His Hands summer clothing drive aiming to help over 60 students
Remi Evans pulls a cart filled with clothing and other items to ensure children who need them won’t go without. The items were bought thanks to donations to His Hands, a program that’s part of Weakday Ministries. Volunteers of the program say more than 60 students need help getting new and gently-used spring and summer clothing. Courtesy photo
STAFF WRITER JENNIFER FIERRO
Donna Shaw still remembers how she felt as an 18-year-old woman walking into church wearing new clothes.
She no longer felt out of place.
“We didn’t have money growing up,” she said. “Our pastor’s wife took me shopping. She purchased clothes like she did for her own children. I do remember she loved and cared for me enough to buy me clothes. You can feel good and fit in, just like everybody else.”
That’s why His Hands Ministry, a part of Weakday Ministries founded by Rev. Shaw, is so close to her heart. His Hands accepts clothing and monetary donations to help students who can’t afford to buy for themselves. Organizers are currently focusing on a summer clothes drives.
“On the days I get up and feel good about me, that’s when we all fly,” Shaw said. “We want to help children see the best of themselves, and people in the community love them above and beyond.”
Now that word has spread about His Hands, more than 60 students have been identified by school district officials as needing clothes. Originally, the program helped an average of about 16 children.
“It’s grown because this has been such a huge blessing,” Shaw said. “It takes time to catch on. I think teachers are aware of the positive feedback.”
Each child needs shirts, shorts, shoes, socks, underwear, and toiletries. But to Shaw, it’s not about the purchases – it’s about removing a reason why a child can’t succeed.
“It reinforces the child’s self-esteem,” she said. “People have seen the fruits of this ministry.”
New clothes helps kids feel better about themselves.
His Hands already has helped more than 200 children and conducts these drives every spring and fall.
Because of the large number of children who need help, area churches have volunteered to help raise money.
The ministry has the children’s sizes and will accept gently used clothing but also would like those receiving clothes to have new items.
Shaw said the long-term goal is to help students across the Hill Country.
Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 1358, Burnet, Texas, 78611, and donors should write “His Hands” on the memo. The office is located at 312 S. Main St. in Burnet and is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information go to weakdayministries.com, email weakdayoffice@gmail.com or call (512) 588-9479.
jfierro@thepicayune.com