About Lending Hands

Lending Hands acts as a liaison with support agencies in Charlottesville to meet the needs of all ex-offenders in the community. Lending Hands provides support and services needed by this population including:  
    
     - Transportation Assistance
     - Housing Information 
     - Job Referrals 
     - Resume Assistance
     - Child Advocacy of Incarcerated Parents
     - Group Support

Visit our Services page for more information.

Our Story

Lending Hands was established in 2009. The idea to start Lending Hands began while Cherry Henley was incarcerated. Having grown up hard in Fluvanna County. Henley made a decision to turn learned negative behavior into positive.  While in prison, she started to help other offenders with tasks such as writing letters to their children, filling out legal papers, and preparing correspondence with creditors. Through her actions, Henley believed she could help turn her own life around. She started to consider what kind of life was possible outside prison walls. She encouraged her colleagues to do the same and helped them set goals and plan strategies for re-entry to the community.

At the same time Henley was aware that once released ex-offenders would have to work through numerous challenges and barriers just to get back on their feet. Lending Hands goal is to help ex-offenders meet these challenges.  Lending Hands presently partners with Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail, Offender Aide and Restoration(OAR), Department of Rehabilitative Services, Happy Face Day Care and local Temporary Staffing Agencies.
Cherry Henley is Owner/Proprietor of Lending Hands

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