A local organization that helps feed the hungry needs help keeping warm this winter.

“We have a heating unit out,” said Tammy Comfort, president of Helping Hands Ministry. “We have two units. Our building is big and it’s hard to keep it warm. That’s our biggest need right now. We are always in need of volunteers and donations, but a new heating unit is $5,000.”

The ministry partners with Second Harvest Food Bank to provide food and assistance to less fortunate citizens throughout Warren County. Along with a soup kitchen that provides a free meal twice a week, the nonprofit organization offers mobile food drives throughout the year and distributes boxes of food. Those services are offered to everyone, without income restrictions. 

Once a month, the organization provides a week’s worth of food to qualified recipients. Those families must provide information and meet income guidelines. 

The ministry is doing well as far as providing nourishing food to people, says Comfort.

“Saturday, Dec. 8 we had our last mobile food drive for the year,” she said. “That was our fifth one. We gave away 292 boxes of food. It was rainy and cold that morning. Everyone said they were sorry that we had to stand out in that but they were so thankful for the food. We are feeding about 120 with a monthly distribution. We’re still offering our soup kitchen on Mondays and Fridays, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We’re feeding our maximum which is right at 50 people every Monday and Friday.”

Comfort sent out a special thank you to the volunteers who help unload the truck and distribute the food boxes, as well as to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, just off Highway 55 at 562 Shangri La Lane, which allows the organization to use its parking lot.

For more information or to volunteer to help, Helping Hands Ministry is located on Main Street, has a page on Facebook, and can be reached at 507-9070.