Helping Hands of Putnam Co. Will Return to In-Person Services

Helping Hands of Putnam County is officially seeing in-person clients again.

The group helps individuals in need by providing food, utilities assistance and rent assistance among others. Director Debbie Handlson said they hope the decision will allow the group to expand the work they do for the community.

“You know they say ‘We need food, or I need help with my electric,’ but when they come in, we can sit down with them, and we can talk to them and find out a little more about what’s going on in their lives, maybe give them some extra resources,” Handlson said.

Handlson said that in learning more about their clients’ situations, they can often meet more of their needs.

“Someone called us last week asking for food, and it was right before we went for lunch and they said ‘Well just put the food outside,’ and I said ‘Well no, that’s not how we do things,'” Handlson said. “So when they came in–they were homeless–so we were able to give them a bedroll and we were able to give them plastic stuff so they would be out of the weather a little bit.”

Handlson said they faced difficulties the past year navigating how to operate in a new way, and that they look forward to working more efficiently and to reaching more potential clients.

Handlson said that when you help these individuals, you can help the community as a whole.

“When we keep people in their homes–if we can help people with their rent, that stabilizes the community–You stay in the same neighborhood, your kids are going to the same school,” Handlson said. “I just think that benefits the city to help people be healthier by eating better food, making sure utilities are on so people can have electricity so they can heat their house or cool their house, they can water on to clean themselves with. I just think all of these things work together to make the city and the county a better place for everyone.”