WELCOME TO Helping Hugs, INC
Our mission is to help distressed communities in need of material, education, or medical supplies. Our goal is to promote healthcare, education, small business development and spiritual support. At the present time, we are concentrating our efforts in the city of Côtes-de-Fer, Haiti and surrounding mountain villages as a result of the devastating earthquake which occurred in 2010 and hurricane Matthew in 2016.
Helping Hugs, Inc. and St. William Catholic Church have joined the Parish Twining Program of the Americas and are working closely with Father Islaire, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Côtes-de-Fer.
What We Do
Our mission is to help distressed communities in need of material, educational, or medical supplies.
Water
As a result of our medical mission trips, Helping Hugs, Inc., for Haiti identified that many of the child and female vaginal illnesses can be traced to the lack of clean water. In 2016, Helping Hugs initiated “Clean Water” projects to help improve the health and hygiene of the people of Côtes-de-Fer and the surrounding communities. Given the mountainous terrain and lack of passable roads for four wheeled vehicles, several solutions were required. Four different technologies are currently in place. Hollow fiber membrane technology is in place in two schools, ultra-violet radiation provides clean, safe water to the communities of Cotes-de-Fer and Mayette and harvested, filtered rainwater is in use at two other villages. None of these supply water year-round, so in 2020, a decision was made to drill clean water wells in communities where appropriate.
Education
Attempting to break the cycle of poverty through education, Helping Hugs, Inc. sponsors 3 primary schools for children of Côtes-de-Fer and surrounding mountain villages. We also provide scholarships for students to attend the local secondard school. Many of the families cannot afford to give their children an education and the communities are grateful for the sponsorship.
Infrastructure
Being located in the Caribbean, Haiti gets its fair share of storms and hurricanes and an occasional earthquake each year. Repairs and improvements were made on 9 of the 10 chapels between 2018 and 2021. Church and community events can now be held without the concern of adverse weather conditions.
Medical
St. William Catholic Church
St. William Catholic Church is located at 2300 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island, GA. The church entered the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas with St. Joseph Catholic Church of Haiti in 2008.
Helping Hugs' Events
Our mission is to help distressed communities in need of material, educational, or medical supplies.