By Message Staff
LEESVILLE, La. (LBM) – Helping Hands Storefront Ministries has announced plans to resume all operations June 3.
While food distribution to families has continued throughout the duration of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Helping Hands temporarily discontinued its other ministries once Gov. John Bel Edwards’ stay-at-home order went into effect March 23. Director Modie Phillips said after much prayer, she felt enough time will have passed by early June to resume services.
“I called many of our volunteers asking if they were willing to return to work on June 3rd and I rejoiced as they all said yes,” Phillips told the Baptist Message.
Phillips added that the storefront will take such precautions as volunteers wearing masks and gloves, and offering customers use of a mask while inside their facility.
Helping Hands, a compassion ministry of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, has ministered in Vernon Parish since 1992.
Since the coronavirus, the ministry’s food pantry has served around 470 families each month, compared to nearly 330 monthly in early March.
Helping Hands also operates a clothes closet, chapel, English as a Second Language classes, home supply center, school supply distribution to area students every August and “Shop With A Cop” for children during Christmas.