Hearts and Hands links trained volunteers with elderly and/or disabled persons and their caregivers to enhance their ability to remain independent in their home. We are a faith-based, community based agency.

Description:
Hearts and Hands provides, at no charge, the following services: transportation, light housekeeping, minor home repairs, yardwork, home hair care, friendly visits, check-in phone calls/phone pals, reading to the vision impaired/blind, deliveries from the Food Pantry and referrals to agencies that provide services we do not provide. We serve the communities of Akron, Alden, Newstead, Wales and the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. Our concept is neigh-for helping neighbor as we strive to keep people feeling still a part of their com-munity, care for and living dignified, independent lives.

History:
Founded in January, 2003, Hearts and Hands is ecumenical and non-proselytizing, formed by a coalition of 16 churches that span many denominations, from Roman Catholic, Lutheran, United Methodist to Mennonite, Victory Full Gospel, Tonawanda Indian Baptist and Living Free Christian Center. We began through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Founda-tion in response to the needs of this rural area that is 23-30% over the age of 60 and without public transportation. We currently are serving 163 people and their families, bringing a new peace of mind to out of state relatives, sons and daughters who have had to move away for economic reasons. 80% of our services are transportation for everything from MD/DDS/Therapy appointment (Buffalo, N. Tonawanda, Lockport, Batavia and all in-between, grocery shop-ping, hair appointments, to visit friends in nursing homes, to the Senior Center to participate in the meals program and social activities to the Mall for a time of shopping and fun. Our goal is to enhance our care receivers' quality of life.
We are supported by the Town of Newstead which provides us with office space and utilities, the United Way and other local funders, as well as by donations from the residents of the communities we serve. In our 5 years of operation, we estimate that we have provided approximately $700,000 in service value to our care receivers annually. We are proud of the United Way writing about the model of our program that it is "compassionate and cost effective."

Contact people:

Mary Ann Pula, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Tammy Cromwell, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (716) 542-2229

Address:

50 John Street Akron, NY 14001 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.heartsandhandsfia.org

Directions:

Take Route 5 through Clarence, then take a Left at Rt. 93(Buell Street, Akron, NY. Follow Rt. 93 to John Street and take a Right. 50 John Street is a red brick building on the left side of the street.. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: none,   Walk distance (in minutes): n/a   Nearest Bus Stop: n/a - no public transportation to our town, na minute walk