God's Helping Hands, a charity thrift store in Delta Junction, Alaska, needs to move to a new location in order to continue serving the community.

Our current host, Living Waters Assembly of God, has asked us to move or close by the end of September of this year, 2026. They wish to use the space in other ways.

This means that in order to continue, we need a partner or partners. To maintain its status as a charity with negligible prices, we need someone to provide what the church has provided to date: a location that provides space, electricity, heat, insurance, etc.

Every space we have looked into has proven unavailable to us.

We recognize that this is a huge ask. It makes no business sense for someone to do this. Why would they? Only love could motivate it. And sometimes that doesn't make sense.

Let us take a moment to share a broader vision of what Helping Hands gives to our community besides cheap clothing and household essentials, which is vital in itself.

God has taught us that people are what is most important. You don't try to preach to a hungry man. You feed him.

Jesus spent most of his earthly ministry touching people’s lives by meeting them where their need was. Not by calling them to come hear him preach. Whatever it was—healing, food, tax money—He provided what they needed. He demonstrated the love of God to all instead of just preaching about it or sharing it with his closed circle of followers. He said if you see your brother in need, don't say, “be blessed,” or “come back tomorrow.” Give, and ask nothing in return.

James says that "Pure religion and undefiled before God is this, to help the widows and orphans, and to keep yourselves unspotted from the world."

Helping Hands has been just that: a helping hand to the poor. A resource for those suffering loss or starting a new life. It's a budgeting tool to make living in a very expensive place doable.

Historically, God's Helping Hands sees approximately 200 people each week who come in to shop on the one day we are open. We minister to at least 1,000 different people within a year.

But more than that, it is a place that ministers to women and sometimes men of all ages who come to volunteer—around 20-25/year. This opportunity blesses them with free merchandise, but it is also a place where we all share what God is doing in our lives—our hurts, our burdens, our praises—where we cry together and laugh together and pray for each other.

We aren't big on denominations. We don't think God is either. They separate people. But in this store, people from all churches come together and talk and share. It's the social event of the week for hundreds of people. A safe place for their kids to meet and interact.

There are days where one of us sits for hours with one person, listening, counseling on life emergencies, or teaching emotional healing. But they counsel each other as well. We love to hear it. We pray for healing of hearts and bodies.

It is a place of refuge for some who need to get away from danger in the home.

In our humble opinion, Helping Hands is one of the critical factors in making Delta what it has come to be; creating and fostering a spirit of helping our neighbors. If we stay in our isolated little circles, this unique and precious dynamic could fall by the wayside. It's too easy to think, “They aren't part of my group. Their group will take care of them.”

We've been hearing a lot of fear these last weeks since the news broke of our location becoming unavailable. A couple of generations have grown up depending on this ministry to make living in Delta affordable. We're hearing things like, "I won't be able to clothe my kids." "What will we do?" "I'm praying God gives you a place. We can't live without it!" or, "My kids will have to wear burlap!"

But we’re also hearing about the loneliness they dread. This is a way and place for many to cope with loneliness and depression.

Our hearts are breaking with the cries of the needy. The whys. The what will we dos?

We are averse to begging, but not to giving information. Or to providing a place where people can donate if they wish. If anyone knows of a generous benefactor that either has such a property or the means to obtain one, we'd be delighted to have a conversation.

Our vision is to raise enough to acquire a property of our own so that we can continue meeting this need in the community for as long as God grants us life and strength and willing hearts. We would like to add other services, such as a prayer room and a game-board lounge with munchies. We are thinking of renaming it "The Quarter Master, charity thrift store."

We even have a non-profit organization established and recognized by the State of Alaska, a 508(c)(1)(a) Faith-Based Organization (FBO), or, as Alaska statutes call it, a Religious Corporation. It's ready to host a new thrift store doing the same thing that we have been doing for decades, only better. Not a business-based, profit-taking model. A pure ministry of love tailored to serve, rather than acquire.

To purchase a 2500 to 5000 sq. ft. property in a location close to center town for easy accessibility will not come cheap in this market. Then there will be the moving and renovating costs that will be necessary to get up and running. But we serve a big God with unlimited resources.

In the meantime, you can help by donating here.

Let's share our hearts and information, and then let God do His thing. Love to you all as we lift our hearts together, asking our good Father to provide for His children!