Volunteers with City Church at a Helping Hands giveaway night. The next free giveaway night will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 at the Norwich Family YMCA. (Photo from the Helping Hands Norwich Facebook page)

NORWICH — Norwich nonprofit Helping Hands will be hosting their monthly free giveaway night at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 in front of the Norwich Family YMCA, located at 68-70 North Broad Street in Norwich.

The organization provides free items to individuals who stop by, no questions asked. Giveaway items include food such as bread, pasta, cereal, milk, eggs, soup cans, and Chobani yogurt; hygiene items such as shampoo, body wash, chapstick, women's feminine products, toothbrushes, and toothpaste; cleaning supplies like bleach, hand sanitizer, and laundry pods; as well as pet food.

Volunteers set up stations in front of the Norwich Family YMCA, where individuals can walk or drive through and pick up what they need.

Helping Hands receives support through many local businesses and organizations, who send volunteers to assist with the giveaway nights. In the past, Helping Hands has received volunteers and support from City Church, M&T Bank, NYCM Insurance, the Northeast American Dairy Association, cvFree Church, Chobani, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, the Broad Street United Methodist Church, Valley Ridge Center for Intensive Treatment, Kerry Bio Science, Perkins School of the Arts, Achieve, and many more.

"If it wasn’t for our supporters and volunteers, it wouldn’t be possible to do what we do," said Helping Hands Founder Lorri Race. "I would like to give a very big thanks to everyone that supports us in one way or another."


Individuals who would like to support Helping Hands can purchase donation items through the Amazon Wish List linked at the top of the Helping Hands Norwich Facebook page.

Additionally, used sneakers and cleats can be dropped off in the Go Sneakers donation bin in the lobby of the Norwich Family YMCA. Shoes in good condition are given to individuals in need, while the rest are recycled. Helping Hands will receive a small amount of money for each pair of recycled shoes.

Empty bottles and cans can be returned at SOPO Redemption Center, located at 6653 NY-12 in Norwich, with the proceeds donated to Helping Hands. Simply let an employee know the proceeds from returned bottles and cans are to benefit the organization.

Helping Hands giveaway nights are always held at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at the Norwich Family YMCA, rain or shine.

Helping Hands giveaway nights for 2025 are as follows:

Thursday, May 15

Thursday, June 19

Thursday, July 17

Thursday, August 21

Thursday, September 18

Thursday, October 16

Thursday, November 20

Thursday, December 18