Helping Hand Ministries, Inc.

Investing in Community Solutions in Mobile, Alabama

O’Dessa Nixon,
Executive Director
Helping Hand Ministries, Incorporated
106 South Broad Street
Mobile, Alabama 36603
(251) 431-6842
Fax: (251) 431-6844

Community Collaboration Initiatives

Coordinate national initiatives including the Balm of Gilead Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, National Testing Day, and activities for Domestic Violence Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Juvenile Diabetes.

Develop a Community Advisory Board to provide leadership training and education for small non-profits involved in healthy disparities, and to build a communications vehicle among these agencies.

Create partnerships with coastal prison ministries for men and women to serve those returning to the community.

Our Mission at Helping Hand Ministries

Helping Hand Ministries, Incorporated is an Alabama-based 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, community-based organization whose mission is to provide leadership services for health disparities of adults and children in the Gulf Coast region, who are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and related illnesses, cancer (breast and colon); diabetes, or are involved in domestic violence and/or substance abuse, through providing community awareness campaigns, education programs, collaboration and partnerships, and provide referral services to individuals, families and friends, as well as other community stakeholders.

2008 - Year of the Youth

Celebrating their 12th anniversary 2008, HHM has designated “Year of the Youth” as their focus initiative for 2008-2009. They encourage all individuals, organizations and businesses to celebrate with them in this initiative.

“It’s Your Choice” program will kick-off its new curriculum as part of this new initiative in October. A community conference is in the planning stages for March 2009.

The First Need to Fulfill

Although HIV/AIDS services for the African American community were available, this was a topic that was not talked about, but hidden from family members and friends due to the stigma. Due to the lack of understanding and education about HIV/AIDS and its related illnesses by the community at large, especially in the faith-based community. Helping Hand Ministries, Incorporated became the voice for HIV/AIDS within the faith community.

Now, twelve years later, the number of HIV/AIDS individuals and families that HHM has supported has increased tremendously. The issue in the minority community is an on going process of creating public awareness and educational campaigns, and continually communicating the message.

With over 30 volunteers, HHM has provided services for over 2,000 individuals and their families, and partners with over 40 faith-based institutions to provide funding, food, clothing, counseling and other services for their clients.

HHM continued goal is to provide dedicated volunteers, programs, and financial support to the community, with the hope that one day the number of children and adults affected with this disease will be diminished, and that the journey will become easier.

A New Need to Fulfill… And a New Mission

Through the success of the HHM partnerships and collaborations, other health disparities in the Gulf Cost region were in need of public awareness and educational programs. Most importantly, Gulf Coast youth are not being informed nor challenged about taking responsibility for their own lives and making positive, healthy choices.

HHM decided to embark on a new mission to find opportunities to develop more partnerships and collaborations to educate, inform and provide leadership in creating programs for other health disparities. In 2008 Helping Hand Ministry Foundation became Helping Hand Ministries, Incorporated.

Helping Hands Ministries, Incorporated has a greater mission to strengthen partnerships in the Gulf Coast region for adults and youth who are in critical need of health care services, health literacy education, referral services, programs and awareness campaigns and advocacy. So, organizations work together across borders for individuals and their communities.

HHM will provide leadership forums, and public awareness campaigns for diabetes; breast, colon and prostrate cancer, HPV, domestic violence/substance abuse, and continue in HIV/AIDS and related illnesses.

A place where there is always a hand to serve our community.

Education and Public Awareness Programs

Provide information from experts on making right choices and taking responsibility.

Provide education programs for schools, faith based and community based organizations, businesses and key community stakeholders about health disparities including diabetes, breast and colon cancer, domestic violence, substance abuse, health literacy and HIV/AIDS related illnesses.

Create public awareness campaigns, through participation in community special events and health initiatives, issues media campaigns and volunteer recruitment.

Create partnerships opportunities with social service agencies and health care providers to host health/wellness expos, speaking engagements, workshops and participate in community and economic development directly related to a healthy, sustainable community.