Kindness is not simply an act for Angie Henke; it’s a lifestyle. The Mansfield woman started a non-profit group called Reaching Out, aimed at helping anyone in the community who needs clothing, household items, diapers, and furniture.
“As a small child we were very poor,” said Henke. “I remember the times that people helped us.”
Henke and other members of Reaching Out, gathered last week at their rented storage unit on Ashland Road in Mansfield to allow those who could use some help to “shop” for clothing or anything else they may need. Besides clothes, the storage unit had coats, shoes, a pair of crutches, and even a can of baby formula for the taking.
Misti Delaney found clothes for her three children, Amyaa, 6, Sarina, 5, and Frederick, 4, as well as handmade scarves, hats and gloves for her children. Henke noted Delaney has depended on the groups’ donated items, especially for her children, since the group’s inception in August 2013.
Delaney said she found out about Reaching Out via their Facebook page and thinks the ladies are “nice people” for all the help she has received from them and others.
Henke said her passion for helping others started by driving around to local parking lots and handing out toiletry items to people. At first she would ask for donations but now people are starting to donate regularly. The group also has fundraisers to pay for their storage unit. The women are in the midst of trying to find a building or warehouse to house the ever-growing mound of donations.
The Reaching Out administrative staff is comprised of: Henke, Sue Noblet, Ruthy Barretta, Karyn Fleming, Shelli Jackson and Rita Prosser. They said they have a heart for helping people and have become good friends over time.
Just in time for winter, Matthew Hoffman got a couple of coats, shirts, pants and sweatshirts before riding away on his bike on the brisk November afternoon.
“I think it’s amazing,” he said of the womens’ efforts. “Sometimes it’s hard to find people to help.”
In addition to helping people with clothes and other items, Henke said they gave away 75 Easter baskets, numerous food baskets, diapers, hygiene boxes, backpacks for Back-to-School and Christmas toys to children.
“It warms your heart up so much,” Henke said of seeing a child’s face light up from receiving a blanket or coat. “I took a picture of a little boy who got a blanket today and he was hugging it. We don’t know his name but he was happy just to get a blanket.”
The women all have families and recognize that times are hard for some who are less fortunate.
“We have some people who really depend on us a lot,” said Noblet. “If it wasn’t for us I don’t know what some people would do.”
In the year and a half since starting Reaching Out, Henke estimated they have helped at least 300 families and their Facebook group has reached 1,500 members.
Most donations will be taken if there is enough room to store them, Henke said. Monetary donations can be taken to any Mechanics Bank. The women are currently asking for donations of new toys and food for Christmas boxes for at least 10 families.
Henke can be reached at 419-612-2217.
Twitter: @angelnichole222
