How We Help
Hands That Serve supports people in four key areas. All of our programs operate through referrals from trusted community partners.
Emergency Food Support
True to our roots, we continue to feed the homeless at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in downtown St. Louis, a tradition we’ve maintained since 2003. When government assistance falls short — as it did during the federal shutdown in 2025 — we step in. We stock food pantries and provide grocery support to families who would otherwise go without.
Housing Assistance
We partner with St. Francis Community Services to fund security deposits, first month’s rent, and emergency housing needs for individuals and families on the verge of homelessness. In 2025, our contributions helped 28 families avoid eviction or secure stable housing.
Education & Scholarships
We award scholarships to students who are working hard to build a better future. Through LifeWise and our support of Marian Middle School, we invest in young people across St. Louis. In 2025, we awarded over $30,000 in scholarship funding — and watched two young women graduate from college because of it, including one now pursuing a graduate degree in biomedical science.
Emergency & Disaster Relief
When our community faces a crisis, we respond. After the historic tornado struck one of St. Louis’s most vulnerable neighborhoods in 2025, Hands That Serve contributed $50,000 toward home repairs — part of a larger $116,000 effort that repaired 10 homes and restored safety and stability for dozens of families.
We also provide financial support to individuals going through their own personal crisis, like illness that requires time away from work and causes financial hardship. In these situations we help pay utility bills, rent or mortgage to avoid further distress or loss of housing.
We also provide financial support to individuals going through their own personal crisis, like illness that requires time away from work and causes financial hardship. In these situations we help pay utility bills, rent or mortgage to avoid further distress or loss of housing.