Helping Hands provides opportunities for student’s to learn

High school can offer several opportunities and lessons to learn, even one you might expect to learn at home – cooking.

Helping Hands is a student organization lead by instructor Michelle Thacker, in which students cook and deliver treats for the community and the district.

Juniors Camryn Holloway, Neil Raynesford, senior Trey Blackmon, TJ HaselHorst and Preston Browning all pose for a photo after recording a radio ad for the “Project Prom” store. “I joined cause I really love baking and cooking.” Raynesford said. “I think it’s a really good way to reach out to the community.

Originally established in 1990 through the special education department, it eventually became a general organization. It is open to juniors and seniors only.

Instructor Jolene Windholz was one of the original grant writers for the program and is also one of the leaders in Helping Hands.

“It became a collaborative effort after five years,” Windholz said. “Back then, it was the only way that the special education department got really good money.”

Windholz said that they used to do house cleaning and car detailing but stopped because of a lack of reliability and space.

Along with general community projects like “Project Prom,” Helping Hands has other things going on, like scholarships. They have two $250 scholarships right now.

Helping Hands is 27 years old now and celebrated their 25 anniversary in 2014.

“I was lucky enough to be placed in Helping hands,” Thacker said. “I love the atmosphere, and I’ve always loved helping people.”