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Household Goods Recycling of Massachusetts (HGRM)
When Ira and Barbara Smith heard about a woman from El Salvador who had fled her country after nine neighbors were assassinated, they put out a call to neighbors and friends, and soon outfitted her apartment. That was in 1990. The Smiths never meant for their efforts to lead to the birth of HGRM, an organization that now helps over 300 individuals and families every month by accepting and redistributing donations of household items free of charge. Rather, they simply wanted to help people in need—one after the next. They set up an exchange point in their basement, carport, and driveway, and for nine years ran to cover couches and beds with tarps when the weather turned bad. As the quantity of donated goods grew, they needed storage space—they found it first in a church basement, and finally in their current facility in Acton.
Those served by HGRM are people (referred through over 300 agencies including Emerson Hospital, Minuteman ARC, and Town of Concord departments) who need help rebuilding their lives—victims of fires or floods, women and children escaping abuse, people coming out of shelters, war veterans, and recent immigrants. Frank and his young son, for example, were forced from their home when a fire destroyed everything they owned. Because they couldn't afford their heating bills, they had been using a space heater which started the fire. They were able to find a new place to live, but they needed furnishings. In another case, Maria had been a victim of domestic abuse for many years. She finally got up the courage to leave the violent relationship and set up an apartment for herself and her children. Finally, Pete's difficult childhood made it necessary for him to live in many foster homes. In his teens, he ended up in a homeless shelter. With the help of a social service agency, then, he moved into a transitional living situation. In all these cases, HGRM provided the gear needed for a new start.
The organization is impressive for the quantity of household goods that it gives away every month—over 2,000 large items (e.g., beds, baby equipment, and televisions), and over 800 boxes of smaller items (e.g., linens, dishes, and kitchen equipment) that otherwise would be dumped in landfills (16% of which are donated by Concord and Carlisle residents). So impressive, in fact, that Ira and Barbara are being featured in a book due out this year, and the organization (Barbara in particular) won $10,000 in a Pine Sol contest on women who make a difference and will be written up in the May 2009 issue of Ebony magazine.
It is volunteers, however, that make the place tick. Last year alone, 400 people gave their time, including students, retired people, employed people on weekends, those working part time or unemployed, and anyone with a little time to spare. "People love coming here," Ira Smith explains. "Everyone's treated with respect ... they get hooked. And they come back. That's why we call it the HuGRooM." Indeed, the attitude is one of inclusiveness. "All people who come to us to give and volunteer are welcome" says Mark Sigman, HGRM President. "The only qualification for participating...is a willingness to help others and the only qualification for receiving help from HGRM is need—regardless of race, sex, color, religion or national origin. It is all about people helping people and families helping families."
Volunteer Diana Page helps out at least once a week. "[Helping people] is such a rewarding part of what I do," she says. "I just think it's so wonderful to have a mom pick out some pots and pans from the donations and then say to me, ‘Now, I can cook for my family.’" Ms. Page helped another woman and her daughter who were fleeing a violent domestic situation. "She was so grateful for the things we were able to give her," she says. "But she also left here with hope for a different life." Acton teenager Alison Tseng has volunteered at HGRM for almost two years, first sorting donated goods then working directly with clients. "I feel so lucky for all I have," she says. "Something like a mattress that I take for granted—some people just don't have. People are so grateful to get these necessities—they leave so happy!" Indeed, the clients' appreciation and gratitude are heartwarming as they receive goods that they could otherwise only wish for.
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