“It’s hard to believe we’ve been here for 11 years,” said Co-fonder K.G. Ariagno. “In our first year, we started with $500. Now we have $50,000 and that’s what scares me.”
The organization presented volunteers and board members with a financial statement for the fiscal year 2007-2008. It reported $53,813.77 in income, and $49,935.21 in expenses.
Ariagno said, “A some of our expenses go to Pennyrile Electric and to the water department,” referencing utility bill assistance programs. “An awful lot goes to local grocery stores. It’s one of our most important tasks with money tight and donations down.”
Helping Hands collected its income from the donations of individuals and local churches, according to Ariagno. She called the $53,000 figure “wonderful.”
Presenting the group’s year-in-review report, Ariagno said that Helping Hands collected $3,600 in donations during its “Pass the Hat” campaign, several grants and gifts from the rotary club, sold $2,463 from the Ham Festival’s “Big Biscuit,” and reported income from yard sales and other fundraisers.
“In November, we had our (Janice Mason Art museum) tree, and delivered about 26 Thanksgiving Baskets. In December, we have our Food Drive at Hancock’s Market where we collected $1,700 in food. We have Christmas Baskets, where we gave away about 26 of them last year. We have our Christmas Parade float, too,” said Ariagno.
Though not a major fundraiser, Ariagno called a chili contest a “lot of fun.” She added that Helping Hands raised $867 in an April quilt show, and planned to host the event again.
For the rest of this story, read this week's Cadiz Record.
