Our Work

Ongoing Programs and Activities

Helping Hands is always thinking of new ways to provide support for locals in need. Over the years, we have developed a handful of programs and activities that have proven their worth in the community. Volunteers look forward to these opportunities to join together and provide services that make a measurable difference in the quality of their neighbor’s lives.

Meals as Needed: Volunteers prepare food for community members in need. If you would like to share your culinary skills, visit the “Volunteer” page and email Helping Hands. We’ll place you on a list and will call you when meals are needed.

One-Time Crisis Assistance/Financial Help: One-time financial assistance is available for Barnard community members who are facing a short-term crisis.

Rides: Volunteers can provide occasional rides for community members who can’t find transportation to their next doctor’s visit, to their job, or to any other important engagement. Find out about how to volunteer as a driver on the “Volunteer” page.

Food Shelf: This program is a coordinated effort between Helping Hands and the Barnard General Store. Barnard community members are encouraged to drop off food for the Woodstock food shelf.

Holiday food and gifts: Holidays should be the most joyful days of the year, but they often bring stress and sadness to families that have little to give. A few extra gifts under the tree, cranberry topping for the turkey, or a bottle of fizzy grape juice is the simple holiday magic that creates smiles.

Helping Hands collects donations of food and gifts for families that are struggling financially during the holidays. Donation boxes can be found at the Barnard General Store.

Green up Day – On the first Saturday of May, Helping Hands organizes Green-Up Day to celebrate spring’s verdant flush by cleaning up the debris revealed by winter’s retreat. Join us that morning on the porch of the Barnard General Store, where you can munch on snacks, sign up for a raffle for two $25 gift cards to be used at the BGS, catch up with neighbors, and put our garbage bags to use with some good old-fashioned spring cleaning. We do the work and the town foots the disposal fee.