Welcome to Many Hands

We are Many Hands, a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization helping families living in need within "our" communities.  Our programs range from providing relief programs, to families in immediate crises, to a scholars program designed to help youth learn and actively engage in community service.  Our basic philosophy is simple: many hands make light work and each of us can make a difference, and together we can create a community of caring for families in greatest need. 

Many Hands began in 2012, after many years of thought and planning by some like-minded individuals who recognized the impact of working together. We saw the power of helping others and the need to lead by example.

An organization cannot grow based on a vision. It grows when individuals, churches, schools, businesses, and civic organizations join up and volunteer, contribute their time, talent and investment in helping those who need a hand…to make a fresh start….to reclaim their humanity following calamity…and to lift up youth eager to make a difference in their community.

Recognizing that churches and schools cannot possibly provide a hand whenever the opportunity to help arises, we count on recommendations from these two centers of leadership to help Many Hands serve those most in need.  We also rely on local service organizations such as Rotary Clubs, Masonic Lodges and other private organizations for references and resources. 

The foundation of Many Hands is  FIGHTING HUNGER among Elementary-aged children in Ingham County.  We are proud to begin the Weekend Survival Kits backpack program in local areas not currently receiving help as well as teaming up with other successful programs in Ingham County such as the Weekend Survival Kit program headed by Allegra Marketing · Print · Mail currently supporting the following school districts:

• Dewitt
• Okemos
• Lansing
• Mason
• Haslett
• Waverly
• East Lansing
• Williamston

These programs are intended to meet the nutritional needs of children during non-school hours, specifically on weekends. 

Teachers and school nurses have found that in some instances, Monday morning comes, and they are forced to compete against hunger for the attention of their students.  By targeting children who receive reduced price breakfast or lunch at school, Many Hands aims to provide nurtitional nourishment, so young minds are ready to learn. 

Did you know…

1 in 5 children in Michigan live in poverty.

36% of Michigan kids live in families where neither parent has a full-time job.

90% of teachers say we could make a significant impact on education if communities focused on addressing child hunger.

Half of the students in Michigan are receiving free or reduced price lunches.

According to the USDA, more than 17 million American children - 1 in 4 – are food insecure, meaning they do not have access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life. 

Child hunger causes health problems.  Hungry children are sick more often, more likely to be hospitalized, and more likely suffer physical, emotional and developmental impairment. 

Child hunger creates educational problems.  Under-nutrition before the age of three fundamentally changes the neurological structure of the brain and central nervous system, harming a child’s ability to learn. 

Among 6 to 12 year olds, food insecurity is associated with grade repetition, absenteeism, tardiness, anxiety, aggression, poor mathematics scores, psychosocial dysfunction and difficulty with social interaction. 

65 percent of teachers reported children coming to school hungry.

45.8% of children in Michigan are receiving free or reduced-lunches (2009).

The number of children living in poverty in Michigan grew by 64 percent over the past decade. 

A U.S. Department of Education early childhood study followed more than 21,000 children from kindergarten to 3rd grade and found:

• Hungry kindergartners lagged 13% behind their peers in reading score gains.
• By the 3rd grade, hungry children had lower reading and math scores than their non-hungry peers.

Findings from a report published by the Partnership for America’s Economic Success are startling – school age children who are hungry are twice as likely to:

• Receive special educations services, and
• Repeat a grade

“2010 Teacher’s Report” (Share Our Strength, funded by C & C Wholesale Grocers); “Child Food Insecurity” The Economic Impact on Our Nation (John Cook, Ph.D. for Feeding America); Children’s HealthWatch; “Hunger in Michigan 2010” (Mathematica Policy Research Inc. for Feeding America); “Early Childhood Poverty and Adult Attainment, Behavior and Health” (Duncan, Ziol-Guest, Kalil); “Food Insecurity in Households with Children” (Economic Research Service for the USDA, 2009); “Kids Count Data Book 2011” (Annie E. Casey Foundation); “Penny Wise, Pound Foolish:Why Tackling Child Poverty During the Great Recession Makes Economic Sense” (Harry J. Holzer, Georgetown University and the Urban Institute); U.S. Census Bureau; “Reading, Writing and Hungry: The Consequences of Food Insecurity on Children, and on Our Nation’s Economic Success,” (Cook, Murphy, Ettinger de Cuba, and The Partnership for America’s Economic Success)