Helping Hands Emergency Assistance Program

The Helping Hands Emergency Assistance Program formerly known as Care for the Caregivers is a fund created by donations from team members and fundraising opportunities to support our co-workers who have experienced a catastrophic need by providing resources or financial assistance.​​​

The Care for the Caregivers fund was founded in 1991, in memory of Jacqueline A. Pung, a compassionate registered nurse and fellow UM Health-Sparrow team member who was killed in an auto accident.  During UM Health-Sparrow Lansing's integration with St. Lawrence Hospital, the Chip Larkey fund merged with the Care for the Caregivers fund. The Chip Larkey fund was founded in memory of Paul E. "Chip" Larkey, Jr., a beloved friend and co-worker at St. Lawrence who had been killed in a 1987 auto accident. The Helping Hands Emergency Assistance Program was created in 2024 to carry on the legacy of the Care for the Caregivers program.

The goal of the Helping Hands committee is to raise funds for team members in need through the annual UM Health-Sparrow Foundation fundraising campaign and through a variety of special events held throughout the year.

Any major loss due to a catastrophe, illness or medical condition which may cause a hardship that affects the well-being of the team members. Team members must have six (6) months of service at UM Health-Sparrow to apply for assistance.

1. Submit an electronic application through the Helping Hand Gift Application Request Citrix App or by clicking on the link: https://forms.sparrow.org/242116037289052.

2. The team members will receive notification of the decision of their application within 5 business days from a Helping Hands Committee member.
3. If the request for financial assistance is approved, the payment will be included in the team member’s paycheck on the next available pay cycle from when approval is determined. The payment is considered to be taxable income and is subject to the withholding of appropriate taxes and deductions.
4. Questions can be directed by email to [email protected] or by calling the Human Resources Total Rewards hotline at 517-364-5333.

If you would like to donate to the Helping Hands Fund, click below and select Helping Hands in the "Please direct my support" drop down list.