Family Benefits from Household Goods Donation
Imagine fleeing the danger in your country and coming to the U.S. with nothing. Not knowing English. Not understanding the culture. Without the right to work and no income. At the mercy of governments and bureaucracies.
Then living in a shelter for a year.
This was reality for Tom and Cindy (not their real names) from Haiti.
Of all the issues facing refugees, housing is perhaps the most difficult. There is a limited number of units. Rents are extremely high. A credit check can be impossible.
Fortunately for Tom and Cindy, resources were available to help them find a place and receive a minimal amount of furniture. But they still needed so much more to turn their new apartment into a home.
This is where LexRAP was able to help by providing a referral to Household Goods of Acton and making an appointment for the couple to obtain additional furniture as well as other items such as dishes, small appliances, and even decorations.
Says LexRAP volunteer Alexandra Moellmann, who accompanied Tom and Cindy and helped them choose, “You can’t do a better thing with your unwanted furniture and household items than donate them to Household Goods. The contribution they make to getting families established in the area is essential.”
In addition, LexRAP arranged transportation to the Dorchester apartment. Alexandra rented and drove the box truck. Steve, Tom, a LexRAP client, and a volunteer’s son did the heavy lifting. Volunteer and LexRAP Board Member Mary Diaz-Przybyl watched the couple’s 18-month-old son. Truly a team coming together.
Says Mary, “It’s so important that when a family moves into their own place it feels like a home. This provides a sense of security that they’ve been aching for since they left their home country and is a foundation for success.”
If you, a family member, or an acquaintance is capable of moving furniture, we need your help! Please email volunteer@lexrap.org to pitch in. Thank you!