See below for additional details and ways to give.
Checks
Helping Hands Family Center at The Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township, PCCT. Located at 240 Southern Boulevard, the family center is fully staffed by volunteers and facilitates a drop off location for contributors, and a free Store, where everything is, yes, free. It provides a unique way for people to responsibly get rid of things they no longer need by putting them into the hands of others who can use them, free of charge, in a way that also builds community. While we get so many wonderful items donated directly to our free store, we often have quality household and pantry staples. Essentials like groceries, snacks, clothing for all ages, winter wear, shoes, home goods, infant/baby care items; all size diapers, wipes, toiletries, socks, under wear, bedding, linens, and seasonal items. At times we have laundry pods, pasta/rice, peanut butter, toilet paper, hygiene products, health & beauty supplies, and dish soap. When an expectant mother has a request, we want to be there to help. When students need school supplies, prom attire, we want to be on it. Contact our team of coordinators at [email protected] to make an appointment.
sWhat does “family center” mean?
Family centers are community resources that provide services to parents, children, and other family members. Family centers exist to provide aid to families affected by a range of events, including pandemics, death, physical and mental illness, divorce, unemployment, and child abuse.
Thanks to the generosity of the Rev. Dr. Ellen C. Clemot, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township and the various committees at PCCT we opened the Helping Hands Family Center in 2021. Located at 240 Southern Blvd, the family center facilitates a drop off location for people who are donating and then a FREE shopping location for others. Leave what you can, take what you need.
The Helping Hands Family Center is where local families in need can obtain non-perishable food, clothing, household items and toiletries. Donations may be dropped off in the back right corner of the PCCT parking lot in a gray plastic box marked with Helping Hands signs. See image to the right or please contact one of the Helping Hands volunteers to set up a meeting time to visit the family center.
How To Help - our community supports and sustains us. There are many ways to help our programs. The following are some ways to help the children and families we serve.
Make a monetary donation - Ways to Donate
Volunteer - Ways to Volunteer (even one hour helps a lot)
Donate items to our Center - our center helps provide essential items for families in need. We are always looking for donations of clothing, personal hygiene, toiletry, and cleaning products; as well as undergarments and socks for both children and adults and seasonal wear.
Family centers are community resources that provide services to parents, children, and other family members. Family centers exist to provide aid to families affected by a range of events, including pandemics, death, physical and mental illness, divorce, unemployment, and child abuse.
Thanks to the generosity of the Rev. Dr. Ellen C. Clemot, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township and the various committees at PCCT we opened the Helping Hands Family Center in 2021. Located at 240 Southern Blvd, the family center facilitates a drop off location for people who are donating and then a FREE shopping location for others. Leave what you can, take what you need.
The Helping Hands Family Center is where local families in need can obtain non-perishable food, clothing, household items and toiletries. Donations may be dropped off in the back right corner of the PCCT parking lot in a gray plastic box marked with Helping Hands signs. See image to the right or please contact one of the Helping Hands volunteers to set up a meeting time to visit the family center.
How To Help - our community supports and sustains us. There are many ways to help our programs. The following are some ways to help the children and families we serve.
Make a monetary donation - Ways to Donate
Volunteer - Ways to Volunteer (even one hour helps a lot)
Donate items to our Center - our center helps provide essential items for families in need. We are always looking for donations of clothing, personal hygiene, toiletry, and cleaning products; as well as undergarments and socks for both children and adults and seasonal wear.
Have a heart to help but don’t have time to shop? WE HAVE ELVES FOR THAT!
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CLICK HERE TO SEE ITEMS WE ACCEPT
What to Donate
Monetary donations to support efforts
Time
Food
Baby & Children's items
Senior Citizens Items
Toiletries
Household items / Cleaning Products
What to Donate
Monetary donations to support efforts
Time
Food
Baby & Children's items
Senior Citizens Items
Toiletries
Household items / Cleaning Products
In addition to volunteering time, here are ways to help with gift cards:
DONATE GIFT CARDS:
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
Volunteer Opportunities
Pick up donations in the outdoor bin, bring inside to the HHFC
Pick up food and other donations from suppliers
Sort and shelf donated food, clothing, linens, and household goods
Client sign-in
Deliver food to homebound clients
Pick up donations in the outdoor bin, bring inside to the HHFC
Pick up food and other donations from suppliers
Sort and shelf donated food, clothing, linens, and household goods
Client sign-in
Deliver food to homebound clients
Click here to see Items we accept
About The Helping Hands Family Center of Chatham, NJ
The HHFC was born in 2021 from the vision of women who, while serving families in need, responded to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable children and their families. Seeing a gap in rapid recovery of food and other essential services pertaining to the needs of families, the HHFC’s mission is to stabilize families and to help them cope with the implications and gravity of financial insecurity. A child right here in your community is in need of support. You can be the one to provide help and change a life. During our first year of operation, our founder operated the store from her front porch, where she served upwards of 1000 families in 2020. She had very few volunteers when Covid-19 became reality. In January 2021, we were invited to move into the space at PPCT. We're here as a resource, while recognizing that everyone must have their own things if we want them to really feel part of what we're doing. Many of the volunteers work with existing local organizations like community centers, food pantries, churches and schools. |
Organizers wanted to do something to uplift families in need. Something unprecedented in Chatham. "People were calling us and saying, 'I see that there is a free family store in Chatham, so how can I shop?'" The HHFC is set up in the lower level at PCCT, and volunteers are responsible for maintaining it and keeping it in stock.
The HHFC is focused specifically on the issue of food insecurity. However, we provide more than food and goods. We see our neighbors have new opportunities to meet one another and form bonds that wouldn't otherwise have been created. We've really created something special here. Open through all weather conditions. The longer a Family Center endures, the more faith and trust the neighborhood has in it. Once you’re provided for in this way, there’s a switch. People begin to feel safe. They come closer to it, care for it more, and take ownership – and you can’t just buy that! |
OUR IMPACT
There are no patrons- only participants. Building a bridge between those who have too much and those without- The HHFC keeps our community moving! By reinvesting back into our own neighborhood- we place power back into the hands of the people.
A second chance for all things and a combined style of decluttering, the HHFC provides a reduction of waste for contributors. By reducing waste, we help the environment and most importantly, we help people! With items going to new loving homes- bringing joy to those who need it.
There are no patrons- only participants. Building a bridge between those who have too much and those without- The HHFC keeps our community moving! By reinvesting back into our own neighborhood- we place power back into the hands of the people.
A second chance for all things and a combined style of decluttering, the HHFC provides a reduction of waste for contributors. By reducing waste, we help the environment and most importantly, we help people! With items going to new loving homes- bringing joy to those who need it.
Thank you for your continued support of our work and mission. We invite you to visit us and learn more about our commitment to the community.
Our doors are open to anyone in need.
Your volunteer team at Helping Hands
Helping Hands, NJ - Chatham, NJ 07928
[email protected] | 201-988-9070
Link Tree - https://linktr.ee/helpinghandsofchatham
Helping Hands distributes essential items through our large and growing network of individuals and partner organizations throughout New Jersey.
Our doors are open to anyone in need.
Your volunteer team at Helping Hands
Helping Hands, NJ - Chatham, NJ 07928
[email protected] | 201-988-9070
Link Tree - https://linktr.ee/helpinghandsofchatham
Helping Hands distributes essential items through our large and growing network of individuals and partner organizations throughout New Jersey.