From Shelter to Stability
2009: A Year of New Beginnings. . . New Hope
December 16, 2009
What an exciting year we have had at the CARITAS Furniture Bank. It’s hard to believe that it’s been only one year since we opened the doors to our “new” 20,000 square-foot warehouse space. With the support and generosity of our many friends, we have made significant strides to meet the growing need for furniture assistance in our community and bring new hope to over 350 people as they move from homelessness to stability and rebuild their lives.
 |
|
| January 2009 | December 2009 |
| We've come a long way. | |
Imagine the hopelessness someone feels when they are forced into a shelter, having run out of options, and there is no work to be found. Or the complete devastation, when a fire strips a family of their home and all their possessions in a matter of minutes. Or even despair, when an addict, having stripped themselves of home, family, and respect, finally realizes that it is time to make a change. At the CARITAS Furniture Bank, we partner with 31 agencies who embrace our neighbors at these dark moments. These agencies work diligently to help our clients get back on their feet and find a new place to call home.
Yet, the excitement of finding a place to live can be often overshadowed by the overwhelming need to furnish the house and obtain basic necessities. With your support we have been able to increase our distribution of furniture and household items 100% in the past 6 months. Collaborative efforts such as the City Wide Drive, 22 furniture drives hosted by area congregations and PODS, 4 dresser builds by local Eagle Scouts and everything from pillow, blanket and cleaning supply drives hosted by area business, community action groups and motivated volunteers have resulted in distribution of goods to over 350 households in the past year.
We have also increased our ability to collect donations. Through a grant by The Robbins Foundation, we were able to obtain new 26-foot truck. With this second truck we now schedule large furniture pick ups in and around the city. In addition, thanks to the generous donation by AAAA Storage, we now have 8 storage facilities in the Richmond area for drop-off donations. If you have small items to donate or want us to be the ongoing outlet for your unwanted items check out CARITASva.org for locations and details.
Despite the strides we are making, we need your support now more than ever. The soft economy has more and more folks seeking assistance. Please consider what you can do to make a difference. It might be as organizing a pots and pan drive at your local elementary school or connecting us with a contact for bulk furniture donations. Every little bit helps. We honor each donation and will use it to further the mission of CARITAS, to support individuals and families in crisis and empower those who strive for housing independence.