01/27/2021
Hi everyone! This is the nonprofit I'm trying to start, to be based somewhere in Niagara County, most likely Lockport. Here's the story behind it:
I've been working and volunteering with people from various walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds (mostly on the lower end) for over a decade now. As such, I have become very aware of the struggles and barriers they face, and passionate about helping them in a way that is lasting and impactful. The people that I serve in my regular job, and the people (and animals) I serve in my volunteer jobs have been dealt some of the worst possible hands of cards that life has to offer. For many of them, every day is a struggle just to survive, let alone to actually get ahead and thrive.
Because of the work I do, I have become the person who friends and family will reach out to when they have items to donate like dishes and blankets and things, because they know that I will find a good home for them. More often than not, the people I serve have fled a violent situation, whether it be in their home country, or domestic violence locally. Many of them lack basic home furnishings (once they can even find housing, that's another whole issue), lack the funds to purchase them new and have them delivered, or the transportation to go pick them up and move them in themselves. Many lack a support network, many are single mothers with no childcare, I could go on and on. These situations are nearly impossible to be remedied without a comfortable place to rest, restore and get back on track.
So, I am attempting to start a nonprofit that will take gently used home furnishing donations and actually move them into the homes of these families that are starting out fresh...The aim would be not to just drop off some unwanted items but to make the homes comfortable, functional and beautiful; curtains, artwork and all... and to offer ongoing support and community resource connections to them as they navigate their new lives. I intend to focus on women and children who are transitioning out of DV or homeless shelters, refugee resettlement or foster care agencies.
The logistics I am still working out but, I envision a storage unit, movers, and case managers as being the main expenses (let me know if you have any local hookups on those if you're still reading!) I plan to apply for 501c3 status, incorporation, grants... my main referral partners would be those I already work for, I'd utilize the community resource connections I've already made and expand on them...exciting stuff but a lot of work no doubt. 😅
Like this page and follow along if you'd like to see the process of getting this going, and send positive vibes that I can actually make it happen! 💖-Sarah
