RALEIGH, N.C. –  The Helping Hand Mission is asking for a hand themselves this year, as poverty and homelessness impact more families in our community. 

Helping Hand Mission has been providing aid to people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Raleigh for more than 40 years now, but said they’ve never seen a need as great as the one this holiday season.  

“We had so many people that’s called and asking for help and we still are running short,” said Sylvia Wiggins, with Helping Hand Mission. “We just want to give them something, make them feel good, and make them comfortable, to make them know somebody loves you.”

The Durham Highway Fire Rescue team dropped off a trailer load of toys in answer to the mission's plea for help. (Spectrum News 1/Rachel Boyd)

Lately the phone has been ringing nonstop with calls for help, but their supply is running low. Sylvia Wiggins is asking the community to step up in a big way rather than turn away those in need of help. 

“Anything and everything we can use, stuffed animals, any kind of gifts, anything gently used a person can use. We definitely need it,” Wiggins said. “We kind of hit the bottom of the barrel right now.”

They work with more than 1,300 individuals and families in the Raleigh area who are struggling, and while toys are the things that make a child smile, food and warm clothes are what they really need to see them through the winter. 

“I get really emotional every time people give stuff because I know Christmas Day I’m gonna see some happy children,” Wiggins said. “You know, sometimes it makes them forget what they’re going through.”

For information on how to help or volunteer, you can call 919-829-8048. All donations can be brought to Helping Hand Mission between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. 

“Get out of your comfort zone and help somebody,” Wiggins said.