On the first Saturday of this month, volunteers with our Simple Household Needs program picked up furniture from 10 donors and delivered furniture to eight different clients across Cobb County! Meanwhile, at our Marietta warehouse, Simple Needs GA volunteers worked hand-in-hand with clients to help them select small household items of every kind.
“On Sunday, I went back to the warehouse and helped three more clients because we couldn’t fit everyone in,” said Brenda Rhodes, SNGA Founder and President. “This program is growing so fast: By this time last year, we had helped 67 families and individuals; as of Aug. 7, 2019, that number stood at 82!”
Our Simple Household Needs program supports people in Cobb County who are emerging from homelessness or are otherwise in need. We collect new or gently used furniture, beds and household items that can help people in need turn a house or apartment into a home. In some cases, these are moms with children who have fled a domestic abuser and have almost no possessions. Some of our clients were even sleeping on the floor or an air mattress before they received beds from SNGA.
We deliver the furniture to clients, then they come by our space to pick out kitchen, bath and bed household items. We try to have everything on our list available. For the most part, the program depends on donations, although we do purchase some items occasionally. “Clients typically are very surprised at how much we give them as they stuff their vehicles!” Brenda said.
Right now, we could really use donations of queen and full mattresses and box springs; TVs (cable ready and not too heavy/large), end tables, nightstands and bookshelves. Other furniture is welcome as well; since our needs change all the time, please email brenda@simpleneedsga.org if you have anything to donate. Here are our furniture donation guidelines.
We’re always in need of smaller household items as well. Here’s a full list of our needed items. We ask that smaller items are brought to one of our Donation Drives which are held on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Another growing need for this program–financial donations.
Serving more clients means higher costs for rental trucks, gas and labor. “We’re spending much more this year than last year,” Brenda said. “Just a few years ago, our budget was $100 a month. Now it’s over $2K. And, unlike some other agencies which provide furniture, we do not charge our clients any fees.”
On the volunteering front, we could always use more help from those with trucks and/or the ability to move furniture. On Aug. 3, SNGA had a virtual caravan of help. “We had people driving a rental truck; a pickup truck with trailer; and three additional pickup trucks, and of course all the ‘muscle’ and logistical help needed to move all the furniture,” Brenda said. “On other Saturdays, though, we have very little help as our ‘regulars’ are all busy.”
It takes a lot of time and work to run the program. More hands mean faster results for our clients. If you’d like to help out with transport–or burn off some calories–on a Saturday by pitching in, we’d love to have you.
Our Simple Household Needs program really is making a difference in our community. Consider this note from one of our clients:
“Simple Needs GA helped me in a time of a frustrating transition. I was just leaving a domestic violence shelter and pregnant with my first child. Simple Needs GA took most of the burden of moving and starting over off of me and made my home feel comfortable and safe. For that I will be forever grateful for Ms. Brenda and all of the volunteers.”
For more info, email brenda@simpleneedsga.org
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF PEOPLE IN NEED!
Simple Needs GA 