Who is HHMD?
Our Story
Helping Hand Me Downs enhances the quality of life for children and families in the St. Louis area by meeting their immediate needs, then connecting them with life-changing resources that foster independence.
The families referred to HHMD receive clothing, a seasonal coat or jacket, socks, shoes, toys and books. The original service offering was formed to meet a need that was expressed by more than 40 industry experts currently serving families in need.
Referrals come from nurses, social workers and counselors from over 100 local agencies. All families served live in the St. Louis Metro Area and have been deemed “in need” by the agency serving them.
Hospital social workers indicated that infants were routinely being released from the hospital and going home with no clothing and nowhere to sleep. The social workers resorted to teaching the moms to safely us a box or drawer instead of a crib. After a few months HHMD modified the service model to serve children of all ages.
Once the urgent needs have been met, HHMD will focus on longer term goals to help the family gain stability or enhance their quality of life. HHMD works with families and connects them with services that will help them live more independently. One of the most successful offerings is the coaching program that helps families prioritize their needs and empowers them to make decisions proactively. Through coaching, moms have found the courage to leave abusive relationships and enroll in programs that support a successful path to independence.
About our FOunder
Thirteen years ago, Stephanie Suljak says she saw a need, well, another need. She already had been serving as a foster parent for several years, and had adopted two children.
But then she started talking to social workers to find out where gaps in services to families existed, and what she could do to fill them. What she discovered turned into her founding her own social service agency that today serves more than 5,000 kids a year. She and her family, along with a few hundred volunteers a year, do it all out of an Ellisville-based warehouse that’s less than 2,000-square-feet in size.
“We aren’t just working for babies. With ‘Helping Hand-Me-Downs,’ we’re working for their siblings and their families,” Stephanie says. She learned the gap existed when moms and babies in need left the hospital. Now she provides car seats, cribs, diapers and coats, all gently used, among other things, to families in need.
“It is stuff we would give to, or put on, or own children,” she says.
Stephanie says becoming a foster mom changed everything for her and her husband and two children. “That’s what made me want to give back.”
Today she has four children, ages 25, 22, 14 and 11.
Her husband, whom she says is her “largest funder and biggest fan,” owns and operates two construction companies, Trinity Pools and Sealing St. Louis. “He even drives our shuttle.”
Last year, Helping Hand-Me-Downs joined forces with Dear MAMA to serve families in North St. Louis and North St. Louis County. “What an amazing way to love your neighbor. Throughout the year, we packed the shuttle to the gills with toys, books, clothing and baby gear and headed to various places to pass items out directly to families in need," Stephanie states.
More partnerships were formed with other agencies. “We went from getting a few referrals a year to pages and pages of requests. One teacher came into the office and got clothing for every child in her class, while a principal sent us a request for 60 coats.”
She says the need increased dramatically from 2022 to 2023, so much so that Helping Hand-Me-Downs served nearly 1,000 more children. “Although we're excited to be able to meet the need, we're saddened that the need increased that much. Families who've never had to ask for help were finding themselves needing clothing and other necessities,” she says. “The community showed up for sure. Each time we needed clothing to fill an order, the bins would overflow for weeks.”
She says she couldn’t do any of it without her volunteers. “They tirelessly empty bins and sort clothing, toys and other random items with such kindness and compassion. It can be very overwhelming and unrewarding at times, but these wonderful people show up week after week to help serve the community.”
In addition to immediate needs of clothing, food and household items, Helping Hand-Me-Downs assists families with finding housing and securing jobs. They also have a coaching program that supports families by giving them tools to navigate life in a healthier manner and offers a safe place to engage in transformative conversations.
“The program’s intention is for families to go from surviving to thriving as stability is created,” Stephanie states.
This was written by Robin Seaton Jefferson in the Chesterfield City Lifestyle magazine. Click here to view.
