Plant City resident Dean D’Errico works two jobs but only gets a paycheck for one of them.
D’Errico works for his own nonprofit company, Many Hands Inc., a home and auto repair ministry of which he is the vice president. It is this job that earned him the 2015 Volunteer of the Year from C&S Wholesale Grocers.
He has also worked as a driver for C&S Wholesale Grocers since 2000. The company has selected one person for the award since 2005.
“It’s kind of cool,” D’Errico said of the award. “I never really expected it. They encourage volunteerism in the community.”
With his nonprofit organization, D’Errico has far exceeded the grocery chain’s expectations. Many Hands provides auto and home repairs to low-income families and those in need, such as widows and the disabled.
The organization qualifies as a 501c3 nonprofit, and has repaired broken windows, replaced car brakes, cleaned gutters, trimmed trees and installed water heaters for little to no reimbursement.
Although C&S validates employee volunteer hours, D’Errico wasn’t interested in recognition or compensation.
“If [they] give me extra money, I’ll just put it back into the ministry,” D’Errico said.
D’Errico created Many Hands so that those in need are not faced with overpriced repairs from larger home and auto repair companies. He frequently travels to his clients if they are unable to come to his home in Plant City.
“It breaks my heart to see people taken advantage of at regular shops,” he said. “I’ve been blessed with the skills to do it. I’d be wasting it otherwise. That’s what the ministry is about.”
As a nonprofit, D’Errico receives a tax break from the government and is also recognized as a commercial buyer by auto part stores.
“Every little bit we can save, we can put back,” D’Errico said.
Many Hands was formerly named Low Income Service Team, but D’Errico and his team of 20 volunteers discovered that many found the name difficult to remember. The name was also changed so that the volunteers could attract others in the Plant City and Brandon areas who may need help. The organization previously received backing from D’Errico’s church, First United Methodist Church of Brandon.
Now, D’Errico says, Many Hands receives referrals and word of mouth advertising through other local churches, Family Promise, the Women’s Resource Center of Tampa and the Emergency Care Help Organization in Brandon, among others.
D’Errico has no paid employees for his organization, but calls on his team of volunteers when a repair or problem is beyond his knowledge or time.
“Depending on what the need is, we will pick different people,” he said. “We’ll go down the line and find someone who can do it.”
If any of his volunteers are unable to help, or if the person in need does not meet the qualifications for assistance, D’Errico refers them to local companies that he has partnered with.
These companies, including Sure Stop Auto & Truck Repairs and Absolute Auto, will offer the repairs at a lower cost than a standard garage. By doing this, Many Hands has created an organization that helps those in need while still supporting local businesses in the community.
D’Errico’s motivation for the time and energy that goes into the repairs has not wavered since he helped start the nonprofit.
“I love the Lord,” he said. “I’m a Christian. The Bible says to help. Being able to help and knowing that I made a difference, that’s why we do it.”
FOR HOME AND AUTO REPAIRS
Call: Dean D’Errico at (813) 679-1365
Mail: C/0 D’Errico 5109 Suburban Drive, Plant City, FL 33566
Email: info@many-hands.org
Website: many-hands.org
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com