Blessing the children

BELLE VERNON – Volunteers with the Hands & Feet Project are searching for a storefront on the bus line in the Mon Valley so they can extend their community outreach to more children in need throughout the region.
But before they can do so, they need to raise some money.
To that end, Diann Donaldson, owner of the Jazzy Boutique, will host a Paint ‘n’ Sip conducted by Robin Berish, owner of Create with Colour of Perryopolis, Friday at her Belle Vernon business at 1049 Broad St. to benefit Hands & Feet.
“They are a small group of women with a huge heart,” said Donaldson, referring to the volunteers with Hands & Feet. “They give so much of themselves to the community. It’s a phenomenal organization. We’ll always be a part of the organization one way or another.”
The Hands & Feet Project is a free children’s needs ministry that was founded three years ago by Michelle Robertson and Latishia Igoe, after the stay-at-home moms received help for their children when their husbands lost their jobs and their families were struggling financially.
“I got all this stuff for free, and I wanted to give it away when I was finished with it,” said Robertson of Belle Vernon, who serves as the organization’s vice president. “God has blessed us, and our husbands now have better jobs.”
The organization originally operated out of Igoe’s basement, and later relocated to her garage. But Hands & Feet quickly outgrew the space as both the donations and the need continued to grow.
“People were dropping off clothes on our porch,” Robertson said. “We were delivering bags to people everywhere.”
Today, the Hands & Feet Project operates out of a storage shed – complete with much-needed shelving – at House of Faith Church on Taylor Road in West Newton. There are no income restrictions, limitations or requirements.
“We’re really good at giving things away, but we’re not so good at fundraising,” said Marsha Black of Charleroi, secretary of Hands & Feet and a member of House of Faith, noting that, until this point, the organization has only held sock and underwear fundraisers.
Black, who has three grown sons and four grandchildren, with another due in August, said as soon as she heard children were involved with Hands & Feet, she didn’t hesitate to get involved.
“I just love children,” she said. “I volunteered to separate clothing. A lot of women never stay to help. Well, I never left.”
Hands & Feet provides generous allotments of new and gently used clothing per child, per size, per season as follows: 10 pajamas, 15 bottoms, 15 tops, 20 onesies, five outfits or dresses, one coat, two jackets and three to five pair of shoes. Clothing is available for both boys and girls from newborns to size 14/16.
Appointments to pick out items are required to allow ample time for Hands & Feet volunteers to “shop” one-on-one with each mom for each child. Last year, Hands & Feet helped more than 500 children.
This year, though, that number may decline, only because the West Newton location isn’t accessible to a lot of women who need help for their children.
“It would be nice if we could find an owner who would give us the space, and agree to let us fix it up and pay the utilities,” Black said. “We’re just praying and putting it in God’s hands. We do not want to give up this ministry. It’s been such a blessing. “I gave a boy a backpack the other day. It breaks my heart to see such a need, but he was so appreciative.”
Diapers and formula also are given out on a discretionary basis, and are limited to two cans and two packs per month. Baby food is 15 jars and two small or one large box of cereal per month.
Other items, such as strollers, bath tubs, swings, blankets, wipes and pack ‘n’ plays, are provided as they become available. Hands & Feet does not take or give out cribs, mattresses or car seats, and it does not have the capacity for toy storage.
“It’s amazing where we started, and where we are now,” said Robertson, a mother of three. “There is a lot of need out there.”
In addition to struggling moms, clients include grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, siblings who are raising siblings, aunts who are raising nieces and nephews and foster moms.
“Grandparents are raising grandkids, and they’re on fixed incomes,” Black said. “It’s not so much they can’t afford it as it is they’re raising children they never expected to raise.”
If Hands & Feet is able to secure a storefront along a bus line, it also would like to expand its free services to include a counseling area for moms and a play area for the children.
Donaldson said if she had the space at Jazzy Boutique – or the money to rent a warehouse – she would be glad to house Hands & Feet. For now, though, Jazzy Boutique will continue to serve as a drop-off location.
“We try to do as much as we can for the moms,” Black said. “When they walk out, they are smiling.”
For more information, to hold a donation drive or to make an appointment with a Hands & Feet Project volunteer to pick out items, call 724-469-0112.
Robin Berish, owner of Create with Colour of Perryopolis, will conduct a Paint ‘n’ Sip Friday at Jazzy Boutique, 1049 Broad St., Belle Vernon. Doors open at 6 p.m., and painting will begin at 7. Cost is $35. There also will be a Chinese auction and a half-the- take drawing. The painting class can accommodate 45 people, but not everybody has to paint, said Diann Donaldson, owner of Jazzy Boutique. In addition, anyone who donates diapers or disposable pull-up underwear for children will receive a $10 credit for store merchandise. For tickets or more information, call Jazzy Boutique at 724-243-3405. Proceeds will benefit the Hands & Feet Project.