The Helping Hands Back-to-School Drive raised a record amount of funds at Hancock’s Neighborhood Market Thursday.
A grand total of $26,453 was donated — $11,000 more than last year’s drive. Helping Hands Chairperson K. G. Ariagno says the community’s generosity will help around 150 students go shopping, allowing the non-profit to use some of the money toward their backpack program, which provides food to students over the weekend.
Throughout Bill Booth’s live report, a near-constant stream of community members came by Hancock’s to donate coins, cash, and checks. Helping Hands received many large donations, including $7,500 from the Back2Back Foundation, a surprise $5,000 from the Cadiz Rotary Club, and a significant amount of funds from anonymous donors.
Ariagno says the organization has been helping students in the community for 26 years.
She adds the program helps teachers as well as students.
Ariagno notes Helping Hands is always in need of volunteers, especially young people.
Helping Hands is still accepting donations for the Back-to-School drive. Donations can be sent to Helping Hands of Trigg County, P. O. Box 1874, Cadiz, KY, 42211.
If any students need clothing or school supplies, contact Ariagno at (270) 522-5615. She says due to the generosity of Trigg County, no one will be refused.
