About Us
Serving Henry County Since 1979
Helping Hand began with one simple belief: money raised in Henry County should stay in Henry County. What started as a small group of volunteers hoping to make a local difference has grown into an annual county wide tradition of generosity, community pride, and unwavering support for the organizations that care for our neighbors.
How Helping Hand Began
Built By Neighbors Who Saw a Need
Before Helping Hand ever existed, Henry County’s winter auction season was dedicated to the March of Dimes Radio Auction. Hosted by the Paris Lions Club, the auction was held in various uptown locations, often in the courthouse basement. Volunteers delivered purchased goods around the court square, and listeners tuned in to hear the auctioneer call, “Ring those phones for the March of Dimes.”
Over time, the community realized a problem. The money raised locally was leaving Henry County, and it became harder for families and organizations here to receive help. Decisions were made at the national level, and red tape slowed everything down. When volunteers hoped to purchase a wheelchair for a Henry County man and could not get
approval, it became clear that something needed to change.
That change happened in late 1978. Six men gathered in the basement of the Paris post office in the office of county agricultural extension agent John Caldwell. Alongside him were radio announcer and auctioneer Bill McCutcheon, auction treasurer Bill Davis, substitute auctioneer Bill Williams, attorney William T. Looney, and Lions Club leader Bob Jelks. All six agreed on one thing: Henry County needed its own organization, one that could raise money locally and use it entirely for local needs.
Out of that meeting came a temporary name that stuck: Henry County Helping Hand. And in 1979, the first Helping Hand Radio Auction aired.
$9.86 Million
Raised since 1979
9,000+ Items
Donated Each Year
47+
Years in Operation
6000+
Volunteer Hours /year
Powered By People
Volunteers Make It All Possible
More than 6,000 volunteer hours support the auction each year.
Volunteers check in items, organize daily slates, answer phones, deliver goods, catalog items, describe them live on the radio, and help behind the scenes in hundreds of ways. Many families and groups have volunteered for decades.
Local businesses donate equipment, appliances, advertising, freezers, coolers, space, utilities, and professional services. Radio airtime is donated. Churches, banks, civic groups, and clubs rally their communities to get involved.
Because of this overwhelming support, Helping Hand operates using less than 5 percent of raised funds for administrative costs.
That efficiency is unmatched by many national fundraising organizations.
Helping Local Non-Profits You May Know
Our Impact Today
Over Four Decades of Local Support
Since 1979, Helping Hand has raised more than $9 million and distributed over $8.5 million to Henry County organizations.
Longtime beneficiaries continue to thrive because of Helping Hand’s annual support, including the Henry County Fair Association, the Rescue Squad, Senior Citizens Association, Henry County 4 H Clubs, and sixteen volunteer fire departments.
From food banks to youth programs to emergency services and cultural development, Helping Hand remains one of the strongest sources of support for county wide organizations that serve families every day.
Meet the Team
The Executive Board
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John Ethridge
Board President
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Jessi Smith
Board Vice President
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Allie Harper
Board Secretary
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Caroline Dunn
Treasurer
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Martha Stewart
Office Manager
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Chris Babyar
Volunteer Coordinator
"Over the years, it has become more than an auction for my family and I. Being part of an organization that keeps its heart and its impact right here in Henry County has created memories I will always cherish, and I’m grateful to continue serving alongside so many who care deeply about our community."
— Allie Harper, Board Secretary
Get Connected
Learn How You Can Take Part in this Tradition.
Helping Hand continues through the generosity of our community. You can join in by donating items, cooking for a group, giving a monetary gift, volunteering, or sponsoring the annual auction.
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