Our philosophy about "our" charity asking for charity (please scroll down to see complete list of needs)
We started Blessing Barn with the intent of following our heart in doing what we feel called to do. We did not pursue any grant money to get started, nor have we solicited anyone for regular funding. We will consider applying for grants when we feel we have a need that can benefit those in need in our area, as well as allow us to be better able to serve the various grant funded agencies who benefit from our services. (as of 3/11, we have never received any grant money)
We do what we can as efficiently and as effectively as we can with the finances that come our way. We greatly appreciate those who have helped us to this point with financial donations, fundraisers (some ideas below), and fair rents. We also thank the countless people who have donated their goods and services. We trust all have received blessings in return.
We do realize that there are many worthy charities who are deserving of consistent funding streams that have already been established. Many have had state funding severely reduced. It is not our intent to interfere with those streams. In addition, there are many who support their places of worship through tithes and offerings, as they rightly should. Those should not be re-directed.
Ultimately, we want to be a blessing to both giver and receiver. If you are of a benevolent nature and want to consider financial donations, ask to schedule a time to walk through our facility and see what we do. We trust you will find Blessing Barn to be a very unique organization, doing what no one else does in this area.
Recipient needs
Our most requested items are coats and clothing for adults, children and babies, dressers, kitchenware items, kitchen tables and chairs, sofas, bedding, blankets, diapers
We do accept mattress and box spring sets, but they MUST be in excellent condition, with no stains. They are costly to dispose of if we get them and they are in poor condition. *king size is rarely requested, so please call before donating to see if we have anyone on a waiting list for a king.
In addition to the above list, we do accept most all donated items, except those mentioned below. Please keep in mind that all donated items must be in good or better condition.
We do not take large appliances (washer and dryers, full size refrigerators), exercise equipment, sofa sleepers.
Recipient items most needed, besides clothing;
- dressers
- cribs and baby furniture
- kitchen tables & chairs
- sofas & chairs
Blessing Barn NeedsVehicleOne of our vehicles was recently totaled (Jan. 15th) as it sat at a red light. Anyone interested in sponsoring a fundraiser for a vehicle, or even donating one, please let us know. It was a 1995 Honda Odyssey, so doesn't look like we will be getting much for it. Anyone with ties to a local dealership, let us know.
More storage space
*still looking as of July/2011
: We are looking for a unique charity minded donor, to donate empty barn space, warehouse space, or commercial space so we can regain desperately needed storage space, enabling us to get back into furniture donations again. (We recently closed one of our storage facilities to save the rent expense. It was also very costly to heat and repair, and hard on our staff and many volunteers during the winter months who worked in near freezing temperatures. Many thanks to the compassion team/s of Willow Creek - Mchenry, and many caring individuals, who spent hundreds of dollars and many hundreds of hours fixing this building, sorting clothes and hosting give-aways before we decided to shut that location down. God bless them all).
Ideally, we are seeking a space that is dry and heated.
*We can provide this unique donor a donation receipt, which may be an attractive option in this tough real estate market.
*We would like a long term solution to our storage needs, but will be interested in short term use. We get enough donation requests that we can start excepting donations of large items immediately, and start filling up the space in no time.
Material handling equipment
hand trucks, dollies, platform trucks: we are constantly loading and unloading heavy donations and making deliveries of heavy items.
Envirolet (or similar) composting toilet (about $2200)
*google them to see what they are.
We have a compassion team who has offered to build us the walls for the restroom when needed, to house this unit.
Pellet burning stove (about $1500):
*update* Thanks to the C.L. Dawnbreakers for hearing our plea and donating $1200 toward this cause, as well as David Cameron for kicking in a private donation of $300 to cover extras and pellets.
For our give-away barn, where we have no access to natural gas. We operate all year around, so our staff and many volunteers would be very appreciative.