What is now Helping Hands of Putnam County was originally named Putnam County Clearing House and was organized in 1975 to reduce or eliminate duplication of services to persons requesting emergency aid. Its goal was to coordinate charitable efforts of local agencies, organizations, and churches.  It later was chartered as an independent, non-profit, tax-exempt organization on November 10,1983.

A special service was developed by the Cookeville Area Ministerial Association in 1984, in cooperation with the Cookeville Electric Department and Upper Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation, to aid the needy, elderly and handicapped users of electric service, as well as other persons who are in dire need of economic assistance. Project Help funds are administered in a separate account through Helping Hands. 

Helping Hands currently assists Putnam County residents, who are in emergency situations, with food, utility payments, rent, medications, transportation, eye examinations and eyeglasses. It also provides food to transients in need. All assistance is dependent upon donations and available funds.

The name of the organization changed from Putnam County Clearing House to Helping Hands of Putnam County in 2006 to better describe our goals. Helping Hands is in the process of developing new programs, such as budgetary workshops, to further assist clients in need.