About

The Merciful H.E.L.P. Center has a long history of providing assistance to people in Hamilton County. This ministry began with a priest and one or two volunteers working out of a small food donation closet. Through the generosity of the parish and the compassion of thousands of people, the Merciful H.E.L.P. Center is now 22 ministries strong, has a huge volunteer base, and can provide assistance in a myriad of ways:

• In the beginning years, the Thanksgiving Basket Drive assisted 25 families. Three decades later in 2018, we were able to assist 475 families – more than 2,000 people –with food for thanksgiving. 
  Our goal for 2019 is to help 480 families with a beautiful thanksgiving meal, food for a week, toiletries, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, cold goods, and fresh produce.

• We started having open hours with the H.E.L.P. Pantry for the first time in 1992, serving between 20 to 30 families a month. Now, in 2019, we serve 40 to 65 families in one two-hour period. It took one volunteer to work the Food Pantry when we opened and it now takes thirteen people to open our doors each time!

• With the economy plummeting since 2008, many families are struggling with homelessness or near homelessness. Because of the generosity of our parishioners, we have been able to help other parishioners stay in their homes by providing assistance in filing for government aid and assisting financially through unemployment. We work hard to be good stewards of the community gifts. We assist families in knowing where government aid is available, and when it is not available, we are there for all those who fall through the cracks.

• In 2010, a grant program was established to help families re-establish themselves after having been homeless. With the help of these grants, 23 families went from living between a vehicle or someone’s couch to living in their own place with beds to sleep on, a kitchen to table to eat at as a family, and all the essential housewares needed to live day-to-day. Our Handymen crew rehabilitated three houses this year and made repairs to several others.
  
  In 2019, we continue that assistance, helping families to re-establish themselves, providing a bed to sleep on, a pillow to lay their head upon, and a blanket to keep warm as well as all essential furniture and appliance needs. Housewares provide all the essential home needs to help families to function. We assist in finding affordable housing and help with the difficult hurdle of down payment. We help with utilities when no FEMA funds are available. We provide underclothes, clothing, shoes, and all the essentials to help domestic violence and fire victims as well as any other families, get restarted in life. We provide used vehicles people have donated to us to help them begin again as they re-enter the workforce, also providing face time and budgeting to afford their car insurance, gas, repair, tags, and tires.

• Many single mothers were helped by Gabriel project mentors and all the physical needs that come with having a new baby. We re-formatted this assistance to work with other ministries within the Merciful HELP Center. In 2010 we opened up the Gabriel Baby Pantry and started operating on Tuesday evenings with the Choice Food Pantry. Now, moms and/or dads bring their babies in on Tuesday night and get safe sleep educations, baby clothing, bedding, furniture, and all the things you need to take care of a baby! Our fantastic volunteers' inventory and make packages up for the parents that really help them to make things easier to care for their precious little one!

• More than $200,000 in financial aid is carefully and responsibly given in assistance to families in emergency situations.

• We have provided education for families who are stuck in the cycle of poverty to overcome old patterns and to move toward self-reliance. We can now offer financial counseling and legal services for our clients. We give $100.00 scholarships to families that qualify, have the means to pay bills, and are willing to learn how to live within their means.