Helping Hands Coordinators Ora Haselden and Michael Verschelden process requests and match them with a Helping Hands volunteer. All requests and volunteer services are kept confidential. If you would be interested in becoming a Helping Hands Volunteer, contact Michael Verschelden or Ora Haselden or download the Volunteer Application Form, complete it, and submit it to the RCN business office or give it to a Helping Hands Coordinator. You can be God’s helping hands to someone who needs help. If you are in need of HHM services, download a Requested Service Application Form, complete it and submit it to the RCN business office or call a Helping Hands Coordinator.

INTRODUCTION: The Compassionate Ministries is a service organization within RCN. There are four separate ministries under the umbrella of Compassionate Ministries. Three of these ministries; Helping Hands Ministry (HHM), Food Pantry, and Compassionate Ministries Board (CMB), are intended to minister to the needs of the regular attendees at RCN. The fourth ministry is outreach, which consists of a monthly contribution to Network Ministries.

The Compassionate Ministry program is under the oversight of the Service Cornerstone Director. The Compassionate Ministries Board and the HHM work together in coordinating and approving of financial expenditures. The hands-on services called “Helping Hands Ministry” is managed by two Helping Hands Coordinators and implemented by a cadre of lay volunteers. The CMB consists of a board of from three to five members, which includes a Director. The CMB will coordinate, approve or disapprove of all expenditures with the Chairperson of the Finance Committee. The CMB will entertain requests for direct financial assistance and the funding of materials for the HHM projects. 

The primary purpose of the Helping Hands Ministry is to help the needy within RCN. The HHM will also help new seekers to demonstrate that we are a caring and loving community of believers. We believe that our primary responsibility is to the immediate RCN family. To help those in need within the fellowship of RCN based upon the practice of the early church as written in Acts 6:1-7. The HHM is also an available service to the paid staff of RCN as a benefit of employment. The needs that Helping Hands volunteers may address are almost unlimited but may include such things as help with roof leaks, painting, door repairs, plumbing repairs, electrical repairs, occasional baby sitting, lawn mowing, cooking, cleaning, running errands, or transportation.

We have many individuals whom God has blessed with the time, talent, and a willing heart to help others. This program is intended to bring the needy and volunteers together to help one another in accordance with Holy Scripture: "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:16.

HOW IT WORKS: Helping Hands Volunteers (HHV) willing to help the needy are recruited with identified skills and/or service preferences. For larger needs, willing Bible Fellowship classes or the Men’s or Women's Ministries may be contacted regarding participation in service projects through an elected service liaison. A Helping Hands Coordinator (HHC) will receive all requests.

The HHC will access and maintain an excel spreadsheet of volunteers and their skills and maintain a list of services provided and associated expenditures. The HHC will investigate the requests when received and where appropriate, contact the appropriate HHV to confirm the availability and willingness of the volunteer to perform the service. Bible Fellowship classes or Men’s or Women’s Ministry Service representatives will be contacted for larger projects. Where appropriate, the HHV and needy person will be brought together. If the needed service cannot be provided by the program, the requesting person will be contacted and informed by the HHC.

The Helping Hands Coordinator will complete an application for all requests for service. A copy of all applications, both fulfilled and denied requests, will be filed for reporting purposes by the HHC to the Service Cornerstone Director. When a request for service is assigned to a HHV, the volunteer will be given the application form for completion and will return it to the HHC upon completion of the project/service.

Volunteers will be authorized up to $50 in purchases without prior consultation with the HHC, if the applicant cannot pay. Materials and supply costs will be reimbursed to the HHV from the compassionate ministries fund (which is overseen by the Compassionate Ministries Board). If the HHV estimates that the cost of repairs will exceed $50, the HHV will provide an estimate of the cost to the HHC. The HHC will provide a copy of the cost estimate in excess of $50 to the Compassionate Ministries Board Chairperson (CMC) for approval and to the RCN Board’s Finance Committee Chairperson.

For estimates exceeding $100 the HHV will provide a rough materials-takeoff with the estimate. The HHC will provide a copy of all actual expenditures to the Finance Committee Chairperson upon completion of any projects with reimbursable expenditures. Upon approval, the HHV will proceed with the repair project. Repairs/services will be performed on a schedule mutually worked out between the volunteer and the needy person.

For preauthorized expenditures, the HHV will submit invoices to the HHC who will in turn submit the pay request to the church office manager for payment. Information on services and repairs will be shared on a need to know basis only. Confidentiality will be practiced regarding all requests by the HHV, HHC, and the CMB. Requests can be made by completing a downloaded application for service from the RCN Web site, filling out the general purpose card in the pew and dropping it in the offering plate, or by phone to the HHC.