Community Difference Makers

Jenifer Zimmer & Mary Geouge

Helping Hands and Caring Hearts (HHCH) has only had a presence in the northern Frederick County area for about a year, but the organization and its founder, Jenifer Zimmer, and community volunteer Mary Geouge, have already been making huge impacts throughout the community.

Zimmer, a former social worker, was inspired to start the organization after seeing firsthand how many families struggled to access free and immediate resources. Her goal was simple: To create a place where people could receive help without barriers or complicated paperwork.

“At HHCH, we don’t collect personal information—just a driver’s license to verify residency in Northern Frederick County,” Zimmer explained. “We want people to feel welcome and supported from the moment they walk through the door.”

While Zimmer and Geouge did not know each other when HHCH first opened in Thurmont last November, the two quickly became friends after Geouge volunteered at the store. “It became a beautiful friendship,” said Zimmer.

At the heart of their work is the free store located in Thurmont, where residents can find clothing, hygiene products, and other essentials. “We really try to help each individual who comes in find something they feel good in,” Geouge said.

Their service to the community doesn’t stop there. Over the summer, the two coordinated efforts to provide free lunches for kids from June through August, serving 2,600 lunches to families in Thurmont, Emmitsburg, and Sabillasville. Plans are already in the works for summer 2026.

At the start of the school year, they filled more than 200 backpacks for students heading back to class, provided free Easter baskets, and handed out games and toys during Parent Survival Night. The pair is also planning to offer free toys again this Christmas. In November, HHCH will be collaborating with the local Legions and AMVETS to hand out free goodies bags to Veterans. Together, they are ready to fulfill any need within the community.

Zimmer said it took time for residents to get comfortable with the idea that they could receive help without an application process. “We started with one or two clients a day,” she said. “Now we’re helping nearly ten families a day at our Thurmont location.” Zimmer’s work began with a Food Pantry and Dress to Impress for Men & Women program in Frederick. Since then, she has added a mobile van to reach people directly; expanded into Greencastle, Pennsylvania; and is planning a future location in California