This letter is to clarify remarks or questions that have been circulating around Cadiz. When Helping Hands needed to move from the old courthouse basement, Jim Ricks is the one person who came to our rescue. Not only did he move his own Music Shop space to put us on Main Street, he would not accept any payment from Helping Hands. When Jim became ill and was no longer able to work or do his own repairs, he finally accepted payment from us to help keep the building up.

When Jim passed on, we knew Lucretia Ricks could not do the maintenance herself and we have been paying her “rent” of $400 per month to assist her with expenses. This is a very “low” rent considering the size and location we have.

We have been looking for a location of our own for a very long time. Our present location has been for sale since October and even though Lucretia has put a stipulation in her contract that a new owner must keep us as a tenant, our rent could substantially increase. We purchased the Line Street church building at a very affordable cost for the purpose of moving the Food Bank and Clothes Closet there. We have met opposition to this move, much to our dismay and are trying to work out the obstacles. Never at any time has there been any dissension between Helping Hands and Lucretia Ricks. She is truly considered a great friend to all of Helping Hands.

K.G. Ariagno,

Helping Hands