Remembering Devin Cain
When someone dies you think back and remember what they were like, things that they had accomplished or not accomplished. Memories of the time you spent together. Thoughts of what they will miss out on and what you will miss out on with them gone. But if done properly you will remember what is most important, you will remember love. How well you loved and how well you were loved. Devin Bennett William Cain was born August 6, 2002. He was special like all children, his needs were just larger. He knew what he liked and he knew what he didn’t like. He loved music and listening to it, on occasion even joining in. He loved to laugh, and we all loved to see him laugh. When his Daddy would “get him” his smiles were as big as his face would allow and his laughter was loud and contagious. And like all good little brothers he knew it was his job to give his big brother a hard time. He was never shy about telling his family, his therapists, and his doctors when he didn’t want to do what was expected of him. But through it all Devin had his very own special cheer section. Whether things were going well or not, he always had someone telling him that he could do it, or that it would be okay. Many got to see him take his first steps because of the technology of video, you never saw so many tears of joy. But like all sons no one could take the place of his Mom. She’s the one who could make all of the wrongs right. Devin may not have had a will or property of great value to leave behind. He does however leave behind a legacy worth more than money or gold, Devin leave behind him a legacy of love. Anyone who ever loved him will never stop. And anyone who was ever loved by him will never forget. Devin will always be missed and life will be a little emptier without him here. But if nothing else learn one thing from Devin, that love is the easy part and it’s important to tell your loved ones that you love them. Life is short, don’t waste it on the what ifs or why nots, love outweighs it all. August 6, 2002 - June 19, 2007

Hunger Awareness Day
We had 110 people show up at BD's Mongolian BBQ with 93 tickets turned in. We raised about $900! The manager was impressed with our grillers and guests. Thanks to all who participated! Click here to see pictures from this year's event.

Use www.goodsearch.com
Remember to use www.goodsearch.com whenever you are searching/surfing the web.  Be sure to choose God's Helping Hands in Rochester Hills, MI as your charity.  We will receive about .01 per search.  If we all use www.goodsearch.com, it will add up.

Take a Walk in Their Shoes
As you read this story, please read it as if you are reading about events happening in your life.  The facts in this story are based on events in a families life who comes to God's Helping Hands for assistance and attends here at Rochester.  Their names have been changed to respect their privacy.

It was a cold winter day in January.  Sam came home from work to announce to his wife, Sally, that he had just lost his job of five years.  This came as quite a shock to both of them.  Sam applied for unemployment and was denied.  What were they going to do?  How were they going to take care of their children? Sally worked from home in order to stay home and take care of the little ones  because they could not afford daycare.  How were they going to pay all the bills?  How were they going to eat?

They both began seeking new employment.  In the meantime they had to eat so, they went to God's Helping Hands for food.  Since GHH is only able to give them about a one week's supply of food and are unable to provide milk and bread Sam and Sally also applied for food stamps.

A couple months went by and Sam finally found a job.  It was seasonal, but still it was a job.  Things were going well at this new job.  Suddenly and unexpectedly, when he almost had his 90 days in, Sam was told that the company no longer needed him.  Again, Sam found himself unemployed and unable to receive unemployment.

A few more weeks go by and Sam gets the job of his dreams.  However, his dream job only makes $8 per hour.  Still, it's a job!  In the meantime Sam and Sally had fallen way behind on their bills and had now found out that if they were late one more time on their house payment, they would lose their house.  If they were late one more time on their car payment they would lose their car.  All of their other resources were tapped out.  They could still go to GHH once a month for food, but Lighthouse, OHLSA, and other local agencies only help with a utility bill once a year.  The church had helped them during this time, but since he was bringing in no money for a few months they fell way behind.  Then the final blow came when they were told that they do not qualify for food stamps since Sam now has a job.  It is hard to believe that a family of five is expected to live on $8 per hour.  Even with the help received from GHH with food, the children do not get the fruit or vegetables daily which their growing bodies need.  Now  what?

Sam and Sally are now faced with the following decisions:

• Do we buy food or school supplies?

• Winter is coming do we buy food or winter coats?

• Our children need blankets to keep them warm at night, do we buy gas for the car to get to work or blankets?

• Christmas is just around the corner.  We need a little something to give the children.  We can go to God's Helping Hands for their Christmas shopping day in November.  What happens if we have to wait in the line of 200 again this year and they run out before we get there?  Then what?

Maybe you have struggled before or are currently struggling.  Brian and I faced many challenges when we were told that Kevin had special needs.  We were denied food stamps three times.  There was not a place like God's Helping Hands for us to turn to for help.  However, we did turn to the church.  We could not have made it without the help of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Not everyone has the blessing of a church family to turn to and even if they do, the church has limited funds.  There are people out there struggling and the only place they either know to turn to, or can turn to is God's Helping Hands. 

News Articles     Back to Top

• Wall Street Journal, July 10, 2009: Article | Pictures

• NPR - Story on GHH

• The Detroit News, April 11, 2005

• The Oakland Press, April 7, 2005

Memorial & Honor Gifts     Back to Top

• In memory of the Mother of Mary Prestridge: Jim & Bertha O'Rourke
   

• In memory of Mary Prestridge: Jim & Bertha O'Rourke
   

• In memory of Hualani Diego-Yee: Jim & Bertha O'Rourke
   

• In memory of Delores Tallman: Jim & Bertha O'Rourke, Joanne Shinsky, Edward & Carole Tollafield
   

• In memory of Emma Ockerman: Sheila Ockerman
   

• In memory of Mary Prestridge: Linda Baugh, Nina Blake, Ronald & Catherine Englehart, Patrick & Evelyn Kirby, Robert & Kim Martin, Gil Schmidt & Joann Bonbrisco-Schmidt, Douglas & Shelia Selke, Joanne Shinsky
   

• In memory of Delores Tallman: WD & Marie Birdwell, Jimmy & Wendy Burcham, John & Ida Swigart, Roger & Mary Wall
   

• In memory of Hualani Diego-Yee: Dennis & Patricia Bammel, Bevevolence Family at First Assembly of God, Kenosha, WI, Randall & Jeanette Bobos, Jimmy & Wendy Burcham, Yvonne Grainer, Thomas & Joann Green, RG & AJ Hempel, Richard & Kristy Jehn, J. Mark & Inez B. Johnson, Patrick & Evelyn Kirby, Lawrence & RoseMarie Long, Michael & Nadia Maddens, Mark & Diane Paul, Martin & M. Catherine Pavlick, Kevin & Brenda Radke, James & Caye Rinke, Gil Schmidt & Joanne Bonbrisco-Schmidt, Craig & Dawn Stinebrink, Kay Stinebrink, Audrey Vorich, EA & RE Ree, Kevin & Jenee Wee, Mary Werny, Jean Yee
   

• In honor of Sue Seaglund: Donald & Shirley Baxter
   

• In honor of Bryan Stouinsky: Gilbert & Joan Schmidt
   

• In memory of Iva Sanders: Waterford Church of Christ
   

• In memory of Devin Cain: Abby Adams, Aleta Bailey, Angela Baker, Dewey & Billie Barnett, WD & Marie Birdwell, Jerry & Rita Brackney, Amherst Church of Christ, Kenneth & Cheryl Coggeshall, Steven & Julie Harper, Sharon Heskitt, Susan Karos, Mike & Michelle Kirby, Donald & Rebecca McGuire, George & Pat Meyers, Perry Productions Group, Emily Polet, Gilbert & Joanne Schmidt, Jean Schwallie, Henry & Tamela Scott, Robert & Sue Seaglund, Don Sherman Insurance Agency, Joanne Shinsky, Vivian Stringer, Robert & Victoria Turner, Ralph & Diane Vitale, Nancy Wallace, Terry Yarbrough, Glenn & Bev Ziegler.
   

• In memory of Lillian Bryan: Dale & Jane Eby Cunningham, ML Davis, Arthur & Cheryl Harrison
   

• In memory of Bertha Nell Ramsey: Lila Ball
   

• In Honor of Jim & Bertha O'Rourke's 50th Anniversary: Ruthe Ahrens, Ken & Shirley Barnett, Charles & Nina Blake, Don & Nancy Christenberry, Gale Edwards, Gene & Betty Ewing, Duane & Pat Harrison, Bob & Lora Jones, Scott & Birgie Niemann, Jack & Barbara O'Rourke, Tom & Pat O'Rourke, James & Caye Randolph, Doug & Shelia Selke, Vivian Stringer
   

• Honor Gift received from Jim & Bertha O'Rourke for Tom & Pat O'Rourke's 25th Anniversary.
   

• Honor Gift received from Cathy Ries for Karen Owen's Birthday.
   

• Memorial Gifts received in Memory of Durant Sanders received from Oakland Schools Educational Media Services, Genie Priestly, Shirley Joan Thomson, and Waterford Church of Christ.
   

• Memorial Gift received from Church of Christ at Bethel in Memory of Bob Turner