

Today we’d like to introduce you to Henrietta Miller.
Henrietta, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am 42 years old. I was born in St.Croix Virgin Islands on February 28, 1977. I moved to the Atlanta when I was 18 yrs old to attend the Atlanta Job Corp. I am married with two children, a boy Ki’shoy and a girl Amaiya. My passion is to help people. I have always dream about having a business where I can help people in need and people that is searching for love and compassion. God has been very good to me and the bible says give and it shall be given unto you, so I decided to start by contacting the shelters and offering to serve the people with food, love, clothes and whatever help they need. So in April of 2009, I started contacting several shelters and going to the Volunteer classes so I can put my words in action. Being a member of a church, I took my idea to my pastor told one of my fellow sisters and we put together a Menu and did our first feeding in May 2009. I was so inspired that I decided to contact more shelters, came up with a business name working with Faith Ministry and from there, we continue to help and feed the homeless, low-income families and friends. I decided to start this Ministry because we notice that society is begging for help and God has been blessing me, so I wanted to share the wealth with the ones in need. We started feeding the Atlanta Union Mission, Clifton Springs Ministry, Zaban Couples Shelter and the youth shelter Covenant shelter on a monthly basis.
On December 31, 2012 my six years old daughter was tragically killed by a drunk driver. My daughter and son use to love helping people and volunteering with me to feed the homeless and shelters. I would have never taught my desire to help would not of interest me anymore. But when my daughter was taken away my desire to feed the homeless and help people was gone, but my niece made a suggestion to me to change the name of my organization to Amaiya Helping Hands Foundation and just continue doing what she had loved to do. So, in January of 2013 Amaiya Helping Hands Foundation was birth and we started back helping the homeless and less fortunate. So, in the last six years, Amaiya Helping Hands Foundation continues to help feed the homeless in shelters and the less fortunate. We also have quarterly Community Feeding Events at Hurt park, back to school Drives in several Islands such as St. Thomas, St. Croix Virgin Islands, and recently this year we had a back to school Bookbag Event in St. Kitts British Island. We were the first responders in Atlanta for the Virgin Islands Evacuees and Dialysis Patients. We also participate yearly in the Martin Luther King Veteran event in St. Thomas Virgin Islands.
The Bible says in St. Matthew 25: 35-36, For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Some have been on the streets for years while others find themselves with nowhere else to turn for the first time in their lives. Some are battling addictions or mental health issues while some have just had a string of setbacks. Some never made it through high school and some have advanced degrees. The one thing they all have in common is that they are poor and they have turned to a Shelter or turn for help from the government or whoever can assist them as a last resort. So my desire is to continue to bless and help people for God will continue to bless me in return.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, but with God anything is possible. I don’t have my 501c3 yet so financial it has been a struggle, majority of the financial comes out of my income. But God has been blessing me with faithful volunteers that help in any way.
Sometimes I make plans for an event and don’t know how I’m I going to get the food and pay the fees but its been working in my favor.
Amaiya Helping Hands Foundation – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The mission of the organization is to effectively give children all over the world a helping hand. Provide food, clothes and educational supplies to children all over the world. Strong advocates of the importance of having speed bumps and stop signs in subdivisions so families can feel safe on the streets of their community. We offer sponsorship to dance and cheer students.
Five Years of Service
Atlanta Union mission
My Sisters House
Atlanta Day Shelter for Women & Children
First responders for Virgin Islands hurricane evacuees and dialysis patients
Relief Drive for the Virgin Islands Department of Education (St. Thomas)
Coloring Books for Houston
Hotdogs for the Homeless
Holiday Dinner for the Virgin Islands
Numerous Community Feedings, Clothing Drives, and Educational Supplies
2018 MLK Day of Service (St. Thomas, USVI)
Boog Bag Drive (St. Croix, USVI)
I am most proud of helping people and doing what my daughter had loved to do and my heart desire. We lend a helping hand to the needy and less fortunate.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment continues to honor my daughter’s legacy.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3813 WHITE PINE RD
SNELLVILLE GA 30039 - Website: WWW.AMAIYAHELPINGHANDSFOUNDATION.ORG
- Phone: 470-236-3105
- Email: amaiyahelpinghands@gmail.com
- Instagram: AMAIYA HELPING HANDS FOUNDATION
- Facebook: AMAIYA HELPING HANDS FOUNDATION
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Esther
October 23, 2019 at 5:13 pm
Thank you Henrietta for sharing your heart. It has been a blessing and inspiration. Keep it moving as you are one of God’s beloved.