Holding Hands Creates Mission to Foster, Support Employees with Disabilities

By Clare Heller and Emily DeWitt
Hottytoddy.com interns
ceheller@go.olemiss.edu; esdewitt@go.olemiss.edu

Holding Hands is not a typical thrift store. Behind its doors, the owners are changing lives and creating opportunities in the Oxford community.

Holding Hands Resale Shop is located at 1433 N. Lamar Blvd. near the three-way split. Photo by Emily DeWitt.

Holding Hands is a second-hand resale store founded in January of 2013 by Donna Howard, a long-time Oxford resident. She quit her previous job as a director of radiology and started the business specifically to employ people with disabilities. Her niece, Julia Williams now serves as executive director, but Howard still works at the shop.

“I started it because my daughter has schizophrenia, and I couldn’t find her a job,” Howard said. “She was working at a place here in town, and the employees were not good to her because they didn’t understand her.”

According to Howard, the mission of Holding Hands is to give people with mental illness a purpose in a safe, comfortable work environment.

“Having a mental illness is very difficult. They’re very misunderstood. They need a place where they can feel comfortable. They need structure,” Howard said. “(This opportunity) been great for all the employees.”

The first storefront opened on West Oxford Loop, but due to its success Holding Hands moved to a new location that is twice the size as the previous one, about a year ago. The shop is located at 1433 N. Lamar Blvd. near the intersection commonly known as three-way. This change of pace proved to be a challenge for the employees, but Williams and Howard have worked hard to ensure that they have had the smoothest transition possible.

Each employee has his or her own unique quirks, and Williams said it is important that you learn to work with them.

“We have a couple of employees here that they have to eat lunch at 11 a.m. every day and that’s what it has to be,” Williams said.

Positive Impacts

Over the years, the business has become more of a family. Howard and Williams get to know each of their employees personally and learn what is going on in their lives. These women have seen firsthand the positive impact that Holding Hands has had on the lives of the employees.

“When they can move on and do something else in their life I am happy for them because I feel like I have accomplished something when they do that,” said Howard.

Howard and Williams said they are extremely proud of their employees who have been able to take major steps in their lives. One former employee has even gone on to work full-time at a local Dollar General. Another employee has been able to begin college classes.

As the Oxford community has been so good to them, both Howard and Williams look to give back in any way that they can. They partner with other local organizations like Doors of Hope, Red Cross, United Way, Memory Makers, and Communicare. They even give clothes to those who are unable to afford them.

“If you walk in here and say, ‘I have nothing I need some clothes,’ we’re going to give you clothes,” Howard said.

Karen VanWinkle, a loyal Holding Hands customer, said that it is her favorite place to shop. She loves the unique pieces they carry and appreciates their passion for customer service.

“The atmosphere there is so welcoming,” VanWinkle said. “Everyone working there remembers your name and is always so eager to help.”

VanWinkle serves as the activities director at Oxford Health and Rehabilitation, and Holding Hands donated 20 dresses for the residents to wear to a special prom event.

Holding Hands is able to impact many people in the Oxford area, and they intend to continue their mission of service. Howard likes to joke that she quit her previous job to make half as much money for twice the amount of hours, but she truly loves what she does.

“Every penny we make stays here in Oxford,” she said. “The more money we make, the more employees we can hire. Every penny we make goes right back into the store. I think that’s important.”

There is always more work to do, and Holding Hands graciously accepts any help the Oxford community is willing to give.

“We just want people to know we take donations, we have a truck so we do pickup, volunteers are always welcome, and if we can speak anywhere we are always willing to share our story,” Howard said.