28 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • NOVEMBER 2021
HELPING HAND RESCUE MISSION
GIFT OF GIVING
BY BRIANA BONFIGLIO
In 1965 in Huntington, a newlywed couple
began feeding struggling families
out of a space they rented on New York
Avenue.
The Rev. Rose Marie Gaines and her
husband the Rev. Jim Gaines fed 10 people
that Thanksgiving and from there
grew the community initiative, Helping
Hand Rescue Mission. Fift y-six years
later, the mission founders’ daughter,
the Rev. Kimberly Gaines-Gambino, has
taken over as president and expects
to distribute food to more than 1,200
families this Thanksgiving.
“We’re looking forward to a great
season of helping a lot of families,”
Gaines-Gambino says.
Year round, Helping Hand Rescue Mission
runs a food and clothing pantry,
also known as the Helping Hand Rescue
Mission Community Closet, Tuesday
through Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
It also holds a weekly Baby Blessings
distribution program at a local church.
Mothers in need stop by to get essentials,
such as baby clothes, diapers, wipes,
formula, strollers, cribs, and toys. The
Mission receives donations from community
members and through partnerships
with such as the Family Service League..
“We have appreciated so much, especially
during these times that have been so challenging,
the amazing support we have received
from the community,” Gaines-Gambino
says. “We wouldn›t be able to do
what we do without the help of people.”
Before the Covid pandemic, the Mission
served about 90 people on average per
week. At the pandemic’s height, volunteers
served 500 or more people per
week. Now, there are about 250 people
seeking assistance weekly.
Recognizing that many families cannot
aff ord presents around Christmastime,
Helping Hand Rescue Mission holds a
large toy drive in December. Volunteers
wrap the new gifts and distribute
bagfuls in a drive-through fashion to
families.
Other yearly events include the Mission’s
Family Fall Fun Day, coat and
backpack drives, and kids’ Easter
celebration. In the past, the Mission
held an annual Christmas party but
has not returned to the event since
the pandemic began.
Helping Hand Rescue Mission has
continued its Thanksgiving tradition
of providing meals to families
in need, but also in a different way
since 2020. Community members
now participate in “Fill a Box, Feed
a Family,” in which they decorate and
fill a box with food that registered
families can pick up at a scheduled
time and use for their Thanksgiving
meals.
“Without even planning for it to be
this way, it gives families an opportunity
to come together to help another
family,” Gaines-Gambino says.
“The families we serve want to have
Thanksgiving at home. To be able to
cook and be with your family on the
holidays is very special.”
CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
Volunteers help wrap and distribute toys to families in need with children
each holiday season. (Courtesy The Rev. Kimberly Gaines-Gambino)
NONPROFIT FUNDRAISERS
‘DO THIS’ FOR A CAUSE
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
OF LONG ISLAND VIRTUAL
INFORMATION SESSION
Become a mentor. Help change a
child›s life for the better, forever. Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island is
a one-to-one mentorship program in
local communities. zoom.us/meeting/
register/tJwlcuCgpjwvGd0OAbwMMPcTxJsnUcJLuh
D Free. 7 p.m. Nov. 3.
THE DUKES CONCERT
FUNDRAISER FOR COLON
CANCER
The doo wop and classic rock group The
Dukes return for this 50th anniversary
concert and Martin Batey Colon Cancer
Research benefi t. The Warehouse, 203
Broadway, Amityville, thewarehouseli.
com $20. 1 p.m. Nov. 6.
SEEDS OF HOPE 5K/10K
All proceeds of this event are used to benefi
t the Seeds of Hope Tanzania which is
dedicated to providing fi nancial support
to children, families and communities
of Tanzania, East Africa, to overcome
extreme poverty. Neville Park, 9 Canal
St., Center Moriches, events.elitefeats.
com/seedsofh ope21 $20-$35. 9 a.m. Nov. 7.
CANNED FOOD DRIVE
Bring two canned goods per person to
benefi t the Canned Food Drive for Long
Island Harvest and receive $10 admission,
skate rental, a slice of pizza and
small drink. Reservations are required.
Call 516-795-5474 to RSVP. United Skates
of America, 1276 Hicksville Rd., Seaford,
unitedskates.com $10. 7 p.m. Nov. 12.
NEW YORK BLOOD CENTER
BLOOD DRIVE
Help your community by rolling up
your sleeve. Nassau Community College,
One Education Dr., Garden City, donate.
nybc.org Free. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 18.
CP NASSAU 5K
Funds raised will go towards health
and wellness efforts to benefit the
staff and the children and adults who
participate in programs at the Cerebral
Palsy Association of Nassau County. Eisenhower
Park, Field 2, East Meadow,
events.elitefeats.com/cpnassau21 8:30
a.m. Nov. 20.
Roller skaters get a discount for donating canned goods. (Getty Images)
/unitedskates.com
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/nybc.org
/cpnassau21
