Supporting a Community That Shows Up: The New Helping Hand Website
Building a Digital Home for a Community That Shows Up
Henry County Helping Hand has been serving this community for decades, raising and distributing funds that directly support local nonprofits, public safety, youth programs, and essential services across Henry County. In 2025 alone, Helping Hand raised more than $500,000 and distributed funding to over 90 local organizations. That kind of impact deserves a website that works just as hard as the people behind it.
The goal of this project was not to change who Helping Hand is, but to bring everything they already do into one clear, organized, easy to navigate space. They already had branding, history, and trust within the community. What they needed was a way to communicate a large amount of information to many different groups, all at the same time.
Bidders need to know when and where to bid, what items are available, and how to follow along live. Donors need clear instructions for item drop off and pickup. Sponsors need a simple way to get involved and be recognized. Supporters need an easy way to donate, subscribe for updates, and stay informed throughout the year. That is a lot of information, and clarity was the most important design decision.
Working closely with Allie Harper, the board’s tech lead, and Jessi Smith, we mapped out exactly what information needed to be available and when. Using their existing logo and brand colors as the foundation, I built a custom Squarespace 7.1 site using my Genuine Template: Mega Edition that prioritizes simplicity, accessibility, and flexibility.
For the first time, Helping Hand’s website brings everything together in one place, including:
A live auction calendar with the ability to save dates directly to your own calendar
Email subscription options so supporters never miss important updates
Clear details on auction location, times, item drop off, and item pickup
A dedicated Get Involved page outlining all the ways to support Helping Hand
Online donations with both one time and recurring options
Sponsor sign up and sponsor recognition pages
A new blog to share updates, highlights, and community impact
One of the most exciting parts of this project is sustainability. This is the first year the Helping Hand board will be able to manage and update the website themselves. Squarespace makes it easy for them to add daily auction images, post live YouTube links, and share real time updates throughout auction season without relying on outside help.
We also created social media templates and email campaign templates so the team can communicate clearly and consistently with supporters before, during, and after the auction. The result is a website that supports every audience Helping Hand serves while remaining approachable for all ages!
This project represents what happens when thoughtful design meets a deeply rooted community mission. Helping Hand now has a digital home that matches the scale of its impact and sets the stage for an even bigger 2026 auction season.
Explore the new site at hchelpinghand.org
