HFIR was an idea thought of in 2016 and became functioning in 2017 and then on to be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2020 during the pandemic. Helping Families In Rockford was organized and put together by Rockford resident Shaneka Smith who is a advocate in her community helping the less fortunate and homeless. "I wanted to create a organization to make someone else's life a little easier. I wanted to provide life's basic necessities to the less fortunate and homeless, which includes children's items, diapers, toys, clothes, food, shoes, household items all free of charge. My community is lacking theses services that I relied on when I was needing the help. I wanted to create an organization to help people for free."

In 2016 Shaneka and another local nonprofit organization began to collect children's items, children's clothes and eventually started collecting clothes for adults and hygienic items to give back to the community by having thrifty giveaways in the community. HFIR has given away over 30,000 items in free donations to the Rockford community over the last three years. HFIR has been able to operate off donations received from the community and local business owners.