Renesting Project, Inc.

A Simple Exercise

Let us guide you through an imaginary journey that will hopefully demonstrate what it is Renesting does:

Imagine you are Avery, a 30-year-old veteran, a single parent of 3, and a domestic violence survivor. You have a minimum-wage job and have finally scraped together enough for a deposit. Today you received the keys to a modest apartment, YOUR apartment. It's a cold wintery afternoon and the sun will be setting soon. You and your children enter your home only to realize it is empty and dark: you have no lamps. A local food pantry sent you a bag of canned food and you're most grateful, but you don’t have a can opener, a pot, or plates to prepare and serve a meal. Nor a table to gather around. You say to yourself you’ll figure it out after a shower now that you have your own, private bathroom, but you realize... you don’t have a shower curtain or any towels. So you spend what little you have to order in so your family at least has dinner for the night. Now you just want to rest. But on what? You don't even have sofa cushions for a makeshift bed. And your children… how and where will you tuck them in tonight with no beds, pillows, or blankets?

Can you feel the anxiety building inside of you? This was an imaginary journey for you, but for our clients, it’s a harsh reality with no end in sight. A reality we can change with your help!

From an empty kennel...

...to a cozy home!

Our Purpose

Renesting Project currently serves 9 parishes of Northwest Louisiana as this area's only furniture bank. Thousands of gently used furniture and household items are provided to families and individuals transitioning into permanent housing from homelessness or the risk of becoming homeless: AT NO COST TO THEM! In a collaborative environment, we currently offer services to clients of 60+ community partners. We all work as a team to provide items to clients in need.

Donated items are gathered, sorted, cleaned, repaired, and packed with great care by our volunteers before distribution to our clients. The multitude of items we provide to our clients come from many different sources, but all are systematically processed in our 6,500 sq. ft. distribution center, known as the "Nest". This one location is the place where donors drop off, volunteers prepare items, clients pick up, staff collects data, runs the business, answers the phone, and our board of directors meets regularly.

Our Motto "Reclaim, Renew, Renest" encapsulates our mission:

Reclaim: to gather gently used furniture and household items from our community

Renew: to clean, repair and prepare these items for distribution to families and individuals

Renest: to provide those in need with a place of rest or retreat, - a nest.

Testimonials

o "I had such a wonderful time serving our client... In just a few hours we were able to turn their empty space into a warm, cozy home. Seeing the client's reaction when she walked in was one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had. I watched as she took a deep breath, and I know the tremendous weight of providing a safe home for her children had been lifted from her shoulders. I am so incredibly proud to be part of this organization and can't wait for the next Renest!" -from board member Megan Beabout after going out on her first Renest

o "I would like to thank you so very much for blessing me with furniture to turn this apartment into a home. The furniture, pictures, and color coordination are perfect; I couldn't have done better myself. You are truly a blessing to help people in my shape or worse." -Excerpt from thank you note written by Client.

o "The Renesting Project and Volunteers of America North Louisiana have had an enduring relationship and mutual respect for our respective missions for many years.”