About Us

From 75 book bags to 1610 - that is how quickly and how much Operation Hand Up™ has grown in 8 short years since its birth in Fall 2000. We saw the need and felt called to reach out to children of less than opportune circumstances. The door of opportunity opened and we chose to walk through, reaching out to "Build Hope in the Life of a Child - One Book Bag At A Time!" To God be all the glory! We asked to have our Operation Hand Up™ borders enlarged and they were! With excitement we are watching to see where God is going to take us next.

Our Motto "Building Hope In The Life Of A Child, One Book Bag At A Time." was adopted in 2003, because that is how we see this project. One child- one book bag. We know each year as we reach additional disadvantaged children that hope has been built in one more child's heart for a brighter future. The driving force behind this project is; reach out to one more child-with one more book bag each year.

OUR VISION for "Operation Hand Up™” is to expand each year and reach additional economically disadvantaged children. We are now serving 14 centers with book bags and school supplies.

OUR BELIEF is we must reach beyond our local community borders into outlying impoverished areas and states. We continue to see additional children desperately in need of book bags and school supplies. We cannot lose nor ignore such valuable children and their educational needs. Reaching out with filled book bags may take us to our own back door...or it may take us across the world...this we know...we cannot ignore any child regardless of their geographic location!

OUR DESIRE is to assist the struggling family unit, and positively influence our social and economic world. This project is designed to meet this specific need of these very special children, and their caregivers. By supplying book bags with school supplies, we afford the parents, grandparents and sometimes, even great-grandparents, the ability to spend their limited monies on other necessary items, such as food, clothing and shoes.

OUR HOPE is hundreds of children will succeed in school and build a better life for themselves and their future generations, through these efforts. One child is one too many to enter the school year without the necessary supplies to complete their lessons and homework. When that happens, they are already at a disadvantage on day one. Remember, 'The child we help today could be our employee tomorrow'! Our hope is for these children to know we truly care and through this small way we are giving them a 'hand up", not a hand out! We believe by giving this "hand up" these children will be more motivated and equipped to perform at a higher level in school.

OUR GOAL, at Operation Hand Up™, is to eliminate any disadvantage a child may have due to the lack of school supplies! We must not turn our backs on our future generations - when it is within our power to help. We witnessed this project more than double in just one year. It is amazing to watch the expansion! God’s favor and wisdom guides us year-after-year. Without Him and our wonderful partners we would not be successful! We have set a goal to reach 5000 children with book bags filled with school supplies. “A big order to fill”, yes; however, nothing is impossible when you believe what you are doing is helping children hold their heads up and believe in themselves. We have a driving force within us that pushes us to step out in faith, press on and determine to “Build Hope In The Life Of A Child One Book Bag At A Time”!

OUR INVITATION to you is; help us reach additional disadvantaged children with much needed school supplies. Come join us in an exciting Mission Outreach called "Operation Hand Up™”. Feel the reward of helping one more child! You will be glad you did!