Letter to the Editor: Helping Hands On Pine Closing
 | Author:
Dee Gannon, Helping Hands Townsend
MT43 News Correspondent |
Helping Hands on Pine Closing
Dee Gannon
Helping Hands Townsend
It is with great sorrow to announce that Helping Hands Townsend on Pine is closing, after 9 years of providing the community with low-cost clothing, shoes, books, kitchen & bathroom supplies; as well as crafts and doo dads.
We (as well as our sister store, HHT4KIDS) have given back to the community over $109,000 in benefits to Broadwater County residents. The Christmas Connections, American Legion, Ministerial Association, HeadStart, Peer to Peer Support, Broadwater Social Services Committee, Little League Baseball, MCV-The Bridge remodel, Townsend Schools and Teachers, Transform Townsend, Big Sky Autism, and Shakespeare in the Park are just a few of the projects that we have (as a whole) supported through monetary donations.
We were never late with any rent due, even when the rent kept climbing. We knew how important our mission was: that the people in Townsend and Broadwater County needed and deserved our help. Being it through monetary help (organizations mentioned above), or individual needs, like help with rent, utilities, gas, or anything not expected: fire, flood, homelessness. Everything that we have is available to others. IT’S WHAT WE DO. It’s what we (as volunteers) love and need to do. Spread as much joy as we can.
Our building at 424 N. Pine was put up for sale (and SOLD) without giving us the needed time to procure donations from the community to keep us afloat. We believe we should have had a heads-up that the owners were THINKING of selling, so that we would have a chance to save our store. As soon as we found out, we put an S.O.S. to the community; too little, too late.
Many people came to us expressing their desire to help. Again, too late; the building was sold within a week of listing.
So, we beg of you, our readers, customers and donors to our cause; we need somewhere to continue our ministry. We need at least 2,200 sqft in a building, or a lot of one quarter or one third acre in which we could build a Quonset hut, or a place in which we could continue taking donations of household goods, adult clothing, shoes, books, crafts, etc. We can only do what we do through your donations. I guess that for now, your support through our 4KIDS store will suffice. We will try to continue to serve the community however we can.
Our last day will (sadly) be July 5, 10-2. Until then, we will be having our liquidation sale (pay what you can), Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 10-2. Come in and help us by buying (at YOUR price) clothing, shoes, etc. ALL of what we have.
We also need volunteers after July 5 and before July 15 to help us remove shelving, books and whatever else. Please, call Dee at 406-949-0078.
Thank you all for supporting us throughout our years here. We love you all.
Helping Hands Townsend on Pine Staff.
