By John Howell Sr.

Helping Hands Storehouse (HHS) plans to distribute free turkeys to needy people Saturday, December 17.

Helping Hands Storehouse is an outgrowth of last May’s visit from the Convoy of Hope when over 700 local volunteers assisted over 3,000 people, distributing food, services, counseling and other goods.

“By all measures it was a success — but it was a one-day event,” said Dr. David Ball, who helped coordinate the Convoy’s visit. “With the current economic downturn it is impossible to address the needs of our friends and neighbors through a one-day event,” he said.

The free turkeys will be handed out at the HHS building, 530 Highway 6 West, Batesville (the old compress location), starting at noon and continuing until the supply of frozen turkeys is gone, Dr. Ball said. On Monday, December 19, more turkeys will be available, starting again at noon.

The only requirement to get the free turkey is a note from a pastor.

“All he’s got to say is these people deserve it,” Dr. Ball continued. “They don’t have to be jobless or destitute or a member of the pastor’s church (or any church); if the local pastor says they are deserving — they don’t have to be hard up, just could use a little help.”

Volunteers who are assisting and who can provide additional information include Jim Reaves, 444-7003; Georgia Chapman, 578-2560; Beverly Pope, 563-6637; David A. Ball, 563-7681 and Mary Pearl Robertson, 563-7681 or 934-2444.

The turkey giveaway is intended to introduce HHS to the community and launch the volunteer organization into a role of providing temporary help across a broad spectrum of needs.

Those needs could include paying for utility bills, providing groceries, auto or household repairs and limited medical and dental assistance.

But there will be a catch: those who receive HHS assistance will be asked to give back with community service.

“Each recipient will be given the opportunity to serve in some manner in return for the help they have received,” HHR by-laws state. “There will be no attempt to ensure there is a dollar for dollar equal transaction. Our goal is to create an atmosphere of dignity, respect, personal responsibility, and confidence for our clients,” according to the by-laws.

Dr. Ball sees offering recipients an opportunity to provide community service as a means for biblically-based principal, “It is more blessed to give than receive,” to work both ways in the transaction.

“I would like to see it become a catalyst that brings us together in a way that spans racial lines, denominational lines, political lines,” Dr. Ball continued. The 700 volunteers who helped with the Convoy of Hope represented more than 30 area churches. “It’s hard times; it’s a time we can pull together,” he said.