Harry’s Hands To Help and Heal offers lifeline of support and help - The Delaware County Daily Times

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GLENOLDEN—Jen Babe’s life changed forever Oct. 5, 2020. Harry Babe, her husband of 23 years, committed suicide.

In the past year, while trying to deal with losing the love of her life and the tragedy of his untimely death, the grieving wife founded Harry’s Hands To Help and Heal, a community nonprofit, aimed to end the stigma of mental illness and suicide, and to help Delaware County residents affected by suicide. Based at the First Presbyterian Church of Glenolden, 2 S. Chester Pike, Harry’s Hands serves as a safe haven for anyone at risk for committing suicide and for the family members and friends who are left to navigate life after a loved one succumbs to suicide.

The organization, not only holds support groups, but also assists spouses, children and families impacted by suicide and mental illness with food, clothing, necessities, resources, and always a sympathetic, caring ear. Harry’s Hands also advocates and serves as a voice for mental health in the community.

“People who suffer from a mental disorder have the hardest time keeping up with the basic necessities of life. They are embarrassed to ask for help due to the stigma that surrounds them,” Babe explained. “Harry’s Hands wants to work toward ending the stigma. Our mission is to assist the spouse, children and families directly impacted by suicide and mental illness. We offer assistance with food, clothes and resources and we will even pay for therapy if necessary — whatever it takes to save a person’s life.”

Harry Babe had a passion for motorcycles and cars. According to his family and friends, he was a brilliant mechanic who had an unparalleled talent of fixing things with his hands. In June 2019, Harry was in a terrible motorcycle accident that caused a severe brain bleed which created a loss of many bodily functions and triggered a bout of his bipolar depression.

According to Jen, “He fought like hell every single day to overcome this. Medications were no longer effective and, in the end, his injuries and his mind took over.”

While still reeling over her husband’s death, as well as trying to be there for their three children, ages 19, 23, and 20, and four grandchildren, Jen Babe almost immediately began thinking about the “what ifs.” She wondered what if there had been more help for her husband, a place where he could talk and get support and share his suicidal thoughts, and what if there was somewhere to go with people who would truly understand what she and her family are dealing with in the aftermath of suicide.

Never one to sit back and just ponder, Jen, a resident of the Holmes section of Ridley Township, had her first support group assembled and sharing thoughts and resources by November. Harry’s Hands to Help and Heal hasn’t stopped growing and expanding ways to be there for the community ever since. Babe, who left her job as a home healthcare nurse during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, has turned all of her attention to

Harry’s Hands, which she said has been very therapeutic for her and her family.

“I am blown away by the huge need out there,” Babe shared. “Word is surely spreading that we are here. We want to be helpful to anyone suffering from anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, grief, or any kind of mental health issues.”

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit has a handful of faithful volunteers, as well as a board that includes Jen as president, daughter Sam Babe as vice president, Lorna Laffey as secretary, daughter-in-law Briana Babe as fundraising coordinator, Bob Gove as meeting coordinator, Becky Crawford as pantry coordinator, sons Edward and Erik Babe, son-in-law John Toy, and several others.

Harry’s Hands monthly no-commitment peer support group, for anyone over 18 years -old, meets the third Wednesday of every month. The next meet-up will be 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15.

“People come to our peer support group for all kinds of reasons and from all walks of life,” Babe shared. “People who are experiencing suicidal thoughts, family members and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide, people experiencing anxiousness or depression in their daily life and even vets suffering from PTSD. We have a mixture of people, but we’re all there to support and help each other. People can talk or not talk, it’s up to them, although mostly everyone shares.”

Peer support is about conversation, dialog, and mutual understanding. There is comfort in knowing that someone else has been through the same struggles. A peer support group can offer others’ strategies for managing mental health, honest and real shared experiences, coping skills to reduce stress and the sharing of resources. The group can also reduce a person’s isolation by offering personal connection, as well as share information on how to reach out to professionals for help.

“We’re here to bring support and lend comfort to anyone who comes through the door,” Babe explained. “We want to let every participant know that they’re not alone and help make their journey a little easier. Mental health is just as important as physical health.”

“We’re not here to solve everyone’s problems,” daughter Sam interjected. “We just want people to get together to bounce ideas off each other, share resources, know that they are not alone. We want those in the community to know we are here with a shoulder to lean on.”

As Babe and her board began connecting with others in the community, they soon realized how many of those whom they met were struggling to make ends meet and, as a result, were experiencing serious food and clothing insecurity.

As a result, they began a Harry’s Hands Food Pantry to distribute groceries, baby items, toiletries, and even pet food, to those in need, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and 6-8 p.m. Mondays. Initially started in the Babes’ basement, the food pantry is now much more spacious after moving to First Presbyterian Church of Glenolden this past August.

Those in need who want to shop at the pantry must be a resident of Delaware County. Harry’s Hands food pantry currently serves about 30-50 people per week.

The group also offers clothing to those in need. New and gently used clothing, all clean and organized for browsing at the church, is distributed during the same days and hours that the food pantry operates. The clothing giveaway began at the church in September.

Harry’s Hands to Help and Heal accepts donations of food and clothing during the same hours as distribution.
Babe said the team of volunteers at Harry’s Hands to Help and Heal wants to empower and be there for those who need help. Babe explained that one of the Harry’s Hands to Help and Heal organization’s mottos is “Together we can end the stigma: Asking for help is the first step.”

Their outreach initiative is one of their most important. They want to connect people with the right resources to get the help they need.

“There are all kinds of help out there, but it’s often difficult to find,” Babe explained. “Someone who is depressed, or struggling just to get through a day, isn’t going to have the energy or personal strength to find help or resources on their own. We are open to anyone in need.”

After a family member commits suicide, Harry’s Hands offers support to survivors in many ways, including a food train for at least two weeks.

“After Harry died, we wouldn’t have eaten if people hadn’t sent us food,” Babe recalled, shaking her head at the sad memory. “We were unable to function, yet alone prepare a meal.”

Harry’s Hands also advocates for needed changes to mental health laws. Its members recently participated in State Rep. Jen O’Mara’s mental health expo in September, as well as the Be Kind To Your Mind annual race event at Merry Place in Havertown.

“Poor mental health leads to suicide,” Babe stated, matter-of-factly. “My husband was Bipolar. If we are going to try to prevent suicide, then we must end the stigma and be more open about mental health.”

The volunteers at Harry’s Hands to Help and Heal take their caring and compassionate ministry out on the road a few times each month. The group stops by NA and AA meetings and area recovery homes, as well as walks around 69th Street in Upper Darby and the Kensington area of Philadelphia, to hand out food, toiletries, gloves, coats, and hats to those who need them.

“Addiction and mental health go hand-in-hand, you know,” Babe says sadly.

The local organization does a lot of outreach, as well as fundraising to keep everything flowing. Babe says they are very grateful to the 52 business sponsors and individual donors from the local community, who have helped in numerous ways this past year.

Last spring, the group held an Easter egg hunt to bring awareness to their group. Over 300 families came and, Babe said, the group seemed to really take off after that. In the fall, the group had a very successful Car and Bike Show at the Glen Mills School that was supported by 30 community sponsors. The organization also held a Coats for Kids giveaway of free warm outerwear, hats and gloves, every Saturday in November.

Harry’s Hands is now gearing up for the holidays. The nonprofit is collecting toys for 250 children, as well as serving as a U.S. Marine Corps Toys For Tots drop-off site.

Harry’s Hands to Help and Heal will hold a Christmas Bazaar, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at First Presbyterian Church of Glenolden. The event will feature food, vendors, a basket raffle, vendors, kid games, face painting, visits with Santa, and more. Most importantly, Harry’s Hands To Help and Heal hopes to showcase their organization during the event, putting a spotlight on mental health and suicide awareness, so the community knows nearby help is available and easily accessible, anytime it is needed..

For more information, visit https://harryshands.com, call 610-724-4230, email harryshands2020@gmail.com or reach out through the “Harry’s Hands to Help and Heal” page on Facebook.

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