History & PowerPoint Presentations Page
| Don's Brief History and PowerPoint Presentations |
2000 to 2008 – In 2000, Dan Berlin of Prison Fellowship Ministries introduced Don Hawkins to Charlie and Joyce Yant, who were serving the homeless in downtown Indianapolis. In 2001, Charlie, Joyce & Don formed
Hands of Hope Ministries Inc. They continued to serve the homeless across from the Main Library every Saturday morning. Joyce and Charlie would make soup and sandwiches the night before. While Joyce and Charlie were passing out food and talking to them about Jesus, Don Hawkins would pass out clothing and tell them where they could find additional goods, services, and programs in Indy. They also did a Bible Class at the Indiana Youth Center (IYC), now Plainfield Correctional Facility in Plainfield, for over five (5) years.
2004-2017 - Don Hawkins started using the name Homeless & ReEntry Helpers in 2004 and incorporated it in 2008. Later that year, he was granted a 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. When HRH became a Public Charity, they were eligible to purchase properties from the city of Indianapolis to help fund future HRH projects. HRH's next project was to obtain the warehouse at 916 E. Michigan St. This is when HRH started serving hot meals, averaging 75 to 110 people, six to seven days a week from 3 to 6 PM. Additionally, they have been distributing clothing and personal hygiene items to our homeless friends for over ten years. They also had four Support Coaches who provided our clients with information and referrals on where they could get goods and services here in Indy. They lost their lease in the Spring of 2017.
2017 to 2019 - In the Summer of 2017, HRH & HHOOT moved to their new 6,500 sqft warehouse at 2457 E. Washington St., where they continued the clothing and personal hygiene giveaway program. As they expanded their non-perishable food items and personal hygiene program, they had to eliminate the clothing pantry to make space for all the items we were receiving from CVS. A few months later, they added services that catered to Veterans' organizations, street ministries, and professional agencies, providing water, sodas, Gatorade, chips, snacks, non-perishable food items, and other essentials that are distributed to our homeless friends and others in need.
2019 to Present (2025) - In 2019, Homeless & ReEntry Helpers (HRH) partnered with the Veterans Support Council (VSC) to support the newly formed HHOOT's Distribution Center (HHOOT).
HHOOT now picks up 8-10 skids of non-perishable food items per week at Midwest Foods, 2-5 skids of sodas from Second Helpings, and receives 3-4 48-foot semi-trucks every 4-6 weeks from CVS's warehouse, all containing non-perishable food, drugs, and hygiene items. These donated items are then distributed to over 160 organizations each month.
