About Helping Hands

Our History

Like most success stories, Helping Hands had small beginnings. In 1972 at Betty Forward’s kitchen table on Hughes Rd, Orillia, Betty and her eight sons saw a need and began to provide lawn care, snow removal and transportation to seniors in the Orillia area. A few years later, they had a small staff based out of the home of the company’s first executive director, providing personal support services similar to today.

Eventually, the organization grew enough to secure provincial funding and moved into a formal office space. As funding began to flow, Helping Hands was able to focus on health and independence-related services that continue to grow today.

Man doing office work

Today

Helping Hands maintains a unique service model by providing a wide range of home care and community support services for seniors and adults with physical disabilities. Our services are subsidized by government funding, allowing us to provide a wide range of support. With the incredible dedication and generosity of our many volunteers, we can continue to help maintain independence during the journey of aging.