Provide beds for 300 kids sleeping on the floor

Dear Friends,

This month, we were able to visit a family who received household items from Community Warehouse. We were humbled by their kindness and gratitude, and are pleased to share their story.

Tim and Lindsay Marshall* were homeless, living out of a car with their two young children. Lindsay’s driver’s license expired, and the DMV made her put “Car in North Portland” under the address line (although this could harm her chances of employment). They were worried about their children, who were struggling with the stigma of homelessness as well as the difficult sleeping arrangements.

Eventually, the Marshalls were connected with JOIN, who found them an affordable apartment and referred them to Community Warehouse. They were able to hand-pick a sofa, kitchen table and chairs, beds, kitchen items, linens, framed artwork, and much more. The Marshall children were finally able to get a good night’s sleep on their own beds.

And the Marshalls passed it forward. Soon after they settled in, new neighbors moved into the apartment complex with no household items of their own, just like the Marshalls months before. Tim and Lindsay jumped into action, hosting a Craigslist drive for gently-used furniture and household items. It was a great success – within a few weeks, the new neighbors’ empty apartment was filled with enough items to create a safe and comfortable home. 

Tim told us that his perspective on life changed after he experienced the Warehouse. He and Lindsay had always been independent and resourceful – a true American family. However, once they fell upon hard times, they assumed that no one would reach out to them with a helping hand. After the Marshall’s positive experience with the kindness of strangers at JOIN and the Warehouse, they realized that there is a safety net in this community. Now, their new baby Joy is growing up in a happy, healthy home.

This story reminds us that every person who accesses the Warehouse – regardless of age, race, gender, or past experience – may bear a difficult burden from their past, and is able to leave with a lighter load (albeit a ton of new stuff)! We are so grateful to you for keeping our doors open, our shelves full, and our arms open to neighbors in need.

With your help, we will serve over 8,000 low-income people this year. Thank you for helping us put used goods to good use every day.

Warm regards,

Kristy

*Names changed to protect anonymity

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