The Help Project
Your generosity helped transform compassion into thoughtful, informed action.
Madison County is rich in care and compassion. Neighbors want to help. Organizations want to serve. Yet for many, the path forward can feel unclear. The complexity of social services and uncertainty around best practices can leave even the most well-intentioned efforts stalled or, at times, unintentionally harmful.
That reality sparked a shared vision among three organizations: to equip everyday neighbors with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to help well. Operation Love Ministries, Park Place Church of God, and South Meridian Church of God came together around a common goal: Imagining an approach rooted in dignity, healthy boundaries, understanding poverty, trauma-informed care, and effective community engagement.
Thanks to a $25,000 Spark Grant from the Madison County Community Foundation,
The HELP Project moved from vision to action.
The grant funded a four session training series that engaged 91 participants, nearly double the original goal, with 40 individuals completing all sessions. Participants ranged from early career professionals to retirees, representing faith communities, nonprofit volunteers, and concerned neighbors eager to serve more effectively. Together, they formed the foundation of a Community Support Team trained and ready to walk alongside neighbors facing financial hardship, housing instability, medical crises, and other life challenges.
As the project leaders reflected, “This project exceeded all expectations. The momentum established through these sessions showed the care and concern of our community in stepping up to form relationships and create hope for real change.”
Beyond training, The HELP Project translated learning into action through its Good Neighbor initiative. Trained participants connected struggling neighbors to essential support such as housing, transportation, food, and medical assistance while also offering relational encouragement and advocacy. More than 31 households received targeted assistance, paired with ongoing support that promotes long term stability rather than short term fixes.
Your generosity did more than fund a program. It built bridges between organizations and faith communities, between knowledge and action, and between neighbors who want to help and neighbors who need it most. The HELP Project shows that when we invest in collaboration and education, we do not just meet needs. We strengthen the fabric of our entire community.
Every gift, large and small, contributes to the mission of Madison County Community Foundation to invest in lasting positive change to elevate and strengthen Madison County. Our vision is for this to be a community where every person has the opportunity to thrive and this drives everything that we do. Consider giving to the Impact Madison Fund to help us continue to meet emerging local needs through discretionary grantmaking. Impact Madison Grants support nonprofit programs in the areas of Arts, Culture, and History, Health and Human Services, Education, Thriving Community, and Women and Children.
