9/10/2022 1:54:00 PM
Englewood Helping Hand Celebrates Opening Of New Headquarters
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Pictured at the ribbon-cutting ceremony (left to right) are Board members Bryan Halstead; Elaine Emrich; Craig Lewis; Mark Rennie; Beryl Butler; Karen Harvey, President; Audrey Rice; Marge Sandness; Sean Cafferty; Paul Calabro; Tony Lupacchino; and Lance Anderson, Pantry Administrator. |
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As Englewood Helping Hand President Karen Harvey stated in her opening remarks, “It takes a community to complete the new Englewood Helping Hand building.” That community, Englewood, turned out in large numbers to celebrate during the ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at Englewood Helping Hand, Inc. (EHH) on Monday, August 29th. The remark, “and it even has running water and a bathroom,” brought laughter from the crowd as they listened to remarks made by Karen Harvey; Doug Izzo, Chamber of Commerce CEO; and Sarasota County Commissioner Ron Cutsinger. Pastor Don Prine of Englewood United Methodist Church offered the invocation. Englewood Helping Hand, Inc was started in 1977, a creation of the Englewood Ministerial Association, to be a “one-stop” location to assist those in need with food and other forms of assistance. One of the original board members, Kathy Roach, shared that in 1983 she gave birth to a daughter and an organization, as that was the year that EHH became incorporated. Over the years, the need has grown as more individuals and families “needed a helping hand”, resulting in the initial dream to enlarge the building and services offered, raising the financing required, construction (by Hamsher Homes), and lots of hard work given generously by the staff, board, and volunteers. As Doug Izzo noted, the need will grow as Englewood continues to grow and some residents will need a helping hand at some point along the way. Commissioner Cutsinger added, “We all have had a helping hand in our lives at one time or another.” The new building is larger, offers refrigeration, more ample storage space, a garage door for unloading deliveries and office space that can be utilized by other agencies for services such as food stamp applications, and rental assistance. Lance Anderson, Pantry Administrator, said that there are plans open an additional day with the help of enough volunteers in the future. Current hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8am to 1pm. For more information, visit www.englewoodhelpinghand.org or call 941•474•5864.
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