CLARENCE, N.Y (WKBW) — If your New Year's resolution is to be more charitable and give back, there are many places that need your help in Western New York.
The Hope Project of WNY is an organization that helps families in need. That need can range from financial hardship, raising children with special needs, families with legally disabled individuals, victims of domestic violence as well as military families and veterans.
The non-profit allows families to shop in the store free of cost for things like clothes, bedsheets, dishes, personal hygiene products and cleaning supplies. "It's dignified help. We wouldn't put anything in this store we wouldn't use ourselves, wear or put on our own children," says Noelle Forzani, Marketing Director of the Hope Project of WNY.
The Hope Project of WNY was founded by Dee Miller, who is a special needs parent. She saw the costs associated with raising a special needs child first hand and knew there were others like her out there. She started collecting donations in her home and offering them to families who needed them through FaceBook. Her efforts have grown into an entire storefront inside the Eastern Hills Mall, serving hundreds of families who need a little boost. "A lot of the families are clients of ours for maybe six months and then they turn around and bring donations to us. It's so important to us to bring the community together and help everyone get by," says Miller.
The Hope Project of WNY only survives through donations of Western New Yorkers. They need the donation of time from volunteers as well as gently used or new goods. The organization is currently in need of household cleaning supplies, paper products, toiletries, young boys' clothing, men's underwear and pots and pans.
You can learn more about this organization here.
