Helping Hands Regular Dinner

Shelter in Place Lunch

Thank you for providing a nutritious supper for our shelter guests! You can sign-up through Meal Train. Just click on the evening you want, create a brief profile (one-time only) and sign up for an evening.

Helping Hands serves supper every night. Here’s what our meal providers need to know:

Bring enough for 50 men to enjoy.
Arrive between 5:45 and 6 p.m. through the double doors (Washington Street entrance). Food can be delivered or groups can stay and serve. Helping Hands cannot pick up meals.
Choose meals that have nutritional value. We want to serve hearty meals that include protein, grains, and vegetables/fruits. Please do not bring meals that are entirely “junk” foods (pizza or hot dogs with potato chips, etc.). If you would like help choosing a menu, we are happy to share ideas and suggestions.

News and Events

Please click the PDF here for an explanation of our Reopening Plan Effective May 29th, 2020

HH_ReOpeningPlan_05272020.pdf

POLICY CHANGE for Helping Hands IDs

Date: May 29, 2020

Date new policy will take effect: July 1, 2020

Effective July 1, 2020, Helping Hands will no longer provide “Helping Hands” personal identification cards. We are discontinuing this service because the ID is not a legal document, and the risk of misuse is significant.
Helping Hands will continue to provide Homeless Certification Forms for people who are experiencing homelessness and who have stayed in our emergency shelter for a minimum of three (3) consecutive nights. This form, with a Social Security card, will allow the person to get a free Illinois State ID.
Those who need assistance obtaining an ID also can use the Helping Hands walk-in case management services for information and guidance about how to obtain necessary documents (birth certificates, Social Security cards, etc.) necessary for a legal ID. Starting August 1, 2020, our lobby will re-open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. at 1023 E. Washington Street for people who need services at Helping Hands.

For questions about the services Helping Hands provides, call 217-522-0048.

POLICY CHANGE FOR MAIL (GENERAL DELIVERY) AT HELPING HANDS OF SPRINGFIELD

Date: May 29, 2020

Date new policy will take effect: July 6, 2020

Effective July 1, 2020, Helping Hands will no longer serve as a “general delivery” address. Current clients of the Helping Hands emergency shelter, permanent supported housing, representative payee, outreach, and day programs are not affected. We will continue to accept and distribute mail for people who are using our outreach/shelter/housing services.
Starting July 1, anyone who is not a client of a Helping Hands program will no longer be able to use the address 1023 E. Washington Street as a general delivery address, and no longer will be able to pick up mail at 1023 E. Washington Street. All mail delivered for people who are not clients will be returned to the post office immediately and will not be distributed.
To prepare for this change, all persons affected should contact any individual, company, or agency to change their mailing address. The U.S. Post Office will not forward mail addressed to 1023 E. Washington. You should change your address now to ensure there is no lapse in mail delivery to you.
If you have questions about your address or mail services, we recommend you visit www.usps.gov. You can also call the U.S. Postal Service at 800-275-8777.