THOMASVILLE — This year’s Helping Hands Day, described as the best ever, served more than 431 adults and 249 children. 

Spearheaded by the Thomasville/Thomas County Homeless Coalition and Community Outreach Training Center (COTC), more than 30 agencies, ministries and organizations came together to give attendees free turkeys, laundry detergent, toilet tissue, deodorant, tooth brushes and tooth paste, washcloths, soaps and other hygiene products, as well as hot food and a manna drop.

“It was awesome,” said Sharon Edwards, founder/CEO of COTC. “This is our fifth giveaway. Each year our numbers increase.”

Participating vendors that donated items were Pastor Quinton Choice and Gracepoint Church, Pastor Denny Blake and Disciples of Jesus Ministries, Pastor Angela Felicia Tillman and Kingdom Building Ministries, Pastor Linda Ann Bradley and Zion Christian Outreach Ministries, Angela Johnson and Purses, I Kan Brothers, Thomas County Health Department, Nurses Community Service Nurses, Sharon Peoples and CareSource, St. Luke C.M.E. Church, Assurance Wireless, Amerigroup, Toys for Tots, Wellcare/Girl Scouts, Primary Care, Buy a Lot, Give a Little, Susan O’Neal and Vashti, Jacqueline Hopkins and Vashti Clubhouse, Dana Watson and Diabetic Shoes.

Other sponsors included Danny Rogers and the Exchange Club, Heritage Foundation, Flowers Bakery, Christopher Hopkins and Hopkins Mortuary, First Missionary Baptist Church, Harvey’s Supermarkets, Camilla Baptist Church Association, New Genesis Generation Ministries Church, The Connection, First Presbyterian Church and the Thomasville/Thomas County Ministerial Alliance.

About 85 volunteers were on hand to serve, including representatives from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Victory Fellowship Church, Thomasville High School Honor Society, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Harvey’s employees and The Dodge Boyz, Thomasville/Thomas County Homeless Coalition, Community Outreach Training Center and NAACP representatives.

“I’m so grateful to all who helped make this successful,” said Priscilla Maxwell, Coalition chairman. “I’m already preparing for next year.  Mark your calendars. It will be November 21, 2020. Anyone wanting to participate should call the COTC office, (229) 233-8075, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.”

The Coalition and COTC accept monetary donations, as well as new or slightly used clothing year-round. Checks should be made payable to COTC. 

The Coalition meets on the third Thursday of each month from 11 to 12:30 p.m. at the new COTC office at 500 W. Washington St. Meetings are open to the public.