by Rick Griffin
Home of Guiding Hands (HGH) of El Cajon has announced it has received a $5,000 grant from The Country Friends for the purchase of new sofas and love seats for five of HGH’s 31 residential homes. HGH reports The Country Friends, a local philanthropic group based in Rancho Santa Fe, has supported HGH for the past 27 years. Formed in 1954 to fulfill a need of “helping San Diegans one hand at a time,” The Country Friends owns and operates a consignment shop and hosts events to raise funds for local human care agencies.
Founded in 1961, HGH provides services, training and advocacy for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, including epilepsy, cerebral palsy and autism. Services are provided to about 800 adults and children, including individuals living independently in their own homes and 182 people living in 31 community-based homes in El Cajon, Lakeside, San Carlos and Santee. HGH also operates a Respite Program that gives family members a much-needed break, a Life Planning Program that assists families with the process of developing a care plan for the future and an early childhood program, along with transportation services and counseling and family support services.