Providing basic necessities to the homeless and disadvantaged in Colusa has driven the organization, A Hand Up, for more than a dozen years.
And while touching the lives of people down on their luck has been a group effort by volunteers from five local churches, the entire mission of the nonprofit association started with just a great idea…and a couple of resourceful cooks.
For 12 years, Janita Smith and Bobbi Jo Seaver helped A Hand Up provide food and temporary shelter to those in need.
On Dec. 22, the two founding members of the group officially hung up their aprons and passed their serving spoons to the people who will carry on the mission into the future.
“I loved every minute of it,” said Smith, who recalled her years of service at a small retirement party last week at Market Street Grill.
A Hand Up, which started out with volunteers making sandwiches for people living along the levee, eventually evolved into a no-cost hot meal program for anyone, served in a congregate setting three times each week. The group also provides sleeping bags, tents, clothes, personal hygiene products, and other necessities to those in need when they are available.
Robin Rauch, the founder of A Hand Up, said members of her church, the First Presbyterian Church of Colusa, got together first with St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church to discuss how the community could help the homeless with basic needs, such as a warm meal, especially during the cold winter months.
“After about a year of handing out sandwiches and talking about what else we should do, Bobbi Joe said ‘enough talk…I’m cooking next week,’” Rauch said.
A Hand Up remains a collaboration between the Presbyterian, Episcopal, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Assembly of God, and Trinity Methodist Church, but has the generous support of Louis Cairo’s and Market Street Grill, who provide ample and nutritious hot food for the meals.
“The owners of these establishments have big hearts and their contribution is very much appreciated by the homeless and the volunteer servers,” members said.
A Hand Up serves food at noon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at the First Presbyterian Church, located on the corner of Fourth and Jay Street. There is no charge for the meal – and people are invited to dine in or take out.
“There were times when we served a lot of people, but we usually have about 15 people each week,” said Seaver, who recalled the first time she took sack lunches to people on the levee.
“I won’t ever forget the look on their faces,” she said. “They were so very grateful.”
A Hand Up runs entirely on donations and support from the community. For more information or to help, contact Rauch at (530) 635-1060. ■