About the NEST program

We are blessed to be part of a generous, loving community! Since our founding, an important part of our ministry has included helping our guests with starter items for what may be the first home of their own. Over the years, a section of our basement grew to off-site storage areas and what staff and volunteers lovingly called our “giveaway center,” occupying several rooms at SS Peter & Paul Church. In early 2019, a group of dedicated volunteers helped us move this center to buildings on Ring and Burnham Streets in Saginaw. Soon after this move, we decided it was time to give the growing ministry a name. The image of a mother bird feathering its nest was often in our minds because just as a mother bird selects the right elements to make its nest a warm, inviting home, so do our NEST volunteers.

NEST: Neighbors Enabling Success Together

This small but “always there” part of our ministry has evolved into an ongoing collaboration with all of our Partners  our Move Team collaborates to operate our NEST Center on Ring Street and they help an average of 10 families each month – former Mustard Seed guests and others in the community – transition from homeless to housed.

The NEST Center serves as a showroom where those planning to move to a new home can browse smaller household items such as linens, dishes, kitchen equipment and cleaning supplies. We are also blessed to have two large warehouses for display and storage of furniture and appliances, plus storage in two 40-foot shipping containers. This once-tiny part of our ministry has grown to a nearly full-time operation. 

Our Quality Standard

Not sure if you should donate an item? First ask yourself if you would feel comfortable giving it to a friend or family member.

We are truly grateful for every donation. After prayerful consideration, in 2019 the  board of directors (then under the Mustard Seed) decided to increase our ability to accept and store donated items. But we have also prioritized needs and set criteria so we are making the best use of available resources. We do not have space to accept every single item, so when possible, we may connect with others such as the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Underground Railroad Resale, Bethesda Thrift Shop and other local organizations.

• New and gently used items only, please.
• All items must be CLEAN, FULLY FUNCTIONING and in GOOD CONDITION.
• Please make sure items are free of rips, stains, strong odors and/or pet hair
• Our staff and volunteers have the RIGHT TO REFUSE items that do not meet our quality standard.
• We also reserve the right to sell top end items which are often too large for our clients to use in smaller homes and apartments. Proceeds from these sales go right back into the ministry!
• If an item is not listed here, we generally do not accept it, but feel free to call or message us on the DONATE page if you are unsure.

We do NOT take the following items (for various reasons):

• King Sized Beds
• Extremely large items
• Clothing
• Older style TV cabinets
• Items with too much chipped wood to repair
• Sectional couches
• Anything too dirty to clean
• Scratched Teflon pots and pans (health risk!)
• Cloth covered furniture with rips in the cloth

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We have ongoing needs for new and gently used furniture and household items (see detailed lists on this page).

• New or gently used beds (twin, full and queen only, please)
• Dressers of all sizes
• Move Team volunteers
• Donations to help offset expenses such as rent, utilities and insurance; a goal for the next year is to purchase a truck for moving all these goods! Gas cards for volunteers who use their own vehicles to pick up donations and move families

There is no fee for pickups but donations to help offset expenses such as rent, utilities and insurance, are always appreciated. There are expenses associated with this expansion of our services, including rent, utilities and insurance. We rely on volunteers to use their vehicles for pickups and to help with moving families.

FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

• Bed frames: YES – metal, freestanding and folding, footboards and wooden rails
• Chairs: kitchen, rocking and upholstered 
• Coat rack/hall trees
• Desks: 42″(w) x 30″(d) or smaller
• Dressers
• Dustpans and brooms and mops (new only)
• Fans: box and floor (no ceiling fans)
• Futons: complete set only (frame and mattress)
• Lamps: floor and table (no light fixtures)
• Mattresses and box springs: stain- and rip-free (no powered beds)
  • YES: crib, twin, full and queen size accepted; memory foam OK
  • NO: electrical beds, bunk beds, trundle beds, sleeper sofas, or rollaways
• Sofas, loveseats and ottomans (no sectional, sleeper or powered sofas)
• Stools: counter and bar height
• Storage: bins, baskets, canisters
• Sweepers - manual push type
• Tables: Nightstands, coffee tables, end tables
• Tables: kitchen and dining (no glass, stone or tile tops)
• Tools and tool kits (hammer, screwdrivers, wrench, measuring tape, etc.)
• TVs (flat-panel only) in good working condition
• TV Stands: 36″ high or less
• Vacuums – clean and in good repair
• Wastebaskets and trash cans
• Wood furniture: large/bookcases, 72″ (h) x 36″ (w) or smaller

KITCHEN AND BATH ESSENTIALS

• Bakeware: casseroles, loaf and muffin pans, pie plates, rectangular baking dishes, pizza pans, cookie sheets
• Bathroom: soap dishes, wastebaskets, toothbrush holders
• Blenders, stand mixers, food processors, hand mixers
• Coffeemakers
• Colanders and strainers
• Cookware: all sizes, pots and pans
• Crock-Pots/slow cookers
• Dishes: plates, bowls, cups and serving pieces, butter dish and salt/pepper shakers
• Food storage containers
• Glassware: all sizes drinking glasses (no stemware)
• Hangers: plastic only
• Irons and ironing boards
• Knives, cutting boards and knife blocks
• Laundry baskets and bags
• Microwaves (countertop models only)
• Napkin, utensil and paper towel holders
• Platters and serving trays
• Silverware: forks, spoons, knives, serving pieces
• Toasters and toaster ovens
• Toilet brushes/holders (new only)
• Utensils: serving pieces, spatulas, can openers, mixing spoons, whisks, peelers, tongs, scissors, and slicers

LINENS AND SOFT GOODS

• Bed linens: pillowcases, flat and fitted sheets, mattress pads and bed skirts (if possible, complete sets marked with tape and the size on masking tape to hold bundle together)
• Blankets, comforters, bedspreads: all sizes
• Pillows: new bed pillows only
• Rugs (max. size 8×10)
• Shower curtains and bath mats
• Table linens: placemats, tablecloths and napkins
• Towels: kitchen and bath (wash, hand and bath)

CLOTHING

Our NEST Program does not accept clothing donations ALONE. We will pass on any clothing donations to other organizations that come WITH your household and furniture donations. We often share with Mustard Seed Womens Shelter, Emmais House,  Underground Railroad and other local shelters or programs that serve women and children.

Contact us about current needs and collection opportunities. Some ideas for groups:

• Cleaning kits: brooms, mops, dustpans
• Cleaning supplies
• First-aid kits
• Starter tool kits (hammer, screwdrivers, wrench, measuring tape, etc.)ecial? Definitely promote it here to get customers excited about getting a sweet deal.

Generally, Wednesdays are our furniture and household pick up days, but other arrangements may be able to be scheduled. Please fill out the form below and send it to us and we will get in touch with you. We do NOT charge for pickups....but are open grateful for any financial donations.