as a result of the discount provided to us by ShopRite to purchase the gift cards.
HHOC has operated every week since March 20th with some weeks more bountiful than others. For the 52 weeks since our inception we have served 110 families consistently. During the past six months, more and more families are seeking our resources. The cars at the food drive were once a manageable 25 – 30, but now as food insecurity continues to grow, and people exhaust their savings, in our 42nd week at the food drive on 3/3, we had 58 cars, the 3rd most to date and served 79 families.
This month we launched a “March Madness” campaign to raise awareness and funding. We have several raffles posted to our social media on Facebook and Instagram; including a “Link Tree” as part of our Instagram that connects users to our content. The newly created website - was created as a vehicle to share more information about Helping Hands and to provide resources to families in need. To commemorate our first year anniversary and partnership with ShopRite we are thrilled to announce our most recent fundraiser and matching campaign “March Matchness” whereby every $1 donated to Helping Hands of Chatham this month ShopRite will match the donation up to $500, thus enabling every $1 donated to be doubled.
We are in the process of designing our first line of apparel that we hope will be worn with pride by our youth and adult residents alike. Mirroring our efforts in 2020, where we held many drives, raffles and events to raise funds, we will continue on a larger scale in 2021. We are looking for help from residents who want to get involved to help us get corporate sponsors who will then be featured on the back of our apparel.
Food Drive:
In May of 2020, HHOC partnered with Council members Len Resto and Carolyn Dempsey, along with Chatham United Methodist Church Pastor, The Rev. Jeff Markay and Laura Bojanowski, Chatham Scout Troops volunteer coordinator of sustainable brown bag lunches to launch the weekly food distribution. The Rev. Markay hosts the weekly food drive on Wednesdays, set up begins at 1:30 pm, and the participants are permitted to drive through at 3:00 pm. We have between 35 and 85 participants each week. There is a weatherproof food pantry up against the shed (directly across from the nursery school playground), open 24 hours where families can donate while other families can take what they need. In addition to food, we accept household staples, toilet paper, cleaning items and toiletries for all ages. Infant, baby and senior citizen personal care items are always needed.
Since the beginning of the food drive’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, planning and building strategies for the impact of the crisis on the communities we serve has been a top priority. The food drive has had a steady set of volunteers who make a regular commitment every Wednesday to show up and do whatever is needed to get the car line open to participants by 3:00 pm; they are worth their weight in gold. They’ve shared their time and talents, so it's crucial that we acknowledge their contributions and let them know they are valued. Each of our volunteers shows compassion to the people we serve; it is an inspiration for us all. It is noticeable how our volunteers treat everyone with respect and kindness, no matter what the situation is.
We are grateful for our volunteers at Chatham Bridging the Gap. A hyper-local, 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization that helps to temporarily “bridge the gap” for Chatham residents who are facing an unexpected financial set-back due to a loss of employment, divorce, death of a family member or a catastrophic illness. Chatham Bridging the Gap has facilitated a way for donations to Helping Hands of Chatham to be tax-deductible and eligible for corporate matching. Donors can initiate a match at the time of the donation via drop down menu on the CBTG website, giving donors multiple, easy ways to engage.
When the budget allows, HHOC distributes grocery gift cards at the weekly food drive. We continue to raise funds, mainly on social media. The good news is that our contact at Wakefern Foods does offer us a 5% discount for every $1,000 we spend. We marked our 42nd week of operation on Wednesday, March 3rd. We had 58 cars, 3rd most ever; and served 79 families, one less than last week. Seven people were new, having exhausted their savings. We have responded to the food insecurity crisis in the greater Chatham area by providing food to people in need through a town wide network of generosity.
HHOC has operated every week since March 20th with some weeks more bountiful than others. For the 52 weeks since our inception we have served 110 families consistently. During the past six months, more and more families are seeking our resources. The cars at the food drive were once a manageable 25 – 30, but now as food insecurity continues to grow, and people exhaust their savings, in our 42nd week at the food drive on 3/3, we had 58 cars, the 3rd most to date and served 79 families.
This month we launched a “March Madness” campaign to raise awareness and funding. We have several raffles posted to our social media on Facebook and Instagram; including a “Link Tree” as part of our Instagram that connects users to our content. The newly created website - was created as a vehicle to share more information about Helping Hands and to provide resources to families in need. To commemorate our first year anniversary and partnership with ShopRite we are thrilled to announce our most recent fundraiser and matching campaign “March Matchness” whereby every $1 donated to Helping Hands of Chatham this month ShopRite will match the donation up to $500, thus enabling every $1 donated to be doubled.
We are in the process of designing our first line of apparel that we hope will be worn with pride by our youth and adult residents alike. Mirroring our efforts in 2020, where we held many drives, raffles and events to raise funds, we will continue on a larger scale in 2021. We are looking for help from residents who want to get involved to help us get corporate sponsors who will then be featured on the back of our apparel.
Food Drive:
In May of 2020, HHOC partnered with Council members Len Resto and Carolyn Dempsey, along with Chatham United Methodist Church Pastor, The Rev. Jeff Markay and Laura Bojanowski, Chatham Scout Troops volunteer coordinator of sustainable brown bag lunches to launch the weekly food distribution. The Rev. Markay hosts the weekly food drive on Wednesdays, set up begins at 1:30 pm, and the participants are permitted to drive through at 3:00 pm. We have between 35 and 85 participants each week. There is a weatherproof food pantry up against the shed (directly across from the nursery school playground), open 24 hours where families can donate while other families can take what they need. In addition to food, we accept household staples, toilet paper, cleaning items and toiletries for all ages. Infant, baby and senior citizen personal care items are always needed.
Since the beginning of the food drive’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, planning and building strategies for the impact of the crisis on the communities we serve has been a top priority. The food drive has had a steady set of volunteers who make a regular commitment every Wednesday to show up and do whatever is needed to get the car line open to participants by 3:00 pm; they are worth their weight in gold. They’ve shared their time and talents, so it's crucial that we acknowledge their contributions and let them know they are valued. Each of our volunteers shows compassion to the people we serve; it is an inspiration for us all. It is noticeable how our volunteers treat everyone with respect and kindness, no matter what the situation is.
We are grateful for our volunteers at Chatham Bridging the Gap. A hyper-local, 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization that helps to temporarily “bridge the gap” for Chatham residents who are facing an unexpected financial set-back due to a loss of employment, divorce, death of a family member or a catastrophic illness. Chatham Bridging the Gap has facilitated a way for donations to Helping Hands of Chatham to be tax-deductible and eligible for corporate matching. Donors can initiate a match at the time of the donation via drop down menu on the CBTG website, giving donors multiple, easy ways to engage.
When the budget allows, HHOC distributes grocery gift cards at the weekly food drive. We continue to raise funds, mainly on social media. The good news is that our contact at Wakefern Foods does offer us a 5% discount for every $1,000 we spend. We marked our 42nd week of operation on Wednesday, March 3rd. We had 58 cars, 3rd most ever; and served 79 families, one less than last week. Seven people were new, having exhausted their savings. We have responded to the food insecurity crisis in the greater Chatham area by providing food to people in need through a town wide network of generosity.
How has Helping Hands helped our community and local businesses?
Today, we are one of the only local domestic relief outlets supported by individual families and small businesses. As food insecurity rates hold steady at the highest levels ever, the food drive and HHOC have risen to meet the need. We feed 500+ people at risk of hunger every week.
We have done our best to work with and support Chatham business, as they are supporting us immensely during COVID-19. In Joann’s opinion, one of the best ways that people and businesses can help is by donating to the gift card budget so that families may purchase the food and other essential items that they need at a large store like Shoprite. CVS is also an option, as many of our recipients have used the gift cards to purchase much needed prescription drugs.
HHOC helps people who are having a financial crisis and as a result find themselves food insecure. Hunger over time has damaging affects to mental and physical health. Children cannot concentrate and learn if they are hungry which has detrimental effects on their wellbeing and growth.
At HHOC, donations have primarily been from individuals, a small percentage of donations come from building relationships with local businesses around the area. The businesses or restaurants that we have built relationships with help a great deal; some offer products or services as raffle prizes, some donate prepared food, some offer food rescue at the end of their business day. We are always grateful for donations; we post the name of the business and a way to contact them on our social media presence to drive consumers to them.
On a personal level, Joann has had the privilege of interacting with hundreds of participant families over the course of the year and has anchored Helping Hands of Chatham as a safe harbor for them to come to in confidence. Many families were insecure and embarrassed to come forward in the early stages of Covid-19; Joann has opened her heart and her home to many, putting them at ease, sharing a word of encouragement and allowing them to pick up donations in private.
During the fall, HHOC had three great events that helped our participant families greatly. The Halloween Virtual Walk & House Decorating Contest. This event gave our children a Halloween, we raised some money, and everyone had fun. In November, we reached out to Shoprite of Chatham to ask for Thanksgiving turkey donations, they gave us 50, the Chatham community donated over 100, along with other food items to trim the table and wonderful desserts. At Christmas time, Joann hosted the “Blessing Bag” program for over 40 participant families. Similar to a “Give Tree” at a local church, we pulled together as neighbors and helped provide a wonderful holiday season for our families. Events like this have continued into 2021 to this day including our upcoming Easter Drive with a goal of collecting 110 hams!
We have done our best to work with and support Chatham business, as they are supporting us immensely during COVID-19. In Joann’s opinion, one of the best ways that people and businesses can help is by donating to the gift card budget so that families may purchase the food and other essential items that they need at a large store like Shoprite. CVS is also an option, as many of our recipients have used the gift cards to purchase much needed prescription drugs.
HHOC helps people who are having a financial crisis and as a result find themselves food insecure. Hunger over time has damaging affects to mental and physical health. Children cannot concentrate and learn if they are hungry which has detrimental effects on their wellbeing and growth.
At HHOC, donations have primarily been from individuals, a small percentage of donations come from building relationships with local businesses around the area. The businesses or restaurants that we have built relationships with help a great deal; some offer products or services as raffle prizes, some donate prepared food, some offer food rescue at the end of their business day. We are always grateful for donations; we post the name of the business and a way to contact them on our social media presence to drive consumers to them.
On a personal level, Joann has had the privilege of interacting with hundreds of participant families over the course of the year and has anchored Helping Hands of Chatham as a safe harbor for them to come to in confidence. Many families were insecure and embarrassed to come forward in the early stages of Covid-19; Joann has opened her heart and her home to many, putting them at ease, sharing a word of encouragement and allowing them to pick up donations in private.
During the fall, HHOC had three great events that helped our participant families greatly. The Halloween Virtual Walk & House Decorating Contest. This event gave our children a Halloween, we raised some money, and everyone had fun. In November, we reached out to Shoprite of Chatham to ask for Thanksgiving turkey donations, they gave us 50, the Chatham community donated over 100, along with other food items to trim the table and wonderful desserts. At Christmas time, Joann hosted the “Blessing Bag” program for over 40 participant families. Similar to a “Give Tree” at a local church, we pulled together as neighbors and helped provide a wonderful holiday season for our families. Events like this have continued into 2021 to this day including our upcoming Easter Drive with a goal of collecting 110 hams!
What are Helping Hands' plans for the future?
Helping to shape HHOC’s future comes with a focus on collaboration, the plan needs a style to set it apart from the rest of the important non-profit organizations. Our platform is to share the resources that we are able to attract with those in need of food, medicine and support very quickly, money comes in and resources go out, often the same day. Paired with clear communication and a website that transparently documents every initiative actioned in the plan, we hope to continue our mission.
When you support HHOC, you are helping those experiencing food insecurity and income loss. Thanks to community support, HHOC has been able to provide a place to heal for these families. Children whose lives were once filled with school, friends and exciting events were suddenly faced with the fear, pain, and chaos that Covid-19 delivered.
In 2021, we put out a call to action and asked for volunteers. We were contacted soon after by Nancy Barnes and Stella Gilbert.
Nancy Barnes is a Chatham resident of 15 years and mother of two girls in the Chatham Schools. Looking for a way to help those in need during this difficult time, particularly children in the Chatham school district in need, Nancy reached out to Helping Hands of Chatham intermittently over the past year to do what she could to help. Feeling that she could and wanted to do more, Nancy became actively involved in volunteering with Helping Hands of Chatham this year with outreach to local businesses, establishing a greater social media presence, marketing and communication efforts and fundraising. Nancy encourages others with an interest in giving back to the community and helping neighbors in need to get involved.
Stella Gilbert is a lifelong Chatham resident and a junior at Newark Academy. With experience in website building, social media, and graphics, she created the HHOC website and helps with various aspects of tech integration and maintenance. Beyond service and food insecurity, Stella is interested in law, philosophy, and computer science. She says that helping HHOC is always “one of the best parts of her week!
When you support HHOC, you are helping those experiencing food insecurity and income loss. Thanks to community support, HHOC has been able to provide a place to heal for these families. Children whose lives were once filled with school, friends and exciting events were suddenly faced with the fear, pain, and chaos that Covid-19 delivered.
In 2021, we put out a call to action and asked for volunteers. We were contacted soon after by Nancy Barnes and Stella Gilbert.
Nancy Barnes is a Chatham resident of 15 years and mother of two girls in the Chatham Schools. Looking for a way to help those in need during this difficult time, particularly children in the Chatham school district in need, Nancy reached out to Helping Hands of Chatham intermittently over the past year to do what she could to help. Feeling that she could and wanted to do more, Nancy became actively involved in volunteering with Helping Hands of Chatham this year with outreach to local businesses, establishing a greater social media presence, marketing and communication efforts and fundraising. Nancy encourages others with an interest in giving back to the community and helping neighbors in need to get involved.
Stella Gilbert is a lifelong Chatham resident and a junior at Newark Academy. With experience in website building, social media, and graphics, she created the HHOC website and helps with various aspects of tech integration and maintenance. Beyond service and food insecurity, Stella is interested in law, philosophy, and computer science. She says that helping HHOC is always “one of the best parts of her week!
What are some ways our students can contribute to this great cause?
What can a resident do to benefit the community in which it is located? Simply put, get involved. So, how does one get involved? From volunteer work to fundraising efforts, students and their families bring added enthusiasm and exuberance needed by HHOC to fulfill our mission and efforts. We have established the Helping Hands Initiative to collectively draw our communities toward the importance of making a positive impact on those less fortunate.
What is a way to be part of the Helping Hands of Chatham Initiative? The (HHOCI) consists of two primary components: The Month-of-Service and the HHOC Partners. March has been designated as the Month-of-Service, signifying the anniversary date of when the government declared a state of emergency and HHOC sprang into action. The month has been established as a time for all community members to get involved either in their local neighborhood, communities, through employers, schools, teams, etc. The concept is easy, form age/grade level /adult teams and host any event (food drive, gift card drive, walk-a-thon, swim, sport, knit, etc.) and help HHOC grow by donating the proceeds.
The HHOC Partners is for corporations, businesses and individuals who wish to form committees to help to identify organizations that are passionate about employee service and giving and who can make a large or small impact on the growth of HHOC.
The plan for HHOC calls for businesses to provide opportunities for partners of HHOC to become involved in community service and philanthropic endeavors to foster the development of HHOC. We accept employer matched tax-deductible donations through Chatham Bridging the Gap, formerly Cares and Shares. A tax-deductible donation can be made directly to Chatham Bridging the Gap, a local 501(c)(3) charitable organization and direct it to HHOC. Ask your employer if their Charitable Impact Committee will highlight Helping Hands of Chatham during employee volunteer build days. Ask employees to hold a fundraiser, organize a food, toiletry, baby or senior citizen’s personal hygiene drive, or coordinate food rescues with local businesses. Help us raise awareness and expand our network.
A teams’ participation in the HHOC Partners program benefits not only the community, but individuals as well. By participating in HHOC Partners, individuals will build project management and communication skills and create numerous networking and leadership development opportunities. HHOC will also benefit by improving community relations, building a positive image and furthering the brand. HHOC was established as an official philanthropical framework to meet the needs of the community with whom we are working.
What is a way to be part of the Helping Hands of Chatham Initiative? The (HHOCI) consists of two primary components: The Month-of-Service and the HHOC Partners. March has been designated as the Month-of-Service, signifying the anniversary date of when the government declared a state of emergency and HHOC sprang into action. The month has been established as a time for all community members to get involved either in their local neighborhood, communities, through employers, schools, teams, etc. The concept is easy, form age/grade level /adult teams and host any event (food drive, gift card drive, walk-a-thon, swim, sport, knit, etc.) and help HHOC grow by donating the proceeds.
The HHOC Partners is for corporations, businesses and individuals who wish to form committees to help to identify organizations that are passionate about employee service and giving and who can make a large or small impact on the growth of HHOC.
The plan for HHOC calls for businesses to provide opportunities for partners of HHOC to become involved in community service and philanthropic endeavors to foster the development of HHOC. We accept employer matched tax-deductible donations through Chatham Bridging the Gap, formerly Cares and Shares. A tax-deductible donation can be made directly to Chatham Bridging the Gap, a local 501(c)(3) charitable organization and direct it to HHOC. Ask your employer if their Charitable Impact Committee will highlight Helping Hands of Chatham during employee volunteer build days. Ask employees to hold a fundraiser, organize a food, toiletry, baby or senior citizen’s personal hygiene drive, or coordinate food rescues with local businesses. Help us raise awareness and expand our network.
A teams’ participation in the HHOC Partners program benefits not only the community, but individuals as well. By participating in HHOC Partners, individuals will build project management and communication skills and create numerous networking and leadership development opportunities. HHOC will also benefit by improving community relations, building a positive image and furthering the brand. HHOC was established as an official philanthropical framework to meet the needs of the community with whom we are working.
In addition to volunteering time, here are ways to help financially:
DONATE GIFT CARDS:
Make a financial donation through one these ways:
DONATE FUNDS - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bDkc6Xx_7l_lJiZvXzT8o33X19vo_os_/view?usp=sharing
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Joann attended Pace University, NYC and The College of Insurance. Joann moved to Chatham in 1996, where, she raised her three sons, all CHS alumni, with her husband Paul, a Stanley Nursery School, St. Patrick’s School and CHS alumni and a 34-year member of the Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department. Joann has one adorable grandson and enjoys as much family time as possible. Joann is fluent in Italian, loves cooking gourmet meals, long days at the beach, reading and she is a gardening enthusiast; often frustrated with the war of the squirrels and chipmunks, a constant battle. Joann can be found in NYC when she has time to play.
Having worked in reinsurance, special events, budgets, office relocations and office coordinating, Joann founded Helping Hands of Chatham (HHOC) in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and emergency shutdown. After 15 years in the financial services arena, and many years of working for her family of builders and multifamily apartment managers in New York and New Jersey, Joann is a full time Realtor, Sales Associate, with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
Joann is thrilled to see the results of HHOC, helping so many people and giving them hope for a future of self-sufficiency. Joann is thrilled to be a part of a team that shows dignity and compassion to those people in need. You can reach Joann by email at: [email protected] or by phone: (201) 988-9070.
DONATE GIFT CARDS:
- Shoprite Gift Cards
- Stop & Shop Gift Cards
- Target Gift Cards
- Walmart® Gift Cards
- Salon Gift Certificates for Manicures and Pedicures
- Gift Certificate to restaurants
- Tickets to Age-Appropriate Concerts & Theater Performances
Make a financial donation through one these ways:
DONATE FUNDS - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bDkc6Xx_7l_lJiZvXzT8o33X19vo_os_/view?usp=sharing
- Venmo - @JoannCarroll 201-988-9070
- QuickPay with Zelle - [email protected]
- Checks made out to Joann Carroll c/o Helping Hands of Chatham, mail to 14 Red Road, Chatham, NJ 07928
- 501(c)(3) - HELPING HANDS is working on a legal formation for a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. Together, we are putting the Help in Hands with compassion, support, and community.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Joann attended Pace University, NYC and The College of Insurance. Joann moved to Chatham in 1996, where, she raised her three sons, all CHS alumni, with her husband Paul, a Stanley Nursery School, St. Patrick’s School and CHS alumni and a 34-year member of the Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department. Joann has one adorable grandson and enjoys as much family time as possible. Joann is fluent in Italian, loves cooking gourmet meals, long days at the beach, reading and she is a gardening enthusiast; often frustrated with the war of the squirrels and chipmunks, a constant battle. Joann can be found in NYC when she has time to play.
Having worked in reinsurance, special events, budgets, office relocations and office coordinating, Joann founded Helping Hands of Chatham (HHOC) in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and emergency shutdown. After 15 years in the financial services arena, and many years of working for her family of builders and multifamily apartment managers in New York and New Jersey, Joann is a full time Realtor, Sales Associate, with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
Joann is thrilled to see the results of HHOC, helping so many people and giving them hope for a future of self-sufficiency. Joann is thrilled to be a part of a team that shows dignity and compassion to those people in need. You can reach Joann by email at: [email protected] or by phone: (201) 988-9070.