The ministry has located a building it would like to purchase on FM 436 in the Miller Heights area of Belton, but as a charitable organization that relies heavily on donations it faces one major hurdle.
It has no funds to make the project happen.
The ministry runs a charitable food bank and clothing center for the poor and needy living within the boundaries of the Belton school district.
In July, the ministry served 880 households, including 73 new families who signed up for assistance.
Right now, the group operates out of a 2,500-square-foot building on West Avenue D in Belton. It is sandwiched between the city of Belton maintenance yard and a new housing subdivision.
Space is limited at the facility. The clothing center there is smaller than a railroad boxcar, which leads to the center often giving its donated clothing items to other charities.
“We’ve been hoping and dreaming of a new place for a long time,” said Zena Highsmith, a volunteer since 1980. “I just think about all that we do out of this little old building. I cannot fathom what we could do with more space.”
Mike Bergman, executive director of Helping Hands Ministry, has cobbled together a plan to purchase the $400,000 former Dollar Store building near the FM 436 and Loop 121 intersection. But the plan must come together within the next month or the opportunity to relocate there may be gone.
Bergman estimates that if Helping Hands can raise $150,000 within the next month it could enter into a six-month lease-purchase agreement for the building.
Storage units at the rear of the 12,500-square-foot building could help provide rental income for the ministry. Bergman said 5,000 square feet of the building could be leased to another party.
What Bergman hopes happens is that one to five individuals or organizations combine resources to provided a $50,000 grant and that the community would raise the additional $100,000.
“This is a ministry,” he said. “We’re very dependent upon faith to get us through this whole process. God knows where that money is going to come from.”
If Helping Hands were successful at raising money for the new building it would move its pantry to the new location and expand its clothing services in its current building.
One of the drawbacks to the current Helping Hands location is that as the needs for its services have grown, parking has become a concern. People seeking services at the center park on what is city of Belton property - part of the maintenance yard property.
There are not any conflicts now but with the growth Belton has experienced it has become necessary for the city to expand its maintenance yard. The city secured the funds to expand during a 2007 bond election.
“It’s not designed yet but it is planned for that location,” City Manager Sam Listi said.
Bergman hopes that a move can be made before an already cluttered parking situation becomes even worse - plus he would like more space for volunteers to work in and for clients. People line up to receive services in a narrow entryway and the line often extends outside the door.
“We’re very, very crowded in the building we’re in and have been for many, many years,” Bergman said. “Right now, when we get the volunteers, on a busy day we trip all over each other. I am the director and on busy days I have to give up my office to process clients.”
The reason Bergman is trying to raise the money within a month is tied to charitable donations.
The center’s largest single contributor is United Way, which this year bequeathed $30,000 to the ministry. Helping Hands, like all other agencies that receive assistance from the United Way, has an agreement with the agency to not do any fundraising during September or October because those are the two months when the United Way focuses on its campaign.
“We would never make it without donations from churches and other organizations,” Bergman said.
The city of Belton owns the land where the current building sits.
The building at Miller Heights has the potential for expansion of the programs and ministries that Helping Hands offers its clients.
Bergman said with more space the ministry could sponsor nutrition classes or host a summer feeding program for children. It would also include a reading/play room for children whose parents are receiving services, a computer access room and a small chapel.
About 20 churches work together to provide volunteers and funding for Helping Hands.
