Helping Hands of Summit County Inc

Helping Hands is a humble, selfless, hardworking organization. Their leader, Phyllis Byrd, is a fine example of what we hope a leader of a non-profit organization would be. We are fortunate to have Helping Hands in our community.

Excellent local charity serving our local families in need. Phyllis is very hands on, and is a committed to others in our community

I have been fortunate to know Phyllis of Helping Hands for almost 20 years now. She has poured her heart and soul into the organization and the mission statement of giving a hand up and not a hand out. She's successfully held fund raising events for young and old. If you are looking for an organization to help with donations and such, I strongly suggest considering Helping Hands of Summit county.

After the sudden death of my husband back in 2013 I lost my house and lots of other things dear to me.I called helping hands in dispare for help.Ms Byrd listened to my plight and immediately got busy helping me with renting a place I could afford,also getting furniture and household items I needed.Helping Hands was a lifesaver for me.

This is great charity doing wonderful work. I know that all donations will be used to their strongest potential with Phyllis in charge.

My golden retriever Scully is the only thing I have in this world. She helps me get around as I am legally deaf. And blind in one eye. I was beside myself when she became deathly I'll this summer. I have low income from SS. I heard of a local charity and reached out. Helping Hands provided some financial help because I didnt qualify for credit or care source. The Vet and the charity literally saved her life! I would not have wanted to live either if Scully died. This charity can't help everyone-it is a small 501c3 charity but with a BIG heart! ♡ If the founder can help, she does..but with more donations I know she could do even more! Please consider helping this organization if you can. Everyone is a volunteer, including Ms. Phyllis. No one gets paid. 98% of donations go to the families that are helped...

When my daughter was in Kindergarten she raised money for Helping Hands Of Summit County Inc. she was actually chosen out of a few hundred kids out of her school with a simple idea of what she would do to help someone in need with just $20. With just $20 she was able to raise over $500! Her classmates all made cards for this nonprofit organization as well. If a 5 year old little girl can do all that, think of what we all could do

I met Phyllis at the bank where I worked several years ago. When she told me what her small organization did I was amazed. Through donations and her hard work she has helped thousands over the years who had no where else to turn. Every time I made a donation she would tell me about the families she was trying to help at the time. Sometimes they needed a place to live, others needed clothing, or a bed, or food, but regardless of their need, Phyllis doesn't stop until she finds a way to help. I can't help but wonder what our city and world would be like if all of us put in just a small amount of the work and caring that she does, but I know it would be a thousand times better place. I consider myself fortunate to call her my friend and will continue to support her any way I can.
Jan Richards

I have volunteered my help to this awesome charity for 10 years. It is my pleasure to help those struggling who are less fortunate and in MUCH need.

I'm a blind lady named Teresa and my Lab companion is 'Scully.' Phyllis who started the charity gave a fundraiser for me! I was home less and needed a bed to lay our heads on(me and 'scully'), and then my daddy died in Michigan and I had no way to go back to my child hood home to bury him. I was heartbroken and broke. With $ left over from the fundraiser (car wash), ms Phyllis got me and 'scully' ticket to go home! I didn't even know a charity or church could or would do anything like that. But the founder takes each person's problems seriously and if she has the way to help, she does try. Sadly the $ isn't always there...but she is only one person. When I hit the lottery I am going to donate alot to this charity!...or leave them in my will..when I get one...

My name is Jerry W. I'm almost 70 yrs old and have had 2 strokes and lived fourty yrs w/Chrohns disease. Came here from NY, broke in spirit and $. Phyllis Byrd found me housing I could afford on disability. Found me furniture. And emotional therapy and animal. She has many good volunteers and a charity Board, accountant and atty. But in the end, as 'Founder' she looks over EVERY request for help. Does home visits and has followed up with me on and off you many years. If you're looking for a good 'home' for your donation to go to, stop here at: Helping Hands of summit county in Akron, Ohio. She helps mostly summit county but has went to other counties in Ohio if need be. The homeless (that was me), elderly (that is me), children, pets, and dusabled (that's me!)...PLEASE HELP this lady who wears her ❤ on her sleeve. She tells me mostly all her donations come from individuals. Sometimes a business. Thanxs for listening to a old man.

Jackie O here with the real deal. Living in a tent with my old dog. We both needed rescued...I sold my false teeth for a six pack. Didn't eat much anyway. Then tent city 'blew away' and I really was homeless. I called 17 places b4 phyllis at Helpin Hands answered and actually talked to me like I was somebody. Didn't hang up. She helped get me into a real apt with my old doggie. Helped me get SSI too. Phyllis really cared! Please help this lady help more people like me and she helps dogs too, if there's enough money too. We are worth saving...

Just call me cottage ralphie. I had some police record and anger problem. Couldn't hold a job or a women. Ms Byrd arranged for me to get counseling and a list of employers who hired felons. Well, short story is I'm proud of me today! I got a good job and a gooder women. I found myself in the 'lost and found box' after ms Byrd got involved. I've taken some juvenile delinquents under my wing and helped them NOT go down the road I did. All cause one lady believed in me and kept following up with me! Ms Byrd I owe you cause I found God too, and when I can donate, I'm gonna!

My name is mara lyn. I love to gamble but it's not my friend. Ms phyllis helped me by talking me thru some dark times where I wanted to die. I got myself together and now have a house, car and my 5 kids back home with me. She recently got us a acme gift card and school shoes for all. She can only help till the donations run out. Altho I suspect she has put her own personal $ in at times. Phyllis of Helping Hands has a helping heart, that's what!.

I volunteer for this charity. Phyllis has helped many people and families in need through her work. I would recommend donating to this charity, it is a *first class * organization. Keep up the good work

THEY WAS THERE FOR MY FAMILY WHEN THEY NEEDED HELP,THEY HELP WHEN MY SON LOSS HIS JOB AND COULD NOT PAY HIS RENT ,PLUS WENT OUT OF THERE WAY TO GET THE MONEY TO PAY HIS RENT , PLUS HELP MY DAUGHTER WITH A GIFT CARD FROM KOHL SO MY DAUGHTER COULD GET SCHOOL CLOTHES FOR HER 3 GIRLS , THIS IS VERY CARING AND HARD WORKING Organization

Helping hands donated laundry baskets full of Christmas gifts and made many children smile! Thank you to their team of helpers. God bless this organization!

I have know of this nonprofit organization for years, it's wonderful.she dose so much for so many people,fund raising like car washes to get cribs for baby's that wouldn't have one,the elder and woman's who need apt or things to wear,they would be homeless if not for this so so many things,Its a Wonderful organization. Thanks
Renee Schucker

I recently became acquainted with this charity through a friend. Having worked with a non-profit for 24 years I was very impressed with the help they give to the needy of the community. They help individuals and families of all ages with emergency food, shelter, and clothing and set them up with the proper agencies. The director takes money out of her own pocket when funds run short. Many are helped back up because of the directors' efforts. At this time she is trying to keep a family in a motel near Cleveland so that the mother can get chemo from The Cleveland Clinic. The father is out of work, and the mothers' brother, who is severely mentally disabled, lives with them. She has a Stage One brain tumor which may be successfully treated. They now have no home to go back to so the director is trying to find low-income housing for them. That is just one of the many families she helps.

I am like so many others living from one pay to another. Car hit me head-on..no more paychecks. Landlord was nice for a minute, then started talking 3 -day eviction. My kids looking at me for school clothes and don't want to move out of the only home they ever knew and their friend too...I heard of Helping Hands and called...ms. Phyllis talked with me a long time and I hung up with HOPE and a sense of direction...With donations she received I applied for help and got caught up on my house, and training to re-invent myself in a new job field. She believed in me and my family and gave me a purpose...please just help Phyllis Byrd help others like me...

Hello all you people out there struggling with a dependency or addicted to ANYTHING...there is HOPE and a little lady over at HELPING HANDS helped provide me with that hope. Now, I'm not usually a street corner kind of guy. Actually very good at a trade, plumbing to be exact. Had my own business, newer truck, nice family. Long story short-got none of that in my life any more...So, I reached out on a recent holiday to ms. Phyllis and she found me shelter and food (hadn't ate in 2 days) , some help for what I liked way too much...and now I'm going to start a job Tuesday! matt

Hello...It's a sad story I have to tell, but good as far as the kind help I got. I called ms. Phyllis w/Helping Hands, inc and reached out to her as I didn't know where to turn...My daughter had a baby who died at 11 months and we had no insurance or money to bury the baby girl. Ms. Phyllis kindly referred me to a program the city of akron had to pay for a burial for indigent families...thank God there are places for help and people like Phyllis Byrd and her small but amazing charity. She finds a way to get it done...please help her help others like my family...mrs. sarah and daughter, annie and baby bella

My name is Porche Echols and I'm a young mother of two. When I was introduced to Phyllis Byrd by her daughter I was pregnant and homeless at the time. She was a good lister and adviser in my time of need. I do believe that had I been more active with her she would've been a big provider of other things I needed. Thanks for listening and being there when I needed a friend Phyllis.

During the holiday season in 2016, my family decided to forego giving gifts to each other so that we could provide Christmas for a family that may not otherwise have the means. I wanted to work with an organization that would allow for my family to sponsor an entire family. Phyllis identified two families, obtained a wish list from each family member. We purchased gifts, boxes, wrapping paper, tape, tissue, etc. We wrapped the gifts for the adult members of the family. The kids gifts were placed in a box with the all the trimmings so that the parents could see the gifts, wrap them and participate in providing for their children. The names of the families were not provided and we chose to donate anonymously. It was one of the best experiences and we hope to help out again this year.

I love the mission/vision of this organization. This is an organization that helps those who want to help themselves. Every person experiences rough times in life and this beautiful organization provides the resources for change. Phyllis works tirelessly to preserve the dignity of the recipients of her work. Highly recommended.

I am a cancer survivor, who lost my business, my home and most of my personal belongings. I was so fortunate that Phyllis Byrd was put in my life. She helped me secure affordable housing, helped me with furniture, and most importantly helped me get back on my feet by connecting me with people that had side jobs so i could support myself and keep my home. I am proud to say those side jobs lead me to start my own business and i have continued to heal emotionally, & financially. thanks for believing in me, and giving me a chance to restart my life.

my story is a simple one, Ms. Phyllis had a predictament a few Thanksgivings ago. She had over 100 local families that was not going to be able to sit down with their families and provide a traditional Thanksgiving day dinner. She realized she needed help, she called local businesses non stop until she was able to secure a commit from one of our very large national companies, who agreed to donate 75 frozen turkeys. Phyllis was ecstatic, but then realized, "i am but one person, with a little sub compact vehicle, now what?" She reached out to me, and i reached out to a few of my friends, and we picked up 75 turkeys on a Tuesday, and all was delivered personally by late on Wednesday night. i have never enjoyed so much chaos in my life, the happy faces, and the kids that greeted me, all so very thankful and appreciative of Ms. Phyllis, and so am I!... Thank you for all you do, God Bless

Hello...I am a widow lady who has her two young granddaughters. Due to sudden onset of unexpected health problems, I almost died and that was only a few months ago. The challenge has been to keep a roof over our heads and pay for groceries, clothes, utilities and so on and so on...Helping Hands, inc. has been trying to help do all of that and more. The charity relies on private donations from people and business's to assist many families like mine. I thank everyone who has donated to the local charity. Many of us have a low income and it don't take much to pull the rug out from under us. And it is scary. Thank God for people like ms. Phyllis and Helping Hands and those who donate to her ministry. God bless! miss lulu

I left new york state, without a penny in my pocket, a victim of a natural disaster...just the shirt on my back..disabled with a chronic illness and in my 60's...i ended up in summit county and a ms. phyllis had a heart, and had time to lend me a helping hand...found me a disability apartment and helped furnish it...i literally had nothing...but now i have hope. My illness has put me in the hospital and having no family here, i was truly alone and down in spirits...as it turns out ms. phyllis charity is called "HELPING HANDS". I am here today and doing well (even have a cat) because another human being really cared...Thank God there are people like her and the charity she founded and is a active person in it...otherwise, i might have given up and being overwhelmed even thought about ending my life! But ms. phyllis never gave up on me and kept trying to help me help myself!She told me she has followed alot of her clients thru months and years, staying in contant and caring...She does alot with little, anyone wanting to help her help others, send any donation to: Helping Hands, inc. P.O. Box 26601 Akron, Ohio 44319 or visit at: www.helpinghands-sc.org

I came from Detroit in the middle of the nite with my 5 babies...HELPING HANDS, inc. CHARITY helped me find a house, completely furnished it too! It was this time of year, nov./dec. and the chsrity brought a christmas tree presents and xmas dinner...God bless them! They really came out, the founder IN PERSON and gave me and mine a HOME, HOPE and a HOLIDAY...I would tell anyone to please help ms. phyllis (founder) for she really does put her heart into helping and followed up with me to see how we were doing...i got a laptop and still go to her site...www.helpinghands-sc.org SHE and her orginization, HELPING HANDS, inc. really does help WOMEN and their CHILDREN!