How to start a sharehouse
The Wish Project started with one mom in a minivan with a cell phone. She called the agencies and asked what they needed. While she was pregnant or with her babies in tow - she spent all her free time visiting the agencies to get to know how they work and who they help. In no time, they were circulating her phone number to aks if she could find things for her clients. When they had a client in crisis they called her.
One common example of a crisis need was a new WIC client that needed formula while waiting the 7 day period for the WIC to kick in. It just takes the free time and dedication to answer the call, go get the formula and deliver it. She put the babies in the car, went shopping and delivered the goods while the client waited. The crisis needs were about 1 per week in the beginning and the caseworkers were great about never abusing the priviledge.
- Time - how much time do you have? A stay at home mom started while pregnant with her first child built this idea into an agency that helped more than 10,000 clients by the time her kids were 4 and 5. But it would be hard to do this alone with a 40 hour a week job.
- Caseworkers work days. They usually do not work nights and weekends. So somebody will need to have some free time during the weekday. The Wish Project is still only open 8 hours/week for caseworkers and donors.
- Volunteers and donors love to have evening and weekend hours. This is more convenient for most people but can run you ragged trying to be available for the caseworkers and the volunteers.
- Caseworker Connections - In order to be useful you need to know how the agencies in your town work. Just finding them is an ongoing job. They move, staff changes frequently and they change names as they get bought out etc. But start with one that you know. A homeless shelter is a good place to start.
- Call agencies and tell them you want to help get them goods
- Ask them what they need
- Do not be turned off if they are very busy and do not return calls
- Remember this is why they need you. They work in constant crisis mode with 1080's technology and very little pay or recognition. Most donors want to dump unwanted junk on them.
- Stay with it and ask each agency what other agencies are in their field. Not all agencies are needy. Surprised? We were. Do not spend too much time trying to help an agency if they tell you they only accept new goods.
- Keep a phone list and start an email tree of caseworker names
- Donor Connections - this is easier. We recommend starting with friends, coworkers etc. Just use your regular email and send an email about the agency needs that you uncover each week. We do not recommend more than one email per week. People really want to help. They will roll your email to their friends. Eventually, you will outgrow your email account and need to use fancy software. But that probably will take more than a year.
- Space - In the beginning you can run this all from your garage or porch. As word travels, the money will come and you can pursue larger space. If you have a church basement or other dry, clean space for free - you are way ahead of the game. You can never have too much space.
- The other stuff The good news is that you can help a ton of people with just your email account, a phone, a car and good heart. Give it a try. You don't need much money and until you need lots of money (or rent and maybe salaries) you do not need to get non-profit status. In fact, if you can, try to find a church or other non-profit agency to start under. This way people can donate money to you but you do not need all the issues that come with becoming your own non-profit.