Helping Hands Distributes Doses of Hope

From the pandemic, a positive nonprofit sprouts and flourishes

By Dianna Troyer

When she launched a food bank during the COVID-19 pandemic, Theresa Dimmitt envisioned it as a temporary service.

Instead, three years later, Jackpot Helping Hands has expanded to become a multifaceted community outreach offering food, clothing, health classes and services for families, veterans and seniors.

“We help whoever needs it—from local residents to people passing through who have had car accidents,” says Theresa, who volunteers as the organization’s executive director. Helping Hands is based at Jackpot Public Works.

“We have fantastic support from the town’s superintendent and advisory board, and regular and part-time volunteers who are committed to helping others,” she says. “We turn our convictions into action and are thankful to live and work in a community with a giving spirit.”

Helping Hands has been a three-year learning curve, Theresa says. Since 2020, the organization has built a website, set up a five-member board of directors, organized fundraisers and learned about all kinds of programs that help local residents.

“One outreach program leads to another and another, so I’ve had training to help people apply for state and federal assistance,” she says.

To celebrate the holiday season, volunteers make food boxes for people in need at Thanksgiving.

For Christmas, they organize a Holiday Giving Tree for “families struggling to make the holiday complete for their children.”

“We want to help make children’s Christmas dreams come true during this joyous time of the year,” Theresa says.

Parents register their children confidentially and recipients can be chosen at the Jackpot Senior Center, 1594 Pond Drive, from November 5 to December 5.

Theresa says the nonprofit started shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of casinos, the main employment in the town of 1,100. Most residents were out of work, and the only social services were 120 miles away in Elko.

“We started working with Friends In Services Helping in Elko,” she says. “We soon realized we needed to provide a nonprofit program here in Jackpot so people wouldn’t have to drive all the way to Elko. We decided to turn lemons into lemonade.”

After brainstorming for a name for the new nonprofit, Theresa settled on Jackpot Helping Hands. The town’s advisory board provided a building. She and volunteers accepted donations and launched fundraisers, including a golf scramble, selling concessions at car races and an autumn craft fair.

In September, the new Love’s Travel Stop donated $2,000.

“We’re really grateful for that,” Theresa says.

She and volunteers provide:
• An emergency clothes closet at the local senior center.

• A food pantry with fresh produce and canned goods from the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. Food is distributed weekly at the Public Works office. Local firefighters offer monthly food box deliveries to those in need.

• Assistance to confidentially apply for or recertify for several Nevada Health and Human Services programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and rental or energy assistance.

• Services at the senior center, including social activities, Meals on Wheels, monthly food boxes, mobility devices, haircuts, and transportation to medical appointments and to grocery stores.

• Telehealth classes at the senior center focusing on diabetes and bariatric options.

• Smart Recovery support groups.

Accident Victims
Along with assisting local residents, volunteers have also helped accident victims on Highway 93, the road passing through town that is notorious for treacherous conditions during winter and for inattentive and speeding motorists.

“A family’s child car seats were destroyed in a car crash, so we replaced them,” she says. “Another time, a woman’s RV caught fire in a casino parking lot. She lost everything, so we gave her clothes, food and a place to stay. Then we bought her a bus ticket, so she could get back home to Oregon.”

Alongside her nonprofit volunteerism, Theresa works as Jackpot’s tourism director.

“We’re a small community, so people wear a lot of hats,” she says.

For example, on top of everything they already do in town, Public Works employees pick up food for the food pantry twice a month in Wells, 70 miles south of town. They also fill in for the bus driver, making it possible for residents to go to Twin Falls. The Jackpot Fire Department also helps pick up food boxes in Wells.

People in Jackpot are willing to volunteer and help each other, Theresa says.

“I’m thankful for everyone here who helps us help others, especially our board and volunteers,” she says. “The town’s superintendent, Shawn Burt, and the advisory board provide us with a building with all we need—internet and lights. With everyone pitching in, Helping Hands has become a well-oiled machine.”

Information about receiving assistance, volunteering or donating is available at www.jackpothelpinghands.org or by calling 775-451-1802