Dear HandUP Foundation,

      I want to write this letter to express my appreciation and thanks to you for all that you have helped and provided me with. I have been struggling on my own with my two children for the last year. I have been helped in many ways. I am excited about helping out in upcoming work projects. The car has helped me gain back some of my independence and also gives me hope knowing that there are people who are willing to help. I want to thank you for the vehicle, clothes for my girls, furniture, help with the bills, and most of all, for the understanding and support. So thank you so very much again.

            Sincerely,

This courageous woman left an abusive relationship to face an uncertain future and has responded to everything that we have asked her to do.

Dear HandUP Foundation,

      I would like to say thank-you for all that you have done to help our family during the holidays. You made our holidays brighter.

            Sincerely,

This family of five (kids ages 2,6,8) suddenly added 3 extra children due to a family tragedy. The wife needed to quit her job to take care of the kids. They were now living on $21,000 a year to take care of a family of 8. We provided Christmas presents, food and clothing and counseling for the brother.

To Doug and Jenn,

          Thanks for seeing me through a bad time in my life. I was very encouraged to meet you and see people who genuinely care. I felt like you listened to me and I could be real about my situation. I really appreciated Brian calling me and meeting me during my time without a job. I am happy to tell you I followed up on a lead that you gave me and am back to driving again. Your encouragement and caring and real help gave me hope when I really did not have any and did not know where to turn. Let me know of any way I can be involved in helping someone else in the future.

          Thanks again,

This trucker lost his job because he refused to work illegal hours and to cheat on the books.

Dear HandUP Foundation,

          Our family would like to thank you for all the help you have provided. You are very valuable to our community. You know definitions of a neighbor are:

          1. One who lives near another.

          2. A fellow human being

          3. A person who shows kindness or helpfulness to his or her fellow human beings.

          The final definition is what the Hand Up Foundation is all about. Sometimes life hands you some bumps and knocks and when God is in you life and when you have someone reach out their hand and say “I’m your neighbor; I care; let me help, it brings a light into your future.”

          Thank-you for helping me get my teeth fixed and getting our electricity turned back on. Thank-you for having such a heart to want to rebuild our community.

This family had their water turned off by a landlord who wanted to get rid of another tenant. They had paid rent and were never a problem.