Reaching Out to Our Neighbours
Hands of Hope provides free furniture and household goods to people in need.
Our vision is to replace poverty with hope by providing a means for our community to care for one another.
You can make a difference in the lives of our less fortunate neighbours in Winnipeg. Many are impoverished – they and their children are sleeping on the floor. Hands of Hope picks up good quality used furniture from donors and delivers it to families in need at no cost to them. Financial contributions are therefore essential for this good work to continue.
On almost any day Hands of Hope receives between 60-80 phone calls from our fellow citizens in desperate need of help.
They are senior citizens sleeping on the floor without any furniture in their home and no pots and pans for cooking, or refugees bearing the scars of brutal conflicts in their native country, escaping for their lives. They are first nations people coming into the city looking for improved conditions, education and health treatment. People who have had their house broken into and all of their possessions stolen phone us, as well as those who have had their homes infested with bed bugs, women escaping abusive relationships, single parents, people who are ill or injured, those with mental problems, ex criminals etc.
There are many causes of the problems these Winnipegers are facing. Some of which are:
1. Inadequate training in life skills.
2. Unsafe, insecure, unsanitary and inadequate housing.
3. Difficulty fitting into the types of jobs available
4. Inadequate mental health support.
Not enough is being done to address these causes. One solution is basic, safe, inexpensive housing coupled with onsite counselling and life skills support. However, at this time families are moving often, due to poor housing and the many other causes mentioned earlier, so there is an ongoing need for used furniture . That need can be met with the abundance of good items stored in garages and basements that other families do not want to see destroyed at the landfill sites.
To get that furniture to the people who desperately need it, requires “Hands of Hope”. The hands that give “hope” urgently require the financial resources to deliver that hope. Funds are needed for van and trailer gas and repairs. Our small staff of 4 take phone calls, record information, maintain the warehouse, and pick up and deliver furniture, with the help of about 70 volunteers throughout the year. They also sort, pack and repair the many items picked up and delivered each day.
The effect of your financial donation will be multiplied many times by our hard-working, kind-hearted volunteers and donors of free furniture. Your financial donation of $30 or more will be receipted for income tax purposes. Your generosity will make life more bearable for many of your neighbours in need in Winnipeg. They would be very grateful.
Our vision is to replace poverty with hope by providing a means for our community to care for one another.
You can make a difference in the lives of our less fortunate neighbours in Winnipeg. Many are impoverished – they and their children are sleeping on the floor. Hands of Hope picks up good quality used furniture from donors and delivers it to families in need at no cost to them. Financial contributions are therefore essential for this good work to continue.
On almost any day Hands of Hope receives between 60-80 phone calls from our fellow citizens in desperate need of help.
They are senior citizens sleeping on the floor without any furniture in their home and no pots and pans for cooking, or refugees bearing the scars of brutal conflicts in their native country, escaping for their lives. They are first nations people coming into the city looking for improved conditions, education and health treatment. People who have had their house broken into and all of their possessions stolen phone us, as well as those who have had their homes infested with bed bugs, women escaping abusive relationships, single parents, people who are ill or injured, those with mental problems, ex criminals etc.
There are many causes of the problems these Winnipegers are facing. Some of which are:
1. Inadequate training in life skills.
2. Unsafe, insecure, unsanitary and inadequate housing.
3. Difficulty fitting into the types of jobs available
4. Inadequate mental health support.
Not enough is being done to address these causes. One solution is basic, safe, inexpensive housing coupled with onsite counselling and life skills support. However, at this time families are moving often, due to poor housing and the many other causes mentioned earlier, so there is an ongoing need for used furniture . That need can be met with the abundance of good items stored in garages and basements that other families do not want to see destroyed at the landfill sites.
To get that furniture to the people who desperately need it, requires “Hands of Hope”. The hands that give “hope” urgently require the financial resources to deliver that hope. Funds are needed for van and trailer gas and repairs. Our small staff of 4 take phone calls, record information, maintain the warehouse, and pick up and deliver furniture, with the help of about 70 volunteers throughout the year. They also sort, pack and repair the many items picked up and delivered each day.
The effect of your financial donation will be multiplied many times by our hard-working, kind-hearted volunteers and donors of free furniture. Your financial donation of $30 or more will be receipted for income tax purposes. Your generosity will make life more bearable for many of your neighbours in need in Winnipeg. They would be very grateful.
The History of Hands of Hope (2000 - 2016):
In January of 2000, several of us attending the Grace Christian Church began reaching out to citizens of Winnipeg through a World Vision sponsored church network called NeighbourLink. It soon became apparent that over 80% of the requests for help were for basic household furniture. No one appeared to be able and willing to help people meet this need.
My wife Sandra and I began delivering tables and chairs from our home and from the homes of other members to those requesting help. In 2002, with help from our pastor Alan Redmond, a registered charity called Hands of Hope was formed. Today, Hands of Hope responds to about between 60-80 calls plus many more emails every day. Four paid staff now coordinate about 100 volunteers throughout the year in picking up and delivering furniture to a great variety of people in need.
Winnipeg has over 70,000 people of aboriginal descent. A high percent live in very poor circumstances. Many more are moving into the city every year from remote reservations. Over 16,000 people immigrate to Manitoba every year—many coming with no extra money. Many women are fleeing abusive relationships. Almost all the mental hospitals were closed years ago, putting patients out into the community where they often fare very poorly. Many elderly people find themselves with only the hard floor to sleep on when their beds are infested over and over again with bedbugs.
One 75-year old woman with learning difficulties was discovered to be living in a dilapidated bug- and mouse-infested rooming house with no bed, furniture, or pots to cook with. We gave her a bed, blankets, sheets, chairs, pots, dishes and lamps. She was very grateful. There didn’t appear to be anyone concerned and able to help her. When she moved into a much better apartment, Hands of Hope continued to help her. She is over 80 now and still calls Hands of Hope to ask for items.
We often help five or six families a day. I tell them, “This is what Jesus would do!” In the past 16 years, we’ve helped over 60,000 people—close to 10% of Winnipeg’s population! "Hands of Hope" employees and volunteers get friendly waves and smiles as they drive down the city’s streets.
A 67-year old woman living under a bridge came to Hands of Hope asking for dry shoes and a coat. We gave her shoes plus blankets and food. She is now living in a warm apartment well furnished by Hands of Hope and is very grateful.
We believe this service to the community is a great way to put into practice what Jesus said: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
Hands of Hope Founder
Charles F. Norris
