Bryce Asberg and Nancy DeBacker work for the pregancy resource center. Courtesy | Facebook

Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center took the prize for best nonprofit or charity organization last month in the 2023 Best of Hillsdale County Community’s Choice Awards.

Hillsdale locals vote for the winners based on their outstanding service to the community. The contest is affiliated with the USA Today Network. 

“As an alumnus, I praise God for the many students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Hillsdale College who support our life-saving work,” said Bryce Asberg ’21, the executive director at Helping Hands. 

Numerous college students volunteer at Helping Hands, and the resource center also partners with more than 30 local churches. 

“So much of the strength of what we do comes from our wonderful team of more than 20 volunteers. It is such a blessing to get to work with women and men who are so committed to Christian service,” said Malisa Banbury with Helping Hands. 

Asberg said the the staff at Helping Hands are encouraged by their selection for the award, and are grateful to be able to positively impact the community. 

“We do what we do because our work is valuable and makes a difference in the lives of our clients, and we know that from the testimony of the clients that we serve,” Asberg said. “However, it is a blessing to know that the community recognizes what we do and that they love and support us.” 

With growing needs in the local community, the center is committed to innovating and expanding their services, Asberg said. 

“2023 was a big year for our ministry and we made significant facility updates, increased the quality of our staff and volunteer training, brought on additional staff and volunteers, and initiated strong partnerships with the Hillsdale Hospital and the Hillsdale County Courts,” Asberg said.

Helping Hands is also offering a fatherhood class beginning April 4, according to Asberg.

“This will be a new effort with a group class model that includes dinner,” Asberg said. “We are expecting that this class will open doors for us to serve more fathers than we ever have before.”

According to Asberg, the center is also creating new marketing strategies to best reach different women in need throughout the community. 

“These developments are increasing the number of clients that we serve and our effectiveness in serving clients. Every week, we are strengthening families, equipping parents, meeting material needs, and providing life-affirming services right here in Hillsdale County,” Asberg said. 

Receiving the Community Choice Award has helped propel Helping Hands to best accomplish these initiatives, Asberg said. 

Helping Hands Office Coordinator Emelie Randell said she is grateful for the publicity garnered from the award. 

“We are so grateful for the award and most excited about it getting our name out there better,” Randell said. 

Helping Hands offers services such as pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, consultations, mentorship, and material assistance, Randell said. 

“This award gives us even more momentum as we head into 2024,” Asberg said. “We are so grateful for the rich support of this community and are eager to serve more young women and families across the county.”