Dancers with Perkins School of the Arts volunteered at last month's Helping Hands giveaway. The next giveaway is Thursday, December 21 at 6 p.m. at the Norwich Family YMCA. (Photo from the Helping Hands Norwich Facebook page)

NORWICH — Norwich-based nonprofit Helping Hands will be at the Norwich Family YMCA, located at 68-70 North Broad Street, this Thursday at 6 p.m. to give out free food, hygiene items, and cleaning supplies.

The organization sets up at the Y every third Thursday of the month, regardless of weather, to provide needed items to the community free of charge. The giveaways are open to anyone with no questions asked. Community members can simply walk or drive through the giveaway and collect what they need.

Volunteers set up stations in front of the Y with pre-bagged items, which they will load into vehicles that come through. There is a limit of one bag from each station per person.

Chobani will be attending to hand out yogurt. To celebrate the season Chobani employee Don Brown will be returning to sing holiday music throughout the giveaway.

The monthly giveaways are made possible by the support of community volunteers who assist with shopping, sorting, bagging, and handing out items, as well as the support of numerous local businesses, organizations, and churches.

"We have made so many friends," said Founder Lorri Race. "That’s another huge aspect to this, is that community-building piece and bringing all of us together that volunteer and give. We have so much fun on Thursday night."

To support Helping Hands, purchase donations from the Amazon Wish List pinned to the top of the Helping Hands Norwich Facebook page.To lend a hand through volunteering, message the Helping Hands Facebook page.

Those looking to support the organization can also donate used sneakers and cleats in the drop box at the Norwich Family YMCA. Those that are in good condition are cleaned and given to individuals in need, and those that can't be reused are recycled. Helping Hands receives a small amount of money for each pair of recycled shoes, which helps them buy items for the giveaway nights.

More information on Helping Hands can be found on the Helping Hands Norwich Facebook page.