Helping Hands is an organization that collects money for the Center for Survivors.
Mrs. Went, a Lakeview High School Teacher, inspired helping hands in 2000. She wanted to help women and children of domestic violence and came up with the helping hands idea. She suggested that the FBLA student members at Lakeview Community Schools adopt this as a fundraiser. The FBLA students cut hands out of paper. Students buy a paper hand for twenty-five cents. They write their name on the hand. The hands are then taped on the gym wall at Lakeview Jr. / Sr. High School. All of the collected funds go to the Center for Survivors, a shelter for domestic violence survivors in our community.
The campaign is held once a year starting on January 26th through February 1st. Last year, Lakeview reached an all time record of $452.00! The hand was chosen because Mrs. Went and the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of American) felt it would best represent caring. The helping hands fundraiser is open to anyone who would like to participate. Students can donate during their homeroom period or after school during the dates of the contest. Homerooms compete against each other to see who can donate the most money. The homeroom that wins gets to have a pizza or ice cream party.
Mrs. Went does not see an end to the Helping Hands campaign on the horizon. The money goes to buy bedding, personal hygiene products, clothing and food for the women and children at the shelter.