A non-profit organization focused on community and state development, Help for the Helped, is beginning in the city of Starkville.
The founder of the organization, Alexander Gibson, is a Starkville native and Mississippi State University senior environmental economics and management major.
Gibson said he saw areas of society that needed improvement and came up with the idea for the organization on his own.
“Any time there’s a need, it needs to be accomplished,” Gibson said.
The purpose of the organization, Gibson said, is to cater to people and introduce a positive presence on the surrounding community by instilling “educational, economical, political, social, physical and environmental knowledge.”
The organization aims to fulfill its purpose by performing numerous services, as opposed to focusing on one particular area like typical organizations.
Gibson compared his organization to Google, saying just as Google is a search engine that covers any type of website, his organization would cover many services and would be able to aid many people.
“It’s one organization for everything,” Gibson said.
Some of the several services that Gibson has planned for his organization include starting a need-based scholarship fund for students, opening a convicted felons rehabilitation program since convicted felons have a difficult time reentering the work force, establishing a crisis hotline, starting free tutoring and counseling services.
Chelsea Brisolara, junior management and marketing major, said she thinks it is a really good idea.
“I look forward to seeing how Gibson’s organization accomplishes these goals. I’d like to support him,” she said.
The two main services Gibson wants to focus on from the beginning are the scholarship fund and the rehabilitation program for convicted felons.  The scholarship fund would aid students who typically are unable to receive funds for reasons such as having lower GPAs and coming from families with lower incomes. 
Also, the rehabilitation for convicted felons is important to Gibson because “convicted felons can’t get good jobs” due to the stigma placed upon them. 
“People in life make mistakes,” he said. “Others will turn their noses at them for it.” 
Gibson believes his organization will enable convicted felons to better themselves, he said.
Brisolara said felons have a hard time once they get out of prison.
“Not only do people not want to hire felons, they usually don’t want to help them out in any way at all,” Brisolara said.
Chad Walters, a senior majoring in communication, said he believes the organization’s goals might be too ambitious but thinks it is a good idea and hopes it is successful. 
“Of the goals he has, I feel as though the tutoring service, the scholarship fund, the community service projects and the weekly food drives are most important,” Walters said.
Brisolara  said it is important to focus on children.
“Since my mom is a teacher, I’ve seen a lot of young children who are desperately in need,” she said.
Currently, the focus of the organization is on the Golden Triangle area, but Gibson hopes to expand and make the organization statewide and, in time, nationwide.
“I’ve heard from a professor that Oktibbeha County’s homelessness rate is around 33 percent. If this is true, then the organization should do something to change that before expanding,” Brisolara said.
Gibson said he wanted his organization to be based on diversity where everyone is treated fairly and respectfully.
The organization will be funded by grants and donations.
Gibson said Help for the Helped really needs public support to grow and operate effectively. 
Gibson is looking for volunteers from all walks of life, people looking to start a career and even input on ways to improve the organization.
Because Help for the Helped is such a diverse organization, Gibson is currently employing and working with people who have backgrounds in psychology, education, business and others.
Anyone interested in volunteering or working is welcome to help, but Gibson said he has one requirement: volunteers should want to make a positive difference in the world.

For more information, contact Alexander Gibson at either 769-3720 or [email protected].