We recently connected with Danielle and Alyssa Marrero and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Danielle and Alyssa, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Our purpose for starting our business in Pelham, our hometown, stems from our deep connection to the community and the support we’ve received from them. We aim to extend that love and support to children of all ages by providing a nurturing environment where they can thrive and grow. Our goal is to create a safe and loving space where every child feels valued and encouraged to reach their full potential, just like we were supported growing up in Pelham.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
We started DaniLee’s Helping Hands in 2016 while completing our degrees and supporting families part time. We were inspired to create DaniLee’s after seeing the community’s dedication following the passing of our aunt while we were in elementary school. Our family was moved by the community’s rallying efforts; delivering meals, extending unwavering support, and commemorating our aunt through dedicated school library books. From then on, serving our community and providing a helping hand to those in need was our passion and mission. The business has since expanded services to include homework support, enrichment classes, events, workshops, one-on-one tutoring, and more
Exactly 3 years ago on this month, we were in this same exact spot wearing masks, socially distancing, and ready to embrace our new remote learning space. During the pandemic, we created at-home learning pods for families as well as a brick-and-mortar location to support the families of first responders. These last three years have been a wild adventure and many growing pains! Our passion and love for families and community has helped us revitalize ways to continue supporting ones in need.
Reflecting on this continuous journey, We want to thank our amazing chamber for providing resources, support and direction throughout the years. We want to thank our Pelham Together family and mentors in town who have also pushed us towards our passion! We want to thank our Government officials for supporting our dreams, our amazing vendors who we are so excited to continue to partner and grow with together. We want to thank Our phenomenal DaniLee team for never giving up on us, and our amazing DaniLee families for trusting us with your precious family, your children, and allowing us to explore fun creative ways on how we can better support you! We want to thank our amazing family and friends for giving us the courage to stay strong ! We want to thank our amazing husbands for jumping right into anything we need, keeping us sane and showing up to every event. Lastly, we want to thank our amazing parents! Our mom was diagnosed with breast cancer this last year in the midst of the madness but she taught us the true definition of bravery, faith, family, and pushing through, even when it feels hard to do so. Our parents since day, one have been our number one supporters and backbone to us staying strong during tough times, and being by our side, in expanding and growing to where we are today and we can’t thank them enough for that.
Our goal for our newly renovated space is to make all our families feel as though this is their second home! With that being said and with the hard of our team we have some updates to share! We will be providing new subscription services, memberships, tutoring and homework help services , a new digital platform for families to use and book on the go , new enrichment programs and classes for children and adults as well as many events to come like our DaniLee After Dark. You are now able to book and host your next party, meeting, pop up shop and more in our new space during our DaniLee after hours . Please stay tuned for more updates.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities that were the most impactful on our journey were empowerment, adaptability, and Engagement. Adaptability enables you to navigate unexpected challenges, empowerment motivates a team, and engagement builds strong connections with clients and employees. Together, these qualities enhance resilience, teamwork, and customer satisfaction in the early stages of a business journey.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
Throughout our entire lives, our parents have been the unwavering backbone and driving force, guiding us with unwavering strength and love since day one. Despite facing trials and obstacles along the way, they have shown us the true meaning of resilience, emerging from challenges even stronger than before. Their resilience has been a powerful lesson, teaching us to navigate life’s challenges with grace and determination.
One of the most impactful things our parents did for us was instilling in us the belief to pursue our passions and do what we love. They have always encouraged us to follow our dreams, supporting us every step of the way as we pursued our goals and aspirations. Their unwavering belief in our abilities has given us the confidence to chase our dreams fearlessly, knowing that we have their unconditional love and support backing us up.
Their guidance and encouragement have shaped us into the individuals we are today, instilling in us the values of perseverance, determination, and passion. We are forever grateful for the profound impact they have had on our lives and for being the guiding lights that have helped us navigate life’s journey with courage and purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://danileeshelpinghands.org/
- Instagram: @danileeshelpinghands
- Facebook: DaniLee’s Helping Hands Inc.
- Linkedin: DaniLee’s Helping Hands Inc.
- Twitter: @DLSHelpingHands
