Read below for details on how you can get involved with A Hand Up!

Individuals & Families

If you or your family is looking to get involved in a meaningful way, we have a great program for all ages!

Through our Making a House a Home program, we match up volunteers with our newly housed (and recently homeless) clients who need everything from sheets and pillows to wastebaskets and toasters. Our volunteers collect those gently used items and deliver them to those in need.

For individuals and families, this is a great way to get involved– either during the week or on the weekends – and do something that truly makes a difference in your community!

There are two ways that you can help! The first is to be part of our group move-ins, which happen twice a month on Saturday or Sunday mornings. Our volunteers meet one of our staff members at a storage facility in South Windsor, load up a U-Haul with donated furniture and make deliveries to four or five clients.

The second way to help is to “adopt” a client or two. Here’s how that works:

Journey Home gives your group the names and information of the adopted client. Your group calls the client to find out what they need. Some clients may need a bed and other furniture while some may just need sheets, towels and smaller items. Much of what they need is just sitting in the basements of our neighbors and friends!

Your group begins looking for items on the list. They can talk to friends and neighbors, work with a community or church group or post for items online. They can scour tag sales, talk to realtors to find people who are moving, or post on a community Facebook page.

The volunteers then start collecting the items from people and keep them in their garages or at a central location until the delivery time.

The group will select the move day, clear the day with the client and arrange to rent or borrow a truck, if necessary. Then, they deliver the items. It’s that simple.

You and/or your family could make this an ongoing project or a one-time event. They could also take further steps – collecting for a gift card to give the client, buying paper goods and cleaning items, or helping to hang curtain rods. They can do as little or as much as they want. Personalizing to the client’s tastes and interests is always a wonderful way of connecting with the client. You many have a lot in common if you take a moment to talk about their likes and dislikes!

We encourage you to have fun with this – taking it on as a scavenger hunt or a “design on a dime” effort. You’ll be amazed at how many people want to help, how rewarding it is, and what a difference you can make in the lives and comfort of other people. Redy to get started? Simply give us a call at 860.808.0336 or click the button below!

Corporations & Businesses

If you’re looking to get your employees involved in a meaningful team-building effort, we have a great opportunity for you. Through our A Hand Up Program, we match up volunteers with our newly housed (and recently homeless) clients who need everything from sheets and pillows to wastebaskets and toasters. Our volunteers collect those gently used items and deliver them to those in need. For groups of employees, this is a great way to work together – either during or outside of work hours – and do something that truly makes a difference. There are two ways your employees can work with us. One is to be part of our group move-ins, which happen every weekend on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Our volunteers meet at our warehouse in West Hartford, load up a box truck with donated furniture, and make deliveries to two or three clients who have recently moved out of homelessness. The second way to help is to have your employees “adopt” a client or two. 

Here’s how that works:

• Journey Home gives your group the names and information of the adopted client. Your group calls the client to find out what they need. Some clients may need a bed and other furniture while some may just need sheets, towels and smaller items. Much of what they need is just sitting in the basements of our neighbors and friends!
• Your group begins looking for items on the list. They can talk to friends and neighbors, work with a community or church group or post for items online. They can scour tag sales, talk to realtors to find people who are moving, or post on a community Facebook page.
• The volunteers then start collecting the items from people and keep them in their garages or at a central location until the delivery time. • The group will select the move day, clear the day with the client and arrange to rent or borrow a truck, if necessary. Then, they deliver the items. It’s that simple. Your employee group could make this an ongoing project or a one-time event. They could also take further steps – collecting for a gift card to give the client, buying paper goods or helping to hang curtain rods. They can do as little or as much as they want. Personalizing to the client’s tastes and interests is always a wonderful way of connecting with the client. Encourage them to have fun with this – taking it on as a scavenger hunt or a “design on a dime” effort. They’ll be amazed at how many people want to help, how rewarding it is and what a difference they can make in the lives and comfort of other people.

Ready to volunteer? Give us a call at 860.808.0336 or click the button below!

Schools

If you and your school are looking to get involved in a meaningful way, we have a great program for all ages!

Through our Making a House a Home program, we match up volunteers with our newly housed (and recently homeless) clients who need everything from sheets and pillows to wastebaskets and toasters. Our volunteers collect those gently used items and deliver them to those in need.

For schools, this is a great way to get involved– either during the week or on the weekends – and do something that truly makes a difference in your community!

There are three ways that you can help! The first is to be part of our group move-ins, which happen twice a month on Saturday or Sunday mornings. Our volunteers meet one of our staff members at a storage facility in South Windsor, load up a U-Haul with donated furniture and make deliveries to four or five clients.

The second way to help is to hold a drive for household items. In which you collect items for our clients that have recently moved into housing after experiencing homelessness. Many times, the clients move in with only what they can carry. So collecting sheets and towels, toiletries and cleaning items, or kitchen utensils and pots and pans would be a great way to help them get back on their feet. Or even collecting CVS, Dunkin Donuts, or Stop and Shop gifts cards to give to clients would be a great way to help them when money is tight.

A third way to get involved would be to help create a craft or gift for the clients that are moving into their new homes! A welcome home wreath, a picture frame, a mug with their name on it, or even letters to give them wishing them good luck would be a great gesture and a cozy touch to add to their home.

We encourage you to have fun with this – be creative! Think of new ideas on how you can help those in need. You’ll be amazed at how many people want to help, how rewarding it is, and what a difference you can make in the lives and comfort of other people.

Ready to volunteer? Call us at 860.808.0336 or click the button below!