HELPING HANDS MINISTRY

Helping HANDS

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Matthew 25:35-36

SERVING WITH LOVE AND ABUNDANCE AT GLADYS PARK ON JANUARY 24, 2026

We had the joy of collaborating with SLWO (Sharing Love With Others) on January 24 at Gladys Park in Skid Row, and it was our biggest outreach yet. We arrived with two fully loaded trucks and one SUV packed to the brim. Over the course of two and a half hours, we distributed clothing, hair accessories, brand new shoes, pillows, cereal, toys for kids, dog treats, and a wide variety of items to meet everyday needs.

We also shared luxurious toiletries from the Four Seasons brand, including La Bottega and Natura Bissé shampoos and conditioners, bars of soap, body balm, and hand sanitizer. Additional items included Bombas socks, healthy Bubbl’r Antioxidant Sparkling Water, regular soda, canned juices, sturdy reusable cloth bags, hand-painted rocks with uplifting messages, Roman Road tracts, heavy-duty plastic bowls, plates, and cups.

Fresh fruit, bakery items, microwave meals, chips, magazines of all kinds, diapers, Lindt chocolates, various sweets, and pharmacy items rounded out the distribution. Throughout the outreach, we were met with smiling faces and deep gratitude as unhoused individuals continuously came through to receive items. It was a powerful and humbling experience, and we are grateful to everyone who made this day possible.

TO WATCH A VIDEO FROM THE JANUARY 24, 2026 OUTREACH AT GLADYS PARK, CLICK HERE.

FOR THE 2024 RECAP, click here: HELPING HANDS 2024.

2024: CLICK HELPING HANDS NEWS! FOR MORE DETAIL

2023: AN AMAZING YEAR: Helping Hands Ministry, led by Karin Foreman, has had an amazing year! Many of you are part of this so you deserve a big thank you for all you did this year! No one has been left out: Student Pantry, Hospital goodie bags, Assisted Living outreach, Guinness World Record participant, Graduation and Homecoming closets, Skid Row Street outreaches, School supplies, Bombas sock giveaway, Recycling Fundraiser for Israel, Food and Toy Drive and much more!

CHECK OUT OUR 2023 RECAP, click here: HELPING HANDS 2023.

2022: A BUSY YEAR FOR HELPING HANDS

Our Helping Hands Ministry collects and distributes clothes and other essential items such as gloves, socks, and toys for the poor and for kids in foster care.

In addition, we organize special drives to alleviate needs during disasters like fires. We help for the sake of helping without strings attached.

For our outreach to those who are homeless, we prepare goodie bags with scripture verses and provide food and clothing received from donors.

Our Helping Hands ministry provides services to many people in a variety of ways under the leadership of Karin Foreman (see examples below). From May 27, 2020 through June 22, 2022, a volunteer-led team provided a weekly Community Pantry (in partnership with Food Share) that featured fresh produce, meat, canned goods and other products. Nearly 20,000 people were served with over 678,000 pounds of food!

The pantry was only a part of Helping Hands efforts both during and before the pandemic.

HERE IS OUR VIDEO of YEAR IN REVIEW 2022 click here: HELPING HANDS 2022.

Our weekly Student Pantry serves at least 80 students with a variety of food and beverages, including fresh produce from local farmers, easy-open canned food, feminine hygiene, laundry detergent, and occasional specialty items to students at a local high school.

Helping Hands provides catered meals in collaboration with the City of Agoura Hills to low income people, including some who are displaced or live in trailers.

We take collections and make donations to the James Storehouse organization that works with local public and private child welfare agencies to help foster kids and foster parents.

In collaboration with the City of Agoura Hills, the LA Rams, the Girl Scouts and donations from businesses and others in the community, backpacks are purchased and filled with back-to-school essentials.

Clothes Collection: Beth Emunah congregants are collecting clothes, shoes, and toiletries on an ongoing basis to help people in need.

Sock & Underwear Distribution (Bombas): These are some of the most in demand items of displaced people. We go to different areas (North Hills, Sylmar, Skid Row, Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Camarillo, Oxnard) to distribute socks, underwear and other clothes.

Special Drives for Special Ed and Underpriviledged Students: We fulfill holiday wish lists, provide unplanned pregnancy assistance, and provide clothing for special events such as graduation, proms, and job interviews, and special goodie bags for testing, holidays, encouragement, etc.

Special Disaster Relief: In addition to providing food, water, clothing and other assistance during local disasters, we raised and sent funds to three organizations who provided humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine.

Essential Workers (Hospital, Firefighters, Nursing Staff): Helping Hands distributed goodie bags to bring cheer and encouragement and show appreciation to essential workers in local hospitals and several fire stations.

Celebrating the Biblical Feasts with Jewish People in Nursing Homes: We distributed goodie bags (Covid compliant) at two Jewish Homes of the Aging in Los Angeles, The Country Villa in Westwood and Meadowbrook in Agoura. Occasionally we visit Atria and Camarillo Senior Living.

For more information contact helpinghands@bethemunah.org

Also visit our Helping Hands Facebook page (Click HERE).