Masontown Helping Hands marks 20 years providing for community
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Greg Lofstead, founder and president of Masontown Helping Hands, talks with a customer while at the Masontown thrift store. “I tell you,’’ said Lofstead, “the greatest satisfaction is doing something for someone and not needing repayment – giving from your heart.’’
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
The Masontown Helping Hands Thrift Store is celebrating its 20th anniversary as a community charity.
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Diane Dues of Masontown brings up clothing items from the basement for display inside the Masontown thrift store. Dues, a two-year volunteer, said of the organization, “I think it’s great. It helps a lot of people who are desperate at times.’’
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Pam Dubell, of Masontown, a volunteer of 4-years at Masontown Helping Hands Thift Store arranges and prepares items for sale.
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Roxanne Conners of Masontown prices cups and other items before they are placed on store shelves for customers.
Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard
Volunteeers help to sort and price items for sale.
For 20 years, Masontown Helping Hands has made its mark on the community by providing for those in need.
“Helping people — that sums it up,” said Greg Loftstead of Masontown, founder and president. “It doesn’t have to be complicated.”
The nonprofit, faith-based charity covers a territory that includes Masontown, German and Nicholson Townships with its 35 volunteers. Most of the funds for Helping Hands come from its thrift store at 14 S. Main St., where customers can buy gently used items at low prices and those in need are treated with kindness and respect.
“I tell you,” said Lofstead, “the greatest satisfaction is doing something for someone and not needing repayment — giving from your heart.”
Lofstead, who formerly operated Dolfi’s restaurant in Masontown, founded Helping Hands after noticing how many pastors were passing in and out of the area and the impact that had on church-led social programs.
While Helping Hands operates independently, it receives support from churches in the Klondike Clergy Association and the organization’s mission statement reflects a faith-based philosophy:
“By our joint efforts of Christian charity, we dedicate ourselves to the humble works of service to those who are suffering, marginalized or disenfranchised. We believe that all individuals have a moral claim to food, shelter and clothing and that we must minister to those in need. As an ecumenical group, we believe that our future existence is based on continually developing and growing in our understanding of ourselves and mutual respect for our differences. Our ministry is built on our belief that all human beings are entitled to dignity as members of one human family.”
Helping Hands works out of its thrift store, now in its third location. The current building housed the Rex Theater in the early 1900s and, more recently, a hardware store. The storefront holds a sign that bears its name and windows that invite shoppers inside for a variety of goods that include clothing, books, DVDs, dishes, knickknacks, lamps, greeting cards, toys and some furniture. This time of year a variety of holiday items are available.
“We’re always bringing in new stuff every day,” said Lofstead, who is grateful for the many people who support the charity through their donations.
Volunteers go through the donations carefully, separating items in good shape for the store. Those that are out of season are saved in the basement in sections that are carefully marked by season and holiday. The basement also contains a number of walkers and crutches that are given to people who need them. Items not in good shape and those that have been in the store a while are sent out. Helping Hands has also donated items in good shape to other organizations that need assistance.
Lofstead says Helping Hands, which works with other organizations, has taken care of thousands of people over the years. In addition to items given freely from the store, Helping Hands maintains an emergency food pantry and also pays bills to meet critical needs.
Lofstead pulled out a log in which he kept track of assistance provided to people, including food, warm clothes and payments to utility companies who are about to cut off service for those seeking help.
“We had a woman in here who needed a comforter. She didn’t have anything to keep her kids warm. That happens daily this time of year,” he said. “There was a guy living in a tent who came in yesterday. I gave him stuff to keep going and we’re trying to get him to go to a shelter.”
Lofstead referred to a speech he gave earlier this year that noted the work of Helping Hands, including “We have paid termination notices for water for families with children. We’ve helped people who had no fuel oil, no gas or source of heat. We have helped clients who face eviction, made sure a young man had several changes of dress clothes and shoes for his first big job, helped a veteran with traumatic brain injury, helped a woman living alone and suffering with cancer with her past-due utilities, helped numerous individuals with winter clothes for their children, repaired a refrigerator and provided a stove for a woman so her kids could have a hot meal.”
Helping Hands accomplishes its goals with assistance from the public — ranging from those who make donations to customers who shop at the store and people who volunteer.
Lofstead said, “We have very dedicated volunteers. I get a lot of people who are goodhearted and want to help.”
On this particular day, volunteers kept busy attending to merchandise, customers and cleaning.
Betty Colebank of Masontown and has volunteered for three years, said, “There are so many needy people in our area and we help them to find things they need.”
Rick Friend of Smithfield has volunteered two years and seen a lot of people who need assistance.
Friend said, “There are many people we help who are down on their luck. We have a lot of that.”
Diane Dues of Masontown has volunteered here two years, said of the organization, “I think it’s great. It helps a lot of people who are desperate at times.”
Margie Cuppett of McClellandtown has volunteered five years is a board member along with Lofstead and Andrea Franks of Masontown.
Asked what she likes about volunteering, Cuppett said, “Whenever I can help someone and they leave with a smile on their face.’
Cuppett said of Helping Hands, “It makes a big difference in the community. The less fortunate who can’t make it through, we’re there for them.”
Helping Hands, likewise, appreciates the backing its received from the community.
Lofstead said, “The thing I want to ask for is support in prayers. God will take care of everything else. That’s what he’s done so far.”
But anyone who wants to make donations of clothing and other items can do so during store hours, which are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Financial contributions can be sent to Helping Hands Ministry at 14 S. Main St., Masontown, PA 15461. For more information on donations or volunteering, call 724-583-1101.