Executive Director/President

Cynthia Kemp was born and raised in New York City, where she attended City University of New York, majoring in nursing.

She moved to York Pa. in 1976 and came to York’s Helping Hand for the Homeless, in 1986. She volunteered using her skills and enthusiasm to assist the administration in any way she could.

In 1996, the Board of Directors of York’s Helping Hand for the Homeless, Inc. offered Cynthia the position of Executive Director/ President. Cynthia believes her true calling was found through her volunteer experiences.

Since taking on the director’s position, Cynthia has seen to it that services are expanded and new services developed, to help the homeless help themselves and to serve the near homeless and needy community.

Presently Cynthia is a member of Friendship Baptist Church of York, a motivational speaker, Corporation Secretary for West Bank Neighborhood Improvement Association, and a member of WellSpan Cardiovascular event planning. She has received numerous awards, including the 2003 Outstanding Women of the Year and 2003 Human Service Award from the Black Ministers’ Association of York for outstanding service to the community of York.

Cynthia’s other interest include: continuously developing her personal relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Family and Friends. Mentoring, Music, Dancing, Theater, Concerts, Plays, Bowling, Reading and Water Exercise.

Collette Walker

Director Minority Behavioral Health Drop-in Center

I hold degrees from Penn State York (Associates), York College (Bachelor’s in criminal Justice) and Temple University (Master’s in Social Work).

I worked as a therapist and project coordinator for Family Services Partners for 10 years, volunteered with Americorp, through the South George Street Partnership, for two years and various other positions over the years.

I am member of Maranatha Church of God In Christ (Pastor Rachel Baxter). I am a evangelist Missionary, on the board of directors, chairperson of the Women’s department (Koinonia).

I am a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and the chairperson of their Health and Human Services Committee. I am also the Chaplin of the group.

Since last year I have been the Director of York’s Helping Hand Minority Behavioral Health Drop in Center.

Christina Smith

Program Coordinator for Minority-based Behavioral Health Drop-in Center.

Christina started working for York's Helping Hand in January 2007 in the capacity of program coordinator for the minority based behavioral health drop-in center. She values having the opportunity to be part of a body of people who stand for something so important and needed. She views herself as a consumer first and a professional second. She worked in the mental health field for 7 years in varying positions. The accessibility of services to those with behavioral health and transportation issues and the continued education of providers on topics such as stigma awareness and cultural competency are some of her vital concerns.

Christina currently participates as a board member of the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers Association, sits on the Consumer Support Program steering committee of York and Adams County, and as a panel member of the Minority Behavioral Health Coalition in York. With NAMI York County, she also conducts consumer presentations, visits the inpatient hospital unit every month.

She also enjoys the theater arts and takes special interest in creating productions.

Mary Barber

Office Manager

Office Manager, mother of four children Florence, Natalie, Nathan and Tyronne. Nana of five grandsons and two granddaughters.

Dorothy Miller

Graduated from York High in 1972. I came to York’s Helping Hand as a volunteer in 1999 while working at York Hospital. My mission was filled, when I started helping others who was less fortunate than me, my purpose in life is to esteem other more highly than I esteem myself.

My though each day:

People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care, that’s what life is all about caring about each other.

Phyllis Grove

Vice President

Joined York’s Helping Hand for the Homeless Inc, in 1989. Phyllis chose to volunteer after she retired from her 17 year career as a manager for the Thumbelina Sewing Company in York. She has been resident of York her entire life. Phyllis began volunteering part time for York’s Helping Hand in 1989, at which time her main duty was to help distribute Government Surplus Food to the Homeless and others who were less fortunate. Phyllis stated “At the end of the day, I knew I had made a difference”. This rewarding feeling is what helped her make the decision to participate full time. She began to take part in more activities such as organize and operate promotional booths at the York Fair, York Halloween Parade and other fund raising events. In 1994 she was elected Vice President of York’s Helping Hand and is still proud to be part of the organization today.

Phyllis Ann Dowling

Chair Board of Directors

Phyllis proudly joined the Board of Directors in 1994. she was quickly elected president, because of her background in community involvement. Phyllis is a retired elementary school teacher from York City Schools. She also was the coordinator of the Jump Start Dropout Program in the school district for five years. Phyllis is a long time member of the Bethel A. M. E. Church in York. She is certified missionary and feels that God has sent her to York’s Helping Hand to do the Lord’s work and to carry on her missions. As President of the West Bank Neighborhood Association, she talks to and encourages the neighbors to go to YHH for help and if they do not need help then to support the agency by volunteering and making donations. Phyllis shows her commitment and love for the organization by volunteering her time at YHH’s programs and events. Phyllis believes that being YHH has given her many blessings over the years. She loves working with the family of staff and volunteers. “There’s no place I’d rather be----”

May 24, 2013