Preferred Mutual volunteers will be helping out with tonight's Helping Hands giveaway night at 6 p.m. in front of the Norwich Family YMCA. (Photo from the Helping Hands Facebook page)

NORWICH — Norwich nonprofit Helping Hands will be hosting their monthly giveaway tonight, September 19, at 6 p.m. in front of the Norwich Family YMCA, located at 68-70 North Broad Street in Norwich.

Volunteers work to shop for food, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, and pet food, as well as bag the items, and set up stations in front of the YMCA to give out to community members.

All are welcome to drive or walk through the stations and pick up whatever they need for free, no questions asked.

"Thanks to the community that provides donations we are able to give food items, such as macaroni, pasta, we always do breads, we do milk, we do eggs," said Helping Hands Founder Lorri Race. "Chobani is fantastic, they’re always there for us and they give us the yogurt."

For nearly five years, Helping Hands has been supporting the community with monthly giveaways, as well as an inviting atmosphere and plenty of fun, such as when Chobani employee Don Brown sings for visitors as he volunteers at the events.

It's important for the organization to provide a non-judgmental environment, so individuals feel comfortable attending and getting the assistance they need.