ÿþ<html> <head> <title>Gaithersburg HELP About Us page</title> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="description" content="Gaithersburg HELP"> <meta name="keywords" content="Gaithersburg HELP, food, food pantry, emergency assistance, emergency food, prescription, diapers, Gaithersburg Maryland"> </head> <body> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="750" height="10" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="216" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" height="10" align="center" style="border: 8px double #999966"> <a title="Click to return to Gaithersburg HELP homepage" href="GaithersburgHome.htm"> <img border="0" src="HomeButton2.jpg" width="120" height="24"></a><br> <a title="Click to return to About Gaithersburg HELP homepage" href="aboutghelp.htm"> <img border="0" src="AboutUsButton.jpg" width="120" height="24"></a><br> <a title="Click to learn how to donate to Gaithersburg HELP" href="donationsghelp.htm"> <img border="0" src="DonationsButton.jpg" width="120" height="24"></a><br> <a title="Click to learn how to volunteer at Gaithersburg HELP" href="volunteersghelp.htm"> <img border="0" src="VolunteersButton.jpg" width="120" height="24"></a><br> <a title="Click to find out about Gaithersburg HELP services" href="servicesghelp.htm"> <img border="0" src="ServicesButton.jpg" width="120" height="24"></a><br> <a title="Click to find out about Gaithersburg HELP Publicity" href="publicityghelp.htm"> <img border="0" src="PublicityButton.jpg" width="120" height="24"></a><br> <a href="mailto:gaithersburghelp@yahoo.com"><img border="0" src="ContactUsButton2.jpg" width="120" height="24"></a></td> <td width="863" bgcolor="#208068" height="10" align="center" style="border: 8px double #999966"> <p align="justify"> <p><font color="#FFFFFF" size="5">A Network of Volunteers in<br> the Gaithersburg Community<br> Serving Gaithersburg Residents in Need<br> Since 1968</font><br> <font color="#FFFFFF" size="5">"<i>Neighbor Helping Neighbor</i>" </font> </td> <td align="center" width="216" height="10" style="border: 8px double #999966"> <img border="0" src="WheatSheaveLogoWhiteBckgnd2.jpg" width="150" height="152"></td> </tr> </table> </center><br> </div> <table width="50%"align="center" border="0"> <tr> <td> <table width="75%" bordercolor="#111111" border="0" > <tr> <td> <div align="center"><font color="#208068" size="6" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>About Gaithersburg HELP</b></font> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18"> <div align="center"><a href="/pubs/StrategicPlan.pdf" title="Gaithersburg HELP Member Congregations"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#208068">Gaithersburg HELP Strategic Plan 2009-2014</font></b></font></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18"> <div align="center"><a href="/pubs/History.pdf" title="Gaithersburg HELP Member Congregations"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#208068">Gaithersburg HELP History 1967-2008</font></b></font></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="18"> <div align="center"><a href="/congregationsghelp.htm" title="Gaithersburg HELP Member Congregations"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#208068">Supporting Congregations</font></b></font></a><b><font size="4" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font></b></div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <div align="center"> <p><a href="/pubs/AnnualReport2009.pdf"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#208068">Gaithersburg HELP Annual Report 2009</font></b></font></a> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="75%" align="center" border="0"> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068">Gaithersburg HELP ("HELP") has been serving the Gaithersburg community for 40+ years, an impressive accomplishment for an organization that operates as an ALL VOLUNTEER organization. </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp; </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068">How Gaithersburg HELP serves those in need:</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp; </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="37"><b><font color="#208068" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">FOOD</font></b><font color="#208068" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">& HELP provides a</font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="/pubs/foodpackageghelp.pdf"><font color="#208068">three-day supply of food</font></a> <font color="#208068">based on family size from our local food pantry by appointment. </font></font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp; </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#208068">INFANT NEEDS</font></b><font color="#208068">& HELP provides diapers and infant formula for short- term emergencies.</font></font></td> </tr> <td height="22">&nbsp; </td> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#208068">PRESCRIPTIONS</font></b><font color="#208068">& HELP assists with emergency medical needs such as medicines</font>.</font></td> </tr> <td height="22">&nbsp; </td> <tr> <td height="20"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#208068">TRANSPORTATION</font></b><font color="#208068">& HELP assists with transportation to medical appointments and social service agencies.</font></font></td> </tr> <td height="22">&nbsp; </td> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#208068">OTHER FINANCIAL NEEDS</font></b><font color="#208068">& HELP considers other emergency needs on a case by case basis to help families over a short period crisis.</font></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp; </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b><font color="#208068">SUPPORT AND REFERRAL</font></b><font color="#208068">& HELP listens and offers guidance to identify other resources that clients may access during the stress and confusion of an emergency. This includes referrals for rent, utility bills, clothing, and furniture needs. </font></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp; </td> </tr> <td height="41"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068">During <b>2011</b>, Gaithersburg HELP provided assistance for more than <b>5,650</b> emergency situations:</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="84"> <ul> <li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068"> providing <b>3,433</b> food packages containing a 3-5 day supply of food</font></li> <li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068"> paying for <b>803</b> essential medications </font></li> <li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068"> providing <b>1,033</b> diaper/formula packages</font></li> <li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068"> providing <b>651</b> rides to medical/social service appointments</font></li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>&nbsp; </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068">In 1968, the faith community of Gaithersburg recognized that emergencies happen quickly and government assistance takes time. To meet these immediate needs, congregations of churches and synagogues formed Gaithersburg HELP to provide short-term assistance in a coordinated fashion. </font></td> </tr> <td height="22">&nbsp; </td> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068">Now more than 25 congregations join in this network to help neighbors in the greater Gaithersburg community. Gaithersburg HELP also receives substantial support from private individuals, local businesses, and civic organizations. </font></td> </tr> <td height="22">&nbsp; </td> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068">All services are provided by a network of nearly 200 volunteers, who work together in a common concern for others as an expression of love for their neighbors.&nbsp; All HELP services are available to the Spanish-speaking members of our community through the work of our dedicated traslator volunteers who monitor the HELP phone line daily and respond to Spanish language calls. </font></td> </tr> <td height="22">&nbsp; </td> <tr> <td><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068">Gaithersburg HELP operates under an Executive Committee and Board of Directors. The Board of Directors consists of a delegate from each member congregation. The Executive Committee meets monthly and the Board of Directors meets bi-monthly (with the exception of no meetings in June, July and August). Meetings are open to anyone who is interested. Member congregations contribute all administrative expenses and support HELP with volunteers, food drives and operating funds.</font></td> </tr> <td height="22">&nbsp; </td> <tr> <td height="25"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068">As the community continues to grow, so too do the demands on Gaithersburg HELP.</font></td> </tr> </table> <center> <b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br> <font color="#208068">&nbsp;Contributions can be made via:</font></font></b> </center> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="587" height="48"> <tr> <td align="right" width="234" height="48"> <p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; <img border="0" src="cfc.jpg" width="100" height="66"></p> <p><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <font color="#208068">&nbsp;CFC #30374&nbsp;</font></font></b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#208068">&nbsp;</font></p> </td> <td width="41" height="48">&nbsp; </td> <td align="left" width="312" height="48"> <p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img border="0" src="UnitedWay.jpg" width="72" height="72"> </p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<font color="#208068"> &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>United Way #8432</b></font></font></p> </td> </tr> </table> <br> </center> </div> <p align="center"><font size="2"> <a style="color: #208068" href="GaithersburgHome.htm">Home</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a style="color: #208068" href="aboutghelp.htm">About Us</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a style="color: #208068" href="donationsghelp.htm">Donations</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br> <a style="color: #208068" href="volunteersghelp.htm">Volunteers</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a style="color: #208068" href="servicesghelp.htm">Services</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a style="color: #208068" href="publicityghelp.htm">Publicity</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a style="color: #208068" href="mailto:gaithersburghelp@yahoo.com">Contact Us</a></font></p> <p></p> </body> </html>