Operation Helping Hands 2010 June-21-2010

JOIN HANDS. OPEN YOUR HEART. LEND YOUR MUSCLE. Operation Helping Hands 2010!

Over 450 volunteers tackled clean up, painting and landscaping projects at eleven different Kane County sites as part of "Operation Helping Hands 2010"! Operation Helping Hands, a collaboration between Fox Valley United Way and Ginger Creek Community Church encourages volunteers to lend a hand to Fox Valley social service organizations that serve families and individuals who need support. Additional supporting organizations included; The City of Aurora, Main Baptist Church, Warehouse Church, Community Christian Church, Next Level Foundation, Sow a Seed Outreach and the Aurora Housing Authority.

Operation Helping Hands projects include:

· Landscaping at Aid for Individual Development

· Landscaping and general clean up at Eastwood Housing Facility, Aurora.

· Clean up at the Elderday Center, Batavia.

· Clean up, Painting and Landscaping at Hesed House, Aurora.

· Window washing and entertainment at Jennings Terrace, an Aurora nursing home.

· Landscaping at Marie Wilkinson Child Development Center , Aurora .

· Clean up projects at Mooseheart

· Landscaping at Mutual Ground, Aurora

· Clean up at Senior Services, Aurora

View our photos from this years Operation Helping Hands

Local Jewel-Osco Stores and over 140 volunteers help make the "Souper Bowl of Caring" a Great Success!

Turns out the most important “Souper Bowl” was Saturday, Jan. 31 – the day before the big football game. That's when Fox Valley United Way, local grocery stores and over 140 volunteers helped to collect over 2 tons of groceries and $5,000.00 in cash donations.........in a special Souper Bowl of Caring event to replenish shelves at two local food pantries, the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry in Aurora and the Kendall County Food Pantry in Yorkville.

Each year these pantries experience a significant reduction in donations after the holidays, limiting their ability to help families who are struggling to avoid homelessness. “Because of the economy, the need is greater than ever this year,” explained Fox Valley United Way, CEO, Michael Meyer. "People who once donated items to the food pantries are now coming in for assistance."

Jewel-Osco understands the need. “No family should have to go hungry,” Jewel-Osco President Keith Nielsen said in explaining his stores’ support of the FVUW Souper Bowl of Caring. “Hunger relief is a key issue in our community outreach efforts. Together, with the support of our customers, we will continue to help those who are struggling through these tough economic times.”

Other participating stores include the Montgomery Market Place, on Douglas Road in Montgomery, EL Guero on Root St. and Prisco’s Fine Foods on Prairie Street in Aurora.

View the Photos Souper Bowl of Caring