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About the NEST program
About the NEST Program
What Does “Home” Mean to You?
When you hear the word home, what comes to mind?
Maybe it’s the smell of Sunday dinner, the comfort of a well-worn recliner, or the peace that washes over you when you walk through your front door. Home is more than just four walls and a roof—it’s a place of safety, rest, and dignity.
At Partnership Center, we call that place a nest. And that’s exactly what our initiative is all about.
NEST: Neighbors Enabling Success Together
The NEST program began with a simple mission: to ensure that individuals and families transitioning from crisis situations—such as homelessness, incarceration, or domestic violence—have the essentials to begin again with dignity.
What started in a small church basement has grown into a robust, full-time outreach ministry with off-site showrooms, warehouses, and dedicated volunteers. In 2019, our ministry moved to Ring and Burnham Streets in Saginaw, officially adopting the name NEST: Neighbors Enabling Success Together—inspired by the image of a mother bird carefully feathering her nest to provide warmth and security for her young.
How We Serve
Today, our NEST Center helps more than 40 families each month prepare their new homes with essential household goods. These include:
- Furniture (beds, dressers, sofas, tables)
- Kitchen supplies (dishes, cookware, utensils)
- Linens (bedding, towels, bath items)
- Cleaning tools and starter kits
- Appliances, where available
Guests are welcomed into a friendly showroom environment, where they can browse and choose the items that will make their new space feel like home. We operate with compassion and dignity—because everyone deserves both.
In 2023 alone, the Partnership Center helped 405 families, including 628 children, make a fresh start. In 2024 we helped 470 families. We are growing!
Donation Guidelines & Quality Standards
We are grateful for every donation—and we want to ensure the items we pass on meet the needs and respect the dignity of those receiving them.
✅ We Accept Items That Are:
- Clean
- Fully functional
- In good condition
- Free of rips, stains, strong odors, and pet hair
If you're unsure, ask yourself:
“Would I give this to a friend or family member in need?”
Please note: Our team reserves the right to decline items that don’t meet our standards. Some donations may be sold if not practical for our clients, and all proceeds directly support our mission.
Items We Cannot Accept
- King-size beds & Hide-A-Beds
- Oversized furniture or sectionals
- Sleeper sofas, rollaways, or electric beds
- Damaged or heavily worn items
- Clothing (except when included with household donations)
- Food items
- Old-style TV cabinets
- Cloth furniture with rips or tears
- Scratched nonstick cookware
- Large entertainment centers
Current High-Priority Needs
- Twin bed frames
- Mattress protectors (all sizes)
- Pillows & protective covers
- Dish drainers & silverware trays
- Large pots, medium pans, baking dishes
- Vegetable peelers & mashers
Furniture & Household Items Accepted
Furniture
✔ Bed frames (metal/wooden)
✔ Mattresses (crib, twin, full, queen)
✔ Dressers & nightstands
✔ Kitchen/dining tables (non-glass)
✔ Sofas, loveseats, futons (no sectionals)
✔ Lamps, fans, storage bins
✔ Bookshelves, desks, stools
Kitchen & Bath
✔ Pots, pans, bakeware
✔ Dishes, silverware, cups
✔ Blenders, toasters, coffee makers
✔ Bathroom accessories & wastebaskets
✔ Kitchen tools (spatulas, can openers, etc.)
Linens
✔ Sheets, comforters, blankets
✔ Towels, bath mats, rugs
✔ Tablecloths & napkins
✔ New pillows (only new, please)
Tools & Small Items
✔ Starter toolkits
✔ Hangers (plastic only)
✔ Small hand tools
✔ Trash cans, sweepers
✔ Flat-screen TVs & low-profile TV stands
Group Collection Opportunities
Churches, schools, clubs, and businesses can make a BIG impact by organizing group drives for:
- Cleaning kits (brooms, mops, supplies)
- Starter tool kits
- First-aid kits
- Picture hanging kits
- Duct tape, storage bins, small appliances
Get creative! Affordable items can often be found at local dollar stores or Harbor Freight.
Pickup & Contact Info
📞 Donation Hotline: 989-898-0077
Pickups are always free of charge!
While pickups are free, financial donations help us cover fuel, rent, utilities, and operational costs—especially as we grow to serve even more families in need.
You can also message us through the Donate page of our website if you're unsure about a donation item.
Thank You for Helping Us Feather the Nest
Your generosity helps transform empty apartments into warm, welcoming homes—and gives our neighbors the foundation they need to move forward in hope and dignity.
Together, we are truly Neighbors Enabling Success Together.