Meet Axel
This amazing three-year-old, born with Down syndrome, has had many challenges.
At birth he battled jaundice, hypotonia, and inactivity for two months in intensive care. But the fight wasn't over yet. In January 2021, he returned to the hospital where a team of dedicated cardiologists treated his heart murmur, and hematologists addressed his anemia and leukocyte issues. After five months of unwavering professional care, Axel was strong enough to leave the hospital.
The next issue was getting him enrolled in a school that would help him thrive. The only problem is that no preschool in Trujillo, Peru would enroll him. But then his family found the Amor en Acción preschool, our sister organization in Peru, where they welcomed him with open arms.
This engaging environment encourages him to enhance his developmental skills through increased stimulation and social engagement. The warm-hearted, compassionate staff, grounded in their Christian faith, provide unwavering support, fostering his progress.
Stories like his are why the HELP Project exists. To continue to support Amor en Acción in Peru and to continue to support our local communities, creating more and more amazing stories of God’s faithfulness along the way.
Peru: Amor en Acción
There are 41 students enrolled at Amor en Acción Preschool. The school ministry started in 2013 and is run by faith-centered, licensed, professional teachers with elementary education degrees. Students are served in morning classes and are provided lunch at the preschool.
Preschool Programs
Yes, that means more cute kids like these!
If you donate at the $50 per month level, that money will go directly to Amor en Accion to sponsor a student going to preschool
The six Sewing Centers, located in the greater Trujillo area, offer training to mothers and women of the neighborhood, 2 to 3 days a week. They can learn how to sew on sewing machines provided by our US thrift stores. This ministry sometimes happens within a church or within an evangelizing growth cell that restores the hearts of those living in marginalized urban areas.
Sewing Centers
Amor en Acción took advantage of an existing water well at the preschool to install a clean water filtration system with the assistance of Helping Hands, several US and Peru Rotary Clubs, and Water Missions Peru. It was inaugurated in 2016 and provides much-needed potable water for the community of Victor Raul.
Social and Family Services
Internationally we provide disaster relief when it is needed. For example, in 2022 we shared support with Ukraine through a partnership with Rotary International. We’ve also supported in other cases like the 2014 Oso landslide, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and the 2017 Peru mudslides.
Other International Help
Local
Our gift card program is the biggest way we support our partners. We give a stack of $25 Helping Hands gift cards to our partners, who can then give them out to those they serve who are most in need. Those who receive the gift cards can then come in to any of our 4 thrift stores and get whatever it is they may need such as clothes, shoes, furniture, appliances, and home goods.
Gift Card Program
Every month one of our partners becomes ‘partner of the month.’ At our thrift stores, you have the opportunity to donate at the register at checkout (such as rounding up to the nearest dollar, or donating a set dollar amount). At the end of the month, all the proceeds from the fundraiser go to our partner of the month.
Register Fundraisers
There are also many other ways we support our community, such as sponsoring community events, volunteering with our partners, organizing diaper drives, and so much more!
Other Help
We at Helping Hands strive to help underserved people locally, in Peru, and worldwide. Our goal is to provide opportunities and services for those in need so they can be self-sustaining, transform their lives, be empowered, and hopeful for their future. We are a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our ministry works to serve many people and areas of life. We have identified our work to predominantly be within these 5 pillars.
Why we Serve
Our Partners
Kindering - Families in Transition Program
Shower to the People
Sound Pathways
Take the Next Step
Homeless OUtreach
Amor en Acción
Bridge Receiving Center
Care Net
School Districts:
Everett, Monroe, Northshore, Sultan
Sound Pathways - PCAP Program
Two Hearts Pregnancy Aid
Volunteers of America
Women’s Union Gospel Mission
Moms and Kids
Food Security
Backpacks of Hope
Hungry Hearts
Local Food Banks:
Canyon Hills Community Church, Lake Stevens, Maltby, Sky Valley
Addiction Recovery
Damascus House for Men
Damascus House for Women
Sound Pathways
Churches
Cascade Community Church
Central Faith Church
Cornerstone Church
Northcreek Presbyterian
We are also proud partners of the Bothell Fire and Police Departments, as well as the Monroe Police Department.
Want to become a partner? Contact us!
Our History
Helping Hands Ministry International began in 1992 with nothing but love and a small building located in Mill Creek, Washington, in the United States.
Vance Field, founder of Helping Hands, along with his wife, Faith, served as missionaries in Peru for seventeen years. As much as they loved working with the Peruvian people, health issues forced them to return to the United States in 1991.
In his secondary line of work as a realtor, Vance spotted an old wood-framed building on the Bothell-Everett Highway that was offered for lease. Recalling the scarcity of basic life necessities in Peru and seeing the abundance of still useful items pouring into landfills in the United States, Vance had a big vision for the humble little structure.
With his family and a band of supporters, Helping Hands Ministries International was founded and the first Helping Hands Thrift Store opened its doors. This store, located in Bothell, Washington, serves as a collection point for donated goods. These items are sold to help fund projects in Peru and locally. Helping Hands has since opened stores in Clearview and Lake Steven’s.
Helping Hands has supported thousands of people suffering in poverty around the world.
As well as networking with more than 1,400 Peruvian social service and faith-based agencies, we have assisted in the shipment of goods to the Philippines, Fiji, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, and locally to victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Oso landslide.
Since it was founded, Helping Hands has provided:
Hundreds of bicycles along with maintenance instruction to Peruvian youth, giving them the pride of personal accomplishment.
Hundreds of sewing machines along with sewing instruction and supplies to Peruvian women, helping them to support their families.
Instruction in computer repair and maintenance to Peruvian youth, making it possible to start school-based computer classes with refurbished machines.
Countless families struggling with homelessness clothing support, food supplementation, and more.
Support to new mothers with need in the Everett area with diapers, baby formula, and infant clothing.
Many 100,000lbs of recycling from entering the landfill.
Clothing and household items to the Damascus Houses for Men and Women.
Thousands of dollars at the registers for local partner nonprofits.
Inspiration and empowerment for people to do more, and be more, with their lives.