Welcome!
Alaska
Helping Hands International currently serves native Alaskan's in the remote village of Unalakleet. We invite you to join us in sharing the love of God by bring help and hope to hurting people in this beautiful place!
JOIN US IN: Alaska!
Trip Information
DATES: Click on the dates you would like to sign up for and it will take you to the application
ESTIMATED COST:
$275 per person per week (plus airfare) - please register for the trip PRIOR to paying! :)
FUNDRAISING GOAL:
OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES
This year our service trip will be spread over three weeks. The first week we will be working on Unalakleet Covenant Church. The goal will be to complete numerous projects including:
- The removal of 17 sheets of drywall
- Hang tape and texture new drywall
- Remove and Hang new doors including trim
- Installation of new vanity sinks
The second week we will head up to Covenant Bible Camp where we will focus on completing necessary camp repairs which will benefit over 350 youth from the Village of Unalakleet and surrounding areas. Alaska has long extremally harsh winter that wreak havoc on the entire camp. Because of this there is always a tremendous amount of repairs needed to get the camp in working order.
This year the projects will include but are not limited to:
- Clear land and trails
- Fallen tree cleanup
- Clean up brush piles and put them through the chipper
- Clear 10 foot space around each of the staff and camp cabins
- Vehicle repair and maintenance
- Misc. building repairs and maintenance
- Re-plumbing the out door handwash station
The Third week you will get to be part of the Covenant Bible Camp staff. This is a great opportunity to meet and interact with other staff members and meet some of the kids attending the camp. This week allows the Camp to get started off on the right foot. There are always challenges to opening a camp up after it's been buried in snow for an entire winter. Even when the best effort is made to complete all the necessary fixes and maintenance you don't always know what doesn't work until the campers arrive and start using it. This is where you come in. You will be fixing things as they come up, emptying garbage cans, and whatever else may pop up that needs to be addressed.
TYPICAL SCHEDULE
What to Expect
On Your Way to Unalakleet: If you are flying into Anchorage, AK on your way to Unalakleet, you are encouraged to eat a hearty meal because there is typically only one connecting flight and it may be delayed. After arrival in Unalakleet, all luggage bags will be moved to a van or trailer so waterproof luggage is not necessary but can be helpful. Finally, we suggest you have rain gear readily available – be prepared for rain.
Once in Unalakleet: A typical day includes having breakfast around 7:30 a.m., morning devotions and praise around 8 a.m., working on projects until 5 p.m. in the afternoon, and interacting with the locals. See itinerary link below for detailed schedule.
LODGING & FOOD
Where We Stay & What We Eat
The first week we will be staying in a gymnasium in the town of Unalakleet. Make sure and bring a warm sleeping bag, sleeping pad/air mattress, and a good pillow.
The second and third week we will be staying at Covenant Bible camp in the staff Cabins. The cabins have bunk beds with pads. You will need a sleeping bag, pillow and extra pad if you require a more comfortable option.
TRANSPORTATION
How We Get Around
The local Covenant Church provides us with a 15 passenger van along with a truck. There is also opportunity to walk around the village and local landmarks.
SUPPLY LIST
What to Bring
- Bible
- Bedding: sleeping bag, pillow, alarm clock and ear plugs (if a light sleeper) etc.
- Bath: bath towel, soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, personal items, flip flops for shower etc.
- Clothes: work clothes, clean clothes for church (nothing fancy), layered clothing (like jackets, sweaters, etc.), work gloves, rain gear etc. Please note, there is a washer and dryer available as well.
- Shoes: work boots and/or calf high rubber boots (tennis shoes are ok for the airport and around the village but not so good for fishing, hiking etc.)
- Other: fishing gear (pole with a spinning reel and lures for trout), camera, flashlight, non-aerosol bug spray, hand sanitizer, water bottle etc.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Helping Hands International recommends you follow the health and safety recommendations readily published by the CDC and Travel Alert program offered by the US State Department, as well as those recommended by your personal physician. Please click here for vaccination requirements and/or recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Please note, if you do take prescription medicines, please check with your local pharmacist to ensure the medicines are not considered a controlled substance in the location you are traveling.
THE STORY BEHIND THE PROJECT
Alaska has the highest suicide rate per capita in the entire US. The highest rate of suicide being men and woman between the ages of 15-24. Unalakleet and the surrounding areas are especially susceptible because they feel trapped with no options for a future. Unalakleet and the surrounding villages are only Accessible by plane leaving the native very little opportunity to leave their small town or village. It's a tragic and seemingly never ending problem but Covenant Bible Camp brings hope. Covenant Bible Camp is a wilderness camp for the youth of Western Alaska. Campers come from dozens of different villages in the Norton Sound, YK Delta, Nana Region, and even the North Slope. Campers with ties to Western Alaska also come from the road system all the way from Sitka, Soldotna, Anchorage and up to Fairbanks. Covenant Bible Camps mission is to serve Alaska youth and young adults through Christ-centered ministry, partnership and discipleship, to raise mature believers who will lead the Church for generations to come. Please visit their website to learn more.
https://www.cyak.org/mission.html
JOIN US IN: Alaska! 2023
Trip Information
DATES:
May 19, 2023-May 26, 2023 (full)
May 25, 2023-June 2, 2023 (full)
ESTIMATED COST:
$300 per person per week (plus airfare) - please register for the trip PRIOR to paying! :)
FUNDRAISING GOAL:
OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES
This year our service trip will focus on completing necessary camp repairs which will benefit over 350 youth from the Village of Unalakleet and surrounding areas. Alaska has long extremally harsh winter that wreak havoc on the entire camp. Because of this there is always a tremendous amount of repairs needed to get the camp in working order.
This year the projects will include but are not limited to:
- Clear land by climbing tower
- Fallen tree cleanup
- Clean up brush piles and put them through the chipper
- Paint outhouses
- Level staff cabins
- Clear 10 foot space around each of the staff and camp cabins
- Install drip stove in New Cabin
- Temple floor repair
Stove corner is sinking and has slipped off of footings. We need to straighten and level the supports. The stove pipe will need to be hooked back up once the floor is leveled.
- Replace leaky water valves
UPDATE AS OF 6/5/23:
"Hello to my good friends and family. I have just returned from an outstanding trip to Unalakleet. This mission trip was a complete success and we accomplished many projects and touched many hearts. Thank you for your prayers and financial support. This ministry reaches hundreds of native youth of Alaska. The Bible Camp where our focus was is one of two camps designed to reach the native Alaska youth. Our team of 8 volunteers completed much more than I could have imagined. My thanks goes out to them as well. You were amazing. I have listed below some of those projects we accomplished.
1. Changed the oil and filter in the camp truck.
2. Repair camp washer and dryer.
3. Clean and repaired squirrel damaged cabin that has not been used in two years.
4. Sanitized entire kitchen.
5. Move the rafts down to the sauna.
6. Leveled, old water tower and replaced broken valves.
7. Repaired ramp at the back of the kitchen.
8. Repair doors throughout the camp.
9. Repaired the doors and landings (3) at the Ark.
10. Repaired main doors at the Ark.
11. Repaired the flooring, floor joists, and supports in the dining area.
12. Fabricated a hearth for the woodstove to spread out the weight.
13. Reattached chimney for the woodstove
14. Fabricated an ice knife to protect the woodstove chimney on the roof.
15. Removed several large brush piles from the cabin areas.
16. Leveled out the Connex where the food is stored.
17. Repaired the brakes on one of the camp quads.
18. Repaired the stairs and landing at the sauna.
19. Moved and repaired the camp tractor from a garden field.
20. There were also several smaller tasks that we completed.
I also had the opportunity to speak at the small church in the village of Unalakleet. I prayed with the youth pastor and several individuals from the village. This past year has been a difficult one for the people in this village. There were several teen suicides that were very hard for these folks. Please remember them in your prayers. God bless each of you for the part you had in this mission trip. Your support and prayers are very humbling for me. - Robin"
TYPICAL SCHEDULE
What to Expect
On Your Way to Unalakleet: If you are flying into Anchorage, AK on your way to Unalakleet, you are encouraged to eat a hearty meal because there is typically only one connecting flight and it may be delayed. After arrival in Unalakleet, all luggage bags will be moved to a van or trailer so waterproof luggage is not necessary but can be helpful. Finally, we suggest you have rain gear readily available – be prepared for rain. Once in Unalakleet: A typical day includes having breakfast around 7:30 a.m., morning devotions and praise around 8 a.m., working on projects until 5 p.m. in the afternoon, and interacting with the locals. See itinerary link below for detailed schedule.
LODGING & FOOD
Where We Stay & What We Eat
We will be staying at Covenant Bible camp in the staff Cabins. The cabins have bunk beds with pads. You will need a sleeping bag, pillow and extra pad if you require a more comfortable option.
TRANSPORTATION
How We Get Around
The local Covenant Church provides us with a 15 passenger van along with a truck. There is also opportunity to walk around the village and local landmarks.
SUPPLY LIST
What to Bring
- Bible
- Bedding: sleeping bag, pillow, alarm clock and ear plugs (if a light sleeper) etc.
- Bath: bath towel, soap, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste, personal items, flip flops for shower etc.
- Clothes: work clothes, clean clothes for church (nothing fancy), layered clothing (like jackets, sweaters, etc.), work gloves, rain gear etc. Please note, there is a washer and dryer available as well.
- Shoes: work boots and/or calf high rubber boots (tennis shoes are ok for the airport and around the village but not so good for fishing, hiking etc.)
- Other: fishing gear (pole with a spinning reel and lures for trout), camera, flashlight, non-aerosol bug spray, hand sanitizer, water bottle etc.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Helping Hands International recommends you follow those health and safety recommendations readily published by the CDC and Travel Alert program offered by the US State Department, as well as those recommended by your personal physician. Please also be sure to read HHI's COVID-19 policy (see below) and discuss local travel restrictions with your Team Leader.
THE STORY BEHIND THE PROJECT
Alaska has the highest suicide rate per capita in the entire US. The highest rate of suicide being men and woman between the ages of 15-24. Unalakleet and the surrounding areas are especially susceptible because they feel trapped with no options for a future. Unalakleet and the surrounding villages are only Accessible by plane leaving the native very little opportunity to leave their small town or village. It's a tragic and seemingly never ending problem but Covenant Bible Camp brings hope. Covenant Bible Camp is a wilderness camp for the youth of Western Alaska. Campers come from dozens of different villages in the Norton Sound, YK Delta, Nana Region, and even the North Slope. Campers with ties to Western Alaska also come from the road system all the way from Sitka, Soldotna, Anchorage and up to Fairbanks. Covenant Bible Camps mission is to serve Alaska youth and young adults through Christ-centered ministry, partnership and discipleship, to raise mature believers who will lead the Church for generations to come. Please visit their website to learn more.
https://www.cyak.org/mission.html
Completed Project: Alaska! 2022
Trip Information
DATE: August 6, 2022-August 13, 2022
FUNDRAISING GOAL: Met!!!
OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES
This service trip will largely focus on completing Doris's house. Doris is an elder in the Unalakleet who continues to serve her community. Doris's house burnt down and with out insurance she had no way to build it back. Through the help of the Church, Community and Helping Hands International she's getting a new home. This year HHI wil focus on completing the drywall, paint, plumbing and interior doors for her home. HHI will also be working on various projects to improve the Covenant Church building. Specifically, we plan to upgrade a kitchen (which currently feeds a primary meal to approximately 30-50 kids a day) and complete some electrical projects (e.g. replace a circuit panel and fluorescent lights with LED lights in an auditorium, gym and church).
THE STORY BEHIND THE PROJECT
Covenant Church in Unalakleet has had an amazing impact on the community and we are here to help them serve their community better.
Join us in: Alaska!
Trip Information
DATE: 7/31/2021-08/14/2021
OVERVIEW OF ACTIVITIES
A message from our Program Director
This service trip will largely focus on building a home for a family in need.
THE STORY BEHIND THE PROJECT
“I’d like to introduce you to Doris Ivanoff. She is a native Elder from the village of Unalakleet, Alaska. Doris is a 68 year old Inupiaq native who purchased a small HUD home (under 800 square feet) on a 30 year loan. Recently, she paid that loan off but after owning her home, for only about one year, it burned down to the ground and she unfortunately had no home insurance. Doris is currently living in a 200 square foot space (that was once a bakery) with her son, plus two grandchildren who live with her part of the time. This summer, I will be leading a group of volunteers over a two week period to rebuild Doris a home!”
– Robin Espasandin, HHI Team Leader
Building Plans
Healthy & Safety
COVID-19
(As of 2023)
Helping Hands International requires each Volunteer planning to travel on a non-US project, or out of State project, to obtain a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to departure, IF you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or may have been recently exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Test results will need to be shared with individual HHI Team Leaders. However, you do NOT need to send results to our main office.
Helping Hands International also recommends you follow the country specific health and safety recommendations readily published by the CDC and Travel Alert program offered by the US State Department, as well as those recommended by your personal physician. You can find this information on your trip specific HHI web page For Example www.helpinghandsinternational.com/mexico.
COVID–19
While COVID-19 requirements vary by location, and sometimes day by day, we will do our best to monitor and keep you abreast of testing requirements for each trip. Please also be aware that some countries may require you to provide a negative COVID test before leaving the USA and entering their country, as well as prior to departing their country to head back to the United States.
FAQ
Q: What if someone tests positive for COVID-19 in a foreign country and cannot fly home?
A: Although this scenario is unlikely, it is a possibility we need to be prepared for. If an HHI Volunteer tests positive for COVID-19 in a foreign country, that person (if a minor, with an adult) will need to stay in the country and quarantine for the amount of days required by local authorities (e.g. in some cases this is between 10-14 days.) Helping Hands International will arrange lodging for HHI Volunteer(s) who need to be quarantined, but the expense will be the responsibility of the traveler(s), not the nonprofit.
