About Trusted Helping

Trusted Helping is a match-making site where distressed persons can share their stories along with their reasons for needing assistance. Then compassionate and kind-hearted persons can review such stories to choose whose lives they would like to change for the better. The developer(s) and administrator(s) of Trusted Helping makes no money from this website; any exchanges are between givers and receivers; i.e., those who are users of Trusted Helping.

The Origin Story of Trusted Helping

by Burton Smith

Around Thanksgiving time, I found myself reflecting on the importance of giving and helping those in need. I wanted to give some help to someone but I didn't know how to find someone who needed help. Every path I explored seemed to lead to large organizations, such as the Red Cross or the Salvation Army. While I have great respect for their missions, I realized that this wasn’t quite the avenue I wanted to take.

One of the primary reasons for my hesitation was my concern about the percentage of donations that often goes toward administrative costs. I understand that these organizations must maintain their operations, but it left me wondering just how much of my contribution would directly benefit those I aimed to help. Additionally, I longed for the kind of personal connection that a simple donation through a large charity may lack. I yearned to know exactly who my help was reaching and the impact it made in their lives.

Personal and Tangible Assistance

I began asking around — friends, family, and neighbors — if they knew of anyone who might be facing challenges. I sought stories of struggle and resilience, hoping to find a single mother needing assistance with groceries, a family unable to pay their heating bill, or an elderly person struggling with isolation. And recently, many are experiencing tragedies, such as those in Western North Carolina and the Los Angeles fires. My desire was to provide assistance in a way that felt more personal and tangible.

Trusted Helping aims not just to alleviate immediate struggles, but to empower individuals by connecting them with the support they need to improve their circumstances in the long term.

A Spirit of Compassion and Solidarity

As someone who is passionate about helping others, I often find myself wishing for a resource where I can easily look up individuals who may require extra assistance, whether it’s in terms of food, shelter, or basic needs. My idea was to create a resource that truly makes a difference in the lives of those who need it most. That's why I created Trusted Helping.

My goal with Trusted Helping is to make a significant difference in the lives of individuals who require extra help, thereby fostering a spirit of compassion and solidarity among all of us.

I hold a strong conviction that success is not just an individual pursuit but a shared journey. When we come together, pooling our strengths and talents, we can elevate one another and celebrate our victories as a community. Each of us has the potential to achieve our own dreams while also lifting others along the way.

CFO of Trusted Helping (Creative Fun Officer)

Shankar Ananda
A.K.A. Burton Smith

I've had a fascinating life since graduating from UConn in 1969. I've lived at a farm community in West Virginia for 20 years. Then I decided to see the USA by bicycle which took up most of 1996. I learned a lot during that journey, especially that trust is so important. And that it's possible to live very simply and be happy. After another four years at a spiritual community in North Carolina, I embraced the RV lifestyle and have been to every state in America (except Alaska and Hawaii.) Through all that, with access to the Internet, I managed quite a few websites as my profession.

I feel like all that was leading up to giving me the expertise to create Trusted Helping in such a joyful way. I've had a lot of fun doing this, and I hope that many others will benefit.

And so now it's my time to make a humble request: I started creating Trusted Helping in October of 2024. Because I have a commitment and determination to make this project a reality, even with limited personal resources, I had an average of $400 in my bank account. And sometimes, much less. I'd like to continue doing more, but even living simply, some funds are required. Please consider helping fund me to continue creating. To do that, please contact me using the Contact page here. And I will provide several ways you can help. You will have my gratitude.

P.S. Yes, I am a website developer. Trusted Helping is an example of that. And just to toot my own horn, here's some comments about my work.