In 1893, an abandoned newborn was discovered in a shoebox at Austin’s railway station. Word of the baby girl spread quickly and just as quickly several women who were leaders in the missionary societies of their various denominations volunteered to take responsibility for the child. They took her into their homes, cared for her, and gave her a name: Mary Austin.

Soon, so many other abandoned and neglected babies were brought to the women they pooled their resources and purchased a small cottage on Guadalupe Street where the babies could be cared for. Little did they know that this first childcare facility in Austin would operate continuously from that time forward. Today it is called Helping Hand Home for Children.

Within a few short years, the original children’s home was too small to take care of all the children needing safe havens. In 1899, a much larger home on east 11th Street was purchased. Over the next quarter century, this second home served hundreds of children.

Then in 1925, the Rotary Club of Austin donated a new facility on a tree-shaded lot at 3804 Avenue B. Helping Hand Home is located on this site today. The original Avenue B facility was replaced in 1978 and over time, three additional buildings were acquired to complete the current campus. Day House opened in 1984 for therapy and tutoring services. Eliason House opened in 1985 and today houses seven girls. Rotary House opened in 1995 and houses eight boys.

The new children's wing was completed in the winter of 2001, allowing the home to increase the number of children served to 41. In addition to new specialized living spaces for the children, there are additional spaces for Computer Assisted Learning, Tutoring, Therapeutic Recreation and Individual and Group Therapy.