Missy Mitchell, Founder
A little about myself: I came from a single family home in W.V where my mom was not financially stable. It was a very challenging household where alcoholism, physical abuse, and some sexual abuse took place. It was difficult to get up everyday as a kid and act like everything was perfect or normal. We were punished because her boyfriend would not be home, or if she didn't get money for alcohol or cigarettes. I was the oldest child so I took a lot of the burden on. She would leave us alone and we were left to survive on our own. It was very depressing because you were forbidden to talk about it. It was tough growing up being called stupid and told that your daddy didn't want you and “she don't either”, but it didn't make me give up. It pushed me harder to want to get out. Well it got to the point that the abuse got out of hand that foster care came in and separated us. My grandmother, Aunt Liz, and my Aunt Panzy never gave up on me. It's sad to say, but I was put in a position to get out. Well I did. I always hid it and felt bad about everything that happened. I was the poor kid from Vinson Street, but I still was happy at least that's what I had convinced myself. So as I got older I realized that I was truly affected about my childhood that I tried to block, so I kept getting jobs that I was the supervisor or boss. I then found myself only rooting for the underdog or the people with a major struggle. I always had advice and was able to help them feel better and push them through their situation, and I then realized that I needed to help myself first. I always wanted to help because I wanted someone to help us. I took in a couple of my siblings kids for awhile so that they could get situated and back on the right path. This was the beginning thought process for HANDZ OF HOPE.
I started the non profit so that I could give back to whomever was in need. Now I am finding out that the need is so much bigger than myself, but I continue to do what I can because it is truly therapy for myself and others. I strongly feel that when people hear that you have the same situation in life that there is hope to continue to live and move on and not give up. I have 2 beautiful daughters who refuse to give up because they saw mommy not give up.
Crystal Stafford, Vice President
I grew up in a home where in our family if things weren’t going right in your house then you can and stayed with us. My mother always opened our house to whoever was in need. She was like ‘Big Momma’ of the family. Always cooking big meals every day and anyone that was hungry she feed them. This image of my mom grew on me which is part of the reason why I am the other half to how Handz of Hope came about. The other part is that I believe in my friend Missy Mitchell. She has such a burning passion for giving back to those in need and I believe in her vision and backed her all the way!
A little history about Missy and me. We knew of each other for 25 plus years with several common friends but never crossed each other’s paths until I joined a church close to my house that she was a member of. We both ended up on the leadership team of the church and shared the same passion for learning more of God’s word and how to live our lives according to his will. For sure, this made us grow closer together. She has my back with anything I believe in and I did the same for her. So, she said she was ready to get to work on helping those less fortunate and was not sure how to get started. Without hesitation, I got us in touch with the right man that would make it happen for us. Within several months Handz of Hope was formed and she has been hitting the ground running ever since.