A Home and Baby Goods-Bank$1million in value of basic home and baby goods to 27,000 people a year in the Merrimack Valley |  |
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| Every day dozens of families are referred to us for kitchen tables and pots so they can eat healthy meals as a family. Our goods are a leg up that improves the quality of life for our local needy. Our ultimate goal is to help people stretch their limited finances by providing large expensive items such as furniture at no cost so they can work with their social |
workers to escape homelessness for good. Obtaining housing to move out of a homeless shelter is wonderful but the next hurdle is to furnish it. We provide: furniture for bedroom, living room and kitchen furniture, rugs, dishes and all kitchen goods, appliances of all sizes, towels, TVs, beds and bedding. We leverage every $1 donated into $4.50 in value of goods out. We are dedicated to working with social services to help clients succeed in whatever challenges they face. Plus, we are saving the environment by recycling goods back into their original use cost efficiently.
In the past year, 2008, we helped more than 27,000 needy kids and families to get furniture, baby gear, backpacks, clothing, appliances, computers, diapers and more. In this economy the need is increasing compared to previous years. We now assist more than 1,000 clients/month.
We do not provide direct services - we supply goods to clients working with the system that are referred by our partner agencies. More than 60 social service agencies refer clients to us including: homeless shelters, elder services, government assistance programs, child care early intervention and many other social service agencies in the region.
Our 13,000 sq ft warehouse in Lowell provides a safe place for people to donate and volunteer. It is also a convenient spot for caseworkers to find the basic goods their clients need. Recycling home and baby goods helps clients of all ages to thrive in this failing economy while saving space in our local landfills. Every wish come true means one more bed that is not in a landfill and more space in your attic. We welcome volunteers and also run Service Projects all year long. Service projects including Backpack Attack, Blanket the Valley and the Magic of Christmas - provide more thousands of kids with more than $500,000 in value of goods per year.
Our dream: The Project's dream is to find industrial zoned land in Lowell and build our own facility that is a green live-work-give facility.
Geographic Zone: Most agencies are located in the Greater Lowell and Lawrence area although we do help anywhere in the Merrimack Valley. More than 85% of the 27,000 clients we serve are women and children. Roughly 33% are spousal assault victims (women and the children). Other clients served include the elderly, street homeless, motel-homeless families, adults with mental retardation, autistic kids, foster care children, teens, single adults in shelter, children with AIDs, and new immigrants from more than 14 countries.
What do people wish for? Most wishes are for furniture, home and baby goods. The needs change each week. To find out what is needed now, sign up for our weekly E-Newsletter (sign up is on the right column). The items requested are basic but volume of need each week is staggering.