Helping Hands Community Car

Overview

Helping Hands Community Car is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides safe, reliable, and compassionate transportation along with supportive social services. The organization describes its work as focused on increasing independence, dignity, and quality of life by ensuring community members have access to transportation and related support.

Who the Organization Serves

Helping Hands Community Car states that services are intended for people who may otherwise be isolated or overlooked, including:
- Seniors (also described as the elderly)
- Military veterans
- Individuals with disabilities, including people who face mobility challenges

Mission and Purpose

Stated mission (summary)

Helping Hands Community Car describes its mission as connecting people to care, community, and opportunity, and enhancing quality of life for the community’s most vulnerable members through transportation and supportive services.

How the organization describes transportation

The organization emphasizes that reliable transportation is more than a convenience and frames it as a “lifeline” tied to:
- Independence
- Dignity
- Quality of life

Programs and Social Services

Helping Hands Community Car states that it provides more than rides and offers comprehensive social support through every interaction, including the following program areas:

Medical transportation

• Transportation intended to help clients reach:
• Healthcare appointments
• Therapy sessions
• Essential checkups

Grocery and pharmacy assistance

• Assistance described as providing access to:
• Healthy food
• Necessary medications

Veteran support transportation

• Specialized transportation programs for veterans, described as supporting veterans who need mobility support and access to community resources.

Disability mobility assistance

• Mobility assistance for individuals with physical challenges, described as helping clients remain:
• Active
• Connected
• Self-sufficient

Community outreach and referrals

• Outreach and referral support described as connecting clients to additional local services, with examples that include:
• Housing assistance
• Wellness programs
• Senior resources

Vision

Helping Hands Community Car describes a vision of a community where no one is left behind, and where every individual—regardless of age, ability, or circumstance—has equal access to:
- Mobility
- Care
- Connection

Community Impact (as described)

The organization describes impact in practical, person-centered terms, stating that each ride can mean someone:
- Made it to a doctor’s appointment
- Picked up medication
- Reconnected with loved ones
- Felt seen and cared for

It also states that, together with sponsors, volunteers, and community partners, the organization is focused on:
- Breaking barriers
- Restoring independence
- Creating lasting change, described as happening “one ride at a time”

Core values

Helping Hands Community Car lists the following core values:
- Compassion: leading with empathy and treating every person with dignity and respect
- Service: viewing transportation as ministry and as a way to serve and uplift others
- Integrity: operating with transparency, accountability, and trust
- Community: believing in unity, partnership, and shared purpose
- Empowerment: helping individuals reclaim independence and confidence through mobility

Leadership and governance (as presented)

The organization presents a board structure that includes:
- President: George Burnette (described as a health educator focused on addressing substance use disorders and training aspiring addictions counselors)
- Treasurer: Montina Holland (described as responsible for financial oversight and effective resource management; also described as retired from work within a juvenile detention center and as having worked with the phone company for twenty years)
- Secretary: Janice Wills (described as retired from the Accounts Payable Department at George Washington University; also described as serving as treasurer at The Holy Sanctuary Church and applying financial expertise and attention to detail to support transparency and accountability)

Ways the public can participate

Helping Hands Community Car invites community involvement through giving, volunteering, or partnering to support continued transportation and social-service efforts.