Agency - Helping Hands Of Goose Creek

Our primary mission is to furnish food to hungry people in need while encouraging self-sufficiency. Helping Hands is the largest emergency food pantry in Berkeley County. Last year we provided over 325,000 meals to approximately 12,000 people.

Description:
Helping Hands of Goose creek is a small non profit organization created to address the hunger issues in this community. We are able to assist clients with food supplements (which provides them with 7-10 days worth of food). We currently partner with Trident Literacy Association to provide mandatory budgeting classes, on site computer classes, as well as a GED program that our clients can elect to participate in. A Benefit Bank representative is on site to process applications from clients wanting to apply for food stamps, medicaid, or medicare. We also serve as a resource for outside service agency referrals.

History:
Helping Hands of Goose Creek was established in 1989 and has been in continuous operation since as a crisis assistance center in Goose Creek. The organization was originally created as a collaboration of the Goose Creek Clergy Association to address the hunger problems in this community.

Contact people:

Michelle Arredondo, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Cheryl Heisler, Client Assessment Specialist, (phone), (email)

Address:

104-B Commerce Place Goose Creek, SC 29445 (See a map)

Directions:

Hwy 176 to Wal-Mart,look for the Sunoco gas station. Turn on to Central Ave. Go down Central Ave. and turn right on Commerce place (about 1/4 mile) and we are at the end of the cul de sac.

Miscellaneous Information

General information about volunteer opportunities
	Daily opportunities consist of food sorting, food bagging for distribution, and directly serving the clients by weighing food selections.
Training/orientation
	Individual orientation is given to those interested in volunteering.
Minimum age to volunteer
	16
Volunteer requirements
	no background checks conducted