Meet Trina Batton | CEO of Verna’s Helping Hands

We had the good fortune of connecting with Trina Batton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Trina, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting my non-profit Verna’s Helping Hands was inspired by my late mother, Verna Dunbar Batton. Since I was a child, I’ve watched her help so many people in so many different ways. Growing up in the projects in Central Illinois my mom would counsult at risk kids in the neighborhood and at the Boys and Girls Club. Within our own community, she also ran various food banks. My mom retired as a Case Manager, running a shelter for men who were recovering from substance abuse and mental illness. Seeing her give her time, resources and energy taught me that you can always help others and still help yourself is what inspired me to create Verna’s Helping Hands.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The thing that I am most proud of in my career is starting Verna’s Helping Hands. It started out as a thought and a prayer and from there Verna’s Helping Hands was formed on my moms birthday 11-17-2022.

I was determined to be a helping hand to others. I believe that challenges are placed to see if you will fold or persevere. When you are passionate about something you will find a way to move the mountains.

The lessons that I’ve learned along the way is to pace myself, take the crooked with the straights and to always remain humble.

I want to world to know that we are better when we help one another, and to lend a hand instead of tearing each other down.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’re definitely going sightseeing and shopping at The Galleria mall. I’m going to show her as much of Dallas and surrounding cities as possible. Since there’s a plethora of food places, I would make sure to take her to Roots Southern Table, Aunt Irene’s, The Daiquiri Shoppe and Ida Claire’s and let her pick the other places. We always enjoy watching anything sports related so we’d probably catch a game either at American Airlines or the Cowboys stadium

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Our success is not our own. First, being that my mother was my mentor, she had more than a few life lessons that I still hold onto. First, that it’s possible to pull others up as you progress and to never leave people behind. To always stand for what’s right, even if that means standing alone. Lastly, remember to always be the light, even in the darkest of rooms.

Also, I couldn’t reach as many people without my team – D’Amonti, Stacey, LaToya, Cindy, Tiffany and Jackie standing besides me and making sure that VHH’s has everything we need when we go out into the community to lend a hand.

One of my favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou “Develop enough courage so that you can stand up for yourself and then stand up for somebody else.”

Website: https://vernashelpinghands.wixsite.com/verna-s-helping-hand

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VernasHelpingHands?mibextid=ZbWKwL