Helping Hands

Rochester Area Neighborhood House Food Pantry is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization housed in the First Congregational Church, UCC in Rochester, MI.  The Helping Hand Committee volunteers work in collaboration with the Rochester Area Neighborhood House (RANH) to provide emergency food orders to individuals and families in the Greater Rochester Area. Clients are screened by RANH and if there is a need for food clients are referred to the food pantry. RANH has provided low income families with emergency food, clothing, financial aid and/or counseling for more than 40 years.

Since the food pantry’s inception in 1967, when 19 families were served from a closet under the stairs, the number served has steadily grown. In 2010, 1207 families (a total of 2,614 individuals) received food assistance. Neighborhood House also distributes food from its internal pantry during hours that Helping Hand food pantry is not open. The Helping Hand Food Pantry serves an area of approximately 100 square miles and includes the town of Leonard to the north, South Boulevard to the south, Dequindre Road to the east and the 1-75 Freeway to the west.

A typical emergency food order includes enough canned goods, bread, meat, fresh perishables, personal care items and paper products to last 14 days. Canned goods, paper products andpersonal care items are largely obtained through community food drives held on behalf of Helping Hands Food Pantry at schools, businesses, churches, clubs and other organizations throughout the year. Donations are also brought in by individuals on a nearly every day basis. The proceeds from the Good Fellows Paper Drive held each December by our local Firefighters provides the Pantry with a large portion of the money with which perishables and other items are purchased. Local organizations, i.e. Rochester Elks, the Rochester Lions Club, Kiwanis and others also donate goods and monies to the pantry. In addition, the pantry receives cash donations and other items from schools, businesses, and private individuals. A portion of the money collected from the local CROP walk also comes to the pantry. When supplies become low, food is purchased at local grocery stores with the money donated.

Food orders are distributed Monday through Friday between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Questions should be directed to:

• The Helping Hand Pantry during normal hours of operation (248.651.6225)
• First Congregational Church, UCC during regular business hours (248.651.6225)
• RANH can also be contacted (248.651.5836)