Becky Robbins of the Program Committee introduced both Shawn Whitmer, executive director of Helping Hands, and Carol Hay, board member of the organization.
Shawn Whitmer began at Community Helping Hands in 2009 as the Family Center Manager and later served as Operations Director. He stepped into the role of Executive Director, where he continues to serve today.
He and his wife cherish time with their two-year-old daughter, Bree, and await the arrival of a baby boy in January. He enjoys the Buffalo Bills, hunting, camping, riding ATVs, golf and spending time with family.
Carol Hay and her husband operated Gentle Earth Pottery for thirteen years. She later taught at the Sherman school district and earned a Master's and then a Certificate of Advanced Study with Administrative Certifications. She is a former principal in both the Dunkirk and Panama School Districts. Carol then became the Superintendent of the Panama, retiring in 2010.
She has been on the Board of Directors for the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and continues to serve on various CRCF committees. She served as the Interim Executive Director at Community Helping Hands and currently serves on the Board of Directors. She is on the boards of both the United Way of Chautauqua County and the Chautauqua County Historical Society. Carol is a member of the Zonta Club and works with various nonprofits in the community. She is also a group leader for Road Scholar programs at Chautauqua Institution. Carol has two grown sons and three grandchildren.
Carol first spoke about the rebirth of Community Helping Hands, with new, younger and energetic board members. The organization helps clients recommended by Salvation Army and other similar groups, providing them with household items and clothes. She noted that the staff and volunteers work hard to speak with the people they help, knowing that clients may never have been in the situation they are in, with hopes that they will be able to work themselves out of it with help from groups like Community Helping Hands.
The organization also sells other items, furniture and clothing that is donated.
Shawn stated that the Loft project will transfer responsibility for the building, which was assigned to them in 2018, from Community Helping Hands, allowing the organization to focus on its core mission. The building, spanning 196,000 square feet, presented numerous challenges.
The Loft project has an investor, and all the apartments (110 of them) will be electric. Tom Whitney of STEL will oversee the $77 Million project.
Community Helping Hands (CCH) has helped 3500 people, 1200 of them children, in the past year. The organization partners with the Resource Center, which brings their clients to learn about retail and to help the CHH organize the retail shop. Other volunteers include Social Service recipients, the Creche, Wegmans and United Way individuals. Any group that would like to do service together for a time period are welcome to contact Shawn.
Spanish-speaking volunteers would be helpful. A volunteer driver for the back-up van is needed.
In the question period, Shawn explained that the Loft apartments will include one, two or three-bedroom apartments. Children coming out of Foster Care will be able to rent apartments. The YWCA will provide space for women and children. STEL will house clients with mental or physical disabilities.
There will be a playground and lots of green space.
CCH has only a $150,000 budget. Their insurance is $80,000 a year, so they have had to let staff go to pay for that bill.
Shawn invited anyone to call him for a tour of the entire building or even just the CCH area.
President Michelle thanked both Carol and Shawn for their presentation and the meeting adjourned.
