Jon Mark Beilue: Old Name With a New Mission

'Hannah's Helping Hands' uses down time to 'bring positivity'

What Hannah Scarborough has, maybe for the first time in her young life, is time.

Even with online classes until noon most days, the West Texas A&M University sophomore suddenly did not have a daily checklist of student government, her sorority, Chi Omega, or any other requirement that filled most waking hours.

“What else am I going to do? Sit around all day?” she said. “I might as well use that time for something good.”

“It’s been a big adjustment, being so busy and going to meetings every day and now coming back home and having to social distance with not that much to do,” she said.

Just about every kid has been told at some point by a parent out of patience of “idleness being the devil’s workshop,” or words to that effect. But idleness, or sudden spare time, also can be opportunity. It has been for Scarborough, one of many WT students whose bent is to help others during this national crisis.

“My mom and I have talked about it,” she said. “People are going to come out of this in one of two ways – they’re going to be better people or worse. It’s a humbling experience doing this. There’s a Bible verse that fits perfectly with what we’re trying to do.”

That’s Romans 12:13: “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”

“I try to live by that,” she said, “and share that with people.”

And thus is an old name with a new mission – Hannah’s Helping Hands.

That name got its beginning around Scarborough’s 13th birthday in 2014. Instead of a traditional birthday party, she showed maturity beyond her years. She asked that any money spent on her instead go to her for a day to give back.

All of that helped to go hygiene packets – toiletries, personal items, a blanket, a Bible – to hand to the homeless and others in need at Fort Worth’s Unity Park. In all, 250 were put together that first year. It’s a birthday tradition that has grown in size, reach and publicity every year since.

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for ventilators and masks, especially the simple mask to preserve the N95 medical masks, was broadcast by the media. There was, or soon would be, a shortage. Ventilators, no. Best leave that to the professionals. But masks, yes, Hannah’s Hands could help sew a mask.

Except for one thing – Betsy Ross, she ain’t. Scarborough had never sat behind a sewing machine.

She called family friend Lisa Bradshaw, who tried to give a sewing tutorial over the phone. When Hannah had issues threading a needle, it was decided to break social distance guidelines and come show Hannah how it was done.

A picture of that sewing lesson went on Facebook. That, of course, prompted a critical response on social media for breaking the social distancing tape measure, proving once again no good deed goes unpunished.

But beginning March 27 through the first day of April, Scarborough has sewn 30 masks locally for Wise Health System Hospital, Heritage Place nursing home and the medical clinic in Bowie, 28 miles away.

After her online classes, she spends most of the time behind the sewing machine. The first few were tedious, taking as long as 15 minutes. 

“The first few were a nightmare honestly,” she said. “But after that, I got faster. It’s like anything. The more you do of something, the better you should get.”

Scarborough bought fabric and elastic, and after that ran out, used ribbons and string to tie them. The clinic in Bowie needed a nose piece, and she fashioned some using floral wire.

“I plan on doing these as long as supplies last,” she said.

It’s an odd feeling to have routines altered, plans put on hold, new friends afar, and waiting for a curve to flatten. And all the while remembering to always wash your hands and never touch your face.

For Scarborough, WT was not a likely college destination – at least not at the top of the list – until a tour of campus in the fall of 2018. There, with the colors of autumn, the campus, she said, “blew me away.”

“My mom told our tour guide that WT was not my top pick,” she said, “and the whole tour, it was like he was directly talking to me, just trying to win me over.”

Though a sophomore in credit hours, Scarborough first set foot on campus as a student last fall. It has been a whirlwind.

“It’s been nothing but an amazing experience,” she said. “I’ve met so many friends I never thought I’d meet. I’m a shy person, but being on my own completely changed me. I’ve branched out and getting involved has helped me in so many ways.”

But for now until a time to be determined, the whirlwind is calm. In its place are online classes 310 miles away from what once was a busy campus and hands that help in a small, but meaningful way.

“It’s my faith and heart of service,” she said. “I just want to spread the positivity. We all could use some.”

—WTAMU—