Contributed Article

Helping Hands for Graham County has been working to assist Graham County residents from Solomon to Bylas with home repairs for the past year. Helping Hands works with homeowners who live at or below the poverty level or who are physically unable to make repairs to their homes.

Applicants for assistance are qualified on the basis of home ownership, financial need, inability to perform repair, the need of the project and their willingness to participate according to their ability. The goal of Helping Hands is to provide healthier, safer homes for all of Graham County.

Barbara Haralson is one of the Helping Hands volunteers who helps make repairs to houses of needy people. Contributed photo

Helping Hands works with other local organizations such as SEACUS to help clients find the help they need. Royce Hunt, program manager with SEACUS, said working with Helping Hands has helped her organization nearly double the number of clients SEACUS has helped with much-needed home repairs. Hunt explained that if a client comes to SEACUS needing home repairs, SEACUS will often provide the materials and Helping Hands will perform the labor needed for free.

Helping Hands has recently received large grants from the Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Foundation and the Graham County Community Foundation to continue to expand repair projects. Often, these repairs are to help the home’s residents’ health and mobility, such as widening doorways and installing wheelchair ramps, electrical and plumbing repairs, new doors, windows and drywall, just to name a few. From large to small jobs, all work is done by community volunteers.

Helping Hands is a great way to give back to the community and give people a sense of purpose. One Helping Hands volunteer said, “Sometimes I feel like I receive much more than I give as a Helping Hands volunteer.”

Another volunteer said, “Having been out of a job for some time, I was really feeling down and useless. Volunteering to help others gave a real boost to my self-esteem.”

In October, Helping Hands will be celebrating volunteerism, so keep watch for ways to participate in “Making a Difference” to help those in need throughout Graham County.

There are many ways to get involved with Helping Hands. Everyone is welcome, and volunteers are always needed. The amount of work Helping Hands can do is largely limited by the number of volunteers, finances and skills available. Even those who do not have a lot of home repair experience can learn on the job. Volunteers can also help with organizing meetings, events and supplies. Helping Hands is also taking donations of gently used tools – from power tools to hammers and paintbrushes – anything is welcome.

To apply for assistance or to donate or volunteer call or e-mail Sue Bonefas at (928) 428-0275, jbonefas@ cableone.net, or Barbara Haralson at (928) 428-4430, bharalson@ cableone.net; or go to the Web site, www.helpinghandsforgrahamcounty.org.