Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michelle Solares. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Michelle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Our mission at Helping Hands Resource Center Inc is to empower those who have been affected by trauma and violence. This mission statement resonates with me very deeply because my mother had been a victim of domestic violence. I saw and experienced the struggles that she went through trying to rebuild her life after escaping her abuser. My mother was able to process her trauma through trauma informed workshops and interventions. She preserved through her hardships and no longer was a victim, but a survivor. I have been a part of the Helping Hands Resource Center since I was fifteen years old. At first I joined as a volunteer working in the container room and assisting the children’s group while their mother’s were in their life groups. Over the years, I saw the impact we were making with the families we were servicing by the basic need donations, community art workshops, and life groups. This created a passion for me to learn more about the communities around us and better ways to assist them.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have been a part of the Helping Hands Resource Center since the very beginning. I was fifteen when my mother founded and created the organization. At first, I was a supportive daughter who would volunteer when I was needed, but slowly my passion for helping people started to grow. In college, I majored in Sociology because I really wanted to study human behavior and society to learn why it works and how it can be changed. Unfortunately, my mother’s experience in a shelter saw many injustices against immigrant women and their children. The shelter would push them aside and provide them less supplies than the other women who were U.S citizens. My mother would share what she had and was met with threats of being kicked out of the shelter for helping. This sparked a vision for my mother and I that we would help those who need it, regardless of who they are. What I am proud of in the Helping Hands Resource Center is the donation closet we have. We want clients who are in need to be able to receive basic needs they need to start their new lives. Most of the clients we serve are escaping their abusers and often only have the clothes on their back. With inflation on the rise, many of these single mothers cannot afford diapers, formula, bottles, or clothes for their children. So at Helping Hands Resource center, we try to alleviate those anxieties and worries. Another important resource we have are the workshops and parenting classes we provide. Going through trauma can leave us feeling alone, but being in a community where it is acceptable to speak about our traumas makes room for healing and transformation. During the pandemic, we were able to make our in-person workshops online and available to anyone even around the globe. Our parenting classes are also crucial because it helps break the cycle of trauma for the next generation. We want to give our clients and their children solutions and peace as they embark on their healing journey. I want those who learn about the Helping Hands Resource Center that we want to support, build community, and transform people’s lives by giving them a safe space to confront and heal from their traumas.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

2020 was one of the hardest years of my life. Not only was it the start of the pandemic and we were forced to stay inside, but in 2020 my father lost his kidney. My father and I are very close and this sudden change of hospital stays and visits were starting to take a toll on me. I felt that I had to stay strong and fall apart when I was alone. When we moved our art and healing workshop online, I convinced myself to join because I was looking for community and support. At first, it was very difficult for me to speak about my traumas, but when others shared theirs it made me feel empowered. It provided me the clarity and strength to keep moving forward and keep hope alive. This community of survivors changed my life. Their stories of resilience and perseverance motivated me to go back to school to finish my degree. As a first generation latina, I received my Bachelor’s in Sociology and not only was it for my family but because I wanted to be a better asset for Helping Hands Resource center.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

We at Helping Hands Resource center like to be personable with our clients. There is constant communication between us and our clients and we like to assist them when they need it. We still have clients of over ten years and it is amazing to see the growth they were able to achieve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.helpinghandsrc.org/
• Instagram: helpinghands_dv