What is the Home Project?
The Home Project provides low income families transitioning from homelessness with recycled household goods, small furniture, and small appliances necessary to live with comfort and dignity.
Our Mission & Vision
The Mission of the Home Project is to manage and operate a free store of kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom items to support families transitioning from homelessness to shelter; families who are victims of natural disasters; and families in need.
Our Vision is to ignite a change in the culture of disposing possessions by creating an opportunity for unwanted goods to be re-purposed for the benefit of others. We are hoping with your help we can make a difference!
History
Back in 2015, when Massachusetts ran out of shelter space and began housing families in area motels we began supporting families through various community services. One of the gaps that quickly emerged was that even when a family was able to find housing outside of the motel, they were without possessions to set up a household; cooking pans, dishes, sheets, blankets, shower curtain, can opener, etc. The Home Project was created to help those in need during these tough times.
Impact
Since The Home Project began, we have helped more than 200 families and individuals, many of whom were transitioning from a homeless shelter to permanent housing, or recovering from fire, flood, bed bugs, etc. Other clients of ours have included people starting fresh after incarceration. More recently, many families who were victims of hurricanes have looked to us for help.
The Future:
Our goal is to change people’s ways of thinking when it comes to how they get rid of household items that they no longer need or want. We would like people to start thinking about recycling their old household items the same way they currently think about recycling plastic or cardboard.
How You Can Help:
Donate Funds
- All contributions, no matter how big or small, will help us in our efforts to support the community through The Home Project. Donations are tax dedutible as United Neighbors has 501(c)(3) status through our fiscal partnership with Greater Fall River RE-CREATION.
- Contributions can be made by check to:
United Neighbors of Fall River
209 Bedford Street, Suite 303
Fall River, MA 02720
Donate Your Time
- Volunteers are what make The Home Project so special. We provide an outlet for our community to come together to help others in a warm, kind environment that fosters collaboration and creativity.
- Want to help out? Contact Wendy Garf-Lipp by email at [email protected], or by phone at (508) 324-7900
Donate Goods
We collect new and gently used household necessities for families transitioning from temporary to permanent housing in our communities. We collect items such as:
- Dishes, bows, cups and glasses
- Flatware (forks, knives, and spoons)
- Cooking utensils (spatulas, spoons, measuring cups, etc.)
- Cutting boards and kitchen knives
- Small kitchen appliances (coffee makers, electric can openers, toasters, microwaves, etc.)
- Plastic storage containers
- Pot holders and kitchen towels
- Pots and pans
- Baking pans and frying pans
- Mixing bowls and colanders
- Bathroom towels (face, hand, and bath)
- Hair dryers
- Sheets and blankets (all sizes including crib)
- Small furniture
- If you are unsure about an item, ask yourself – “What would I need if I lost everything tomorrow?”
Please contact Jeannie Bettencourt, Outreach Coordinator, at 774-328-2043 to see if we have enough space to accept your donation at this time, and to make arrangements for us to pick it up or have you drop it off.