History & PowerPoint Presentations Page
2000 - Street Ministry
2005 - HRH's Prison Ministry
2008 - HRH-HHOOT's Diner
2017 - HHOOT's Distribution Center
2000 to 2008 – In 2000, Don Hawkins met with Dan Berlin of Prison Fellowship Ministries. Dan introduced Don Hawkins to Charlie and Joyce Yant, who were serving the homeless in downtown Indianapolis. In 2001, Charlie, Joyce & Don formed Hands of Hope Ministries Inc. They continued to serve the homeless across from the Main Library every Saturday morning for several years. Joyce and Charlie would make soup and sandwiches the night before. While Joyce and Charlie were passing out food and talking to them about Jesus, Don Hawkins would pass out clothing and tell them where they could find additional goods, services, and programs in Indy. Hands of Hope Ministries also did a Bible Class at the Indiana Youth Center (IYC), now Plainfield Correctional Facility in Plainfield, for over six (6) years.
2004-2017 - Don Hawkins started using the name Homeless & ReEntry Helpers in 2004 and incorporated it in 2008. Later that year, he was granted a 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. When HRH became a Public Charity, they were eligible to purchase surplus properties from the city of Indianapolis to help fund future HRH projects. HRH purchased over 220 properties from the city during a three-year period. HRH's next project was to obtain a pair of warehouses (25,000 and a 15,000 Sqft) at 916 & 940 E. Michigan St. This is when HRH started serving hot meals, averaging 75 to 110 people, six to seven days a week from 3 to 6 PM. Additionally, they have been distributing clothing and personal hygiene items to our homeless friends for over ten years. They also had four Support Coaches who provided our clients with information and referrals on where they could get jobs, goods and services here in Indy. HRH lost their lease in the Spring of 2017.
2017 to 2019 - In the Summer of 2017, HRH & HHOOT moved to their new 6,500 sqft warehouse at 2457 E. Washington St., where they continued the clothing and personal hygiene giveaway program. As they expanded their non-perishable food items and personal hygiene program, they had to eliminate the clothing pantry to make space for all the items we were receiving from CVS. A few months later, they added services that catered to Veterans' organizations, street ministries, and professional agencies, providing water, sodas, Gatorade, chips, snacks, reading glasses, non-perishable food items, and other essentials that are distributed to our homeless friends and others in need.
2019 to Present (2025) - In 2019, Homeless & ReEntry Helpers (HRH) partnered with the Veterans Support Council (VSC) to support the newly formed HHOOT's Distribution Center (HHOOT) allowing HRH-HHOOT to work more with our Veterans community.
HRH-HHOOT currently picks up 8-10 skids of non-perishable food items per week at Midwest Foods; 2-5 skids of sodas from Second Helpings; and receives 3-4 48-foot semi-trucks every 4-6 weeks from CVS's warehouse, containing non-perishable food, non-prescription drugs, and hygiene items. HRH-HHOOT also receives thousands of pairs of reading glasses for the Lions Club.
HRH-HHOOT then distributes the above donations to our over 160 Partners/Organizations (click here for a partial list) each month, not counting our homeless friends that visit HRH-HHOOT periodically. About one-fourth of our Partners are Veterans Organizations; one-fourth are faith-based organizations that work with the homeless; one-fourth are service providers that work with those less fortunate; and the balance are organizations that are having special events that need help.