Pocatello Facebook group gives ‘helping hand’

Sometimes luck just isn’t on your side and you need some help. With the help of Facebook, a Pocatello woman aims to give that help completely free of charge.

Colleen O’Hara-Epperly started Pocatello Helping Hands on the eve of 2016. She started it after seeing the success of her other page, Bannock County Pet Lost and Found.

She sees a closeness in the Gate City unlike anywhere else, which says a lot considering she’s lived in 12 other states.

“We’re in this little valley here and I think it fosters that sense of closeness people feel,” O’Hara-Epperly said.

Despite it’s young age, the group has already garnered a triple-digit member base, giving it the ability to provide at-the-ready help.

Katie Stahl helps people for a living already, so it only makes sense she’d do it on her own time. So far, she’s helped many in the group with driving.

“There was a gentleman in the group, he needed transportation for a medical appointment,” Stahl said. “Met him at his door, said hi and introductions, and we went off on our way.”

Stahl’s favorite thing about the group is it encourages the “it takes a village” mentality.

“We all have our own households and we all have our own lives, but being able to work together as a huge community to get everything done is what’s more important,” she said.

The group has a golden rule: no profit can be made.

“This is not a profit venture,” said O’Hara-Epperly. “This is a goodwill venture. Pay it forward.”

Another big rule is to not resell what you get through the group.

Click here to join Pocatello Helping Hands. You can also join her other group, Bannock County Pet Lost and Found, by clicking here.