HELP Ministry (Hands Extended Loving People) impacted the dignity and daily life of 31 Mason County families, thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation’s Mason County Funds for the Community. The grant was used to purchase and deliver 23 washers and 15 dryers—38 appliances in all.

HELP Ministry requested $5,000 from the Community Foundation and was able to match it with an additional $5,000 to purchase washers and dryers. Generally, the organization provides one appliance per family, but sometimes the real need is for both a washer and a dryer. Larry Lange, Executive Director of HELP Ministry, shared that since the distribution of the initial 38 appliances, the community has donated more appliances. As a result, HELP has been able to provide an additional 14 washers, 11 dryers, 7 stoves, 7 refrigerators, and 10 microwaves for families in need.

HELP Ministry’s mission is to compassionately provide basic goods and resources to the economically disadvantaged. Each family benefiting from the grant was able to start their laundry immediately, as every machine was delivered with a box of laundry detergent and dryer sheets.

“We feel great joy when we see the excited faces of families when they get their own machines,” said Lange. “The biggest accomplishments are the sense of excitement that will help boost the self-worth of the families, the outcome of seeing a ‘moving forward’ attitude of many of the folks, and knowing that many of these families will be able to provide a better life for themselves.”

Lange noted that some clients were so pleased they began sharing their new laundry access with neighbors who also lacked equipment, extending the impact of the grant throughout the community.