Maysville’s Helping Hands

SOUTH ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Maysville School District has been making the holiday season brighter for generations of students through their Helping Hands program since 1982.

The program began when Sondra Karr prepared four baskets of food so that four underprivileged families could have something to eat on Christmas Day.

“Well when I started it, it was just the food,” Karr said. “I didn’t do the toys, it was just the food. And then someone gave me money to go buy a gift certificate for each of my baskets at a store here in town. So it was just a project that the community came together. And it was… it’s just blessed many people in our community.”

Over the years, the program has expanded its operations from not only the items in their baskets but the number of baskets as well. That number now exceeds 80 and benefits 210 children. The expansion also includes a number of student and staff volunteers, who sort and serve along with a neighboring church, who provides their facility for storage and distribution.   

“I think there’s always the need out there. And the holidays just seem to bring it to light a little more. And so we address it a little more, I think during the holidays. But I know that Maysville’s always been there for its families and continues to be,” Former Program Director Kathy Mohler said.

This year’s Helping Hands distribution will take place between 8-and-2, this Friday at the Rolling Plains Methodist Church.