Delivering Home Campaign
About the Campaign Organizer
Meet Rachel Wiederhold
Hi, my name is Rachel Wiederhold, and I'm thrilled to be a volunteer for Fresh Start Furnishings. Originally from Michigan, I moved to Maryland in 2004 with my husband, Alan, where I worked in the Human Resources field for many years until I dared to create my own business. I've always been passionate about creating beautiful homes and founded Five Star Staging to live out that passion.
We recently built our dream home in Harford County, where I decided to sell my company after eight years to better focus on orchestrating my family's move, settling into our new home, and taking a much-needed break from working. A short time later, my church, Mountain Christian, held a service on the parable of the talents, emphasizing the importance of utilizing God-given gifts and abilities. Particularly in the aspect of service to others. It was through this that I became inspired to explore opportunities for applying my skills in different ways.
Volunteering has always been important to me- it's a great way to give back to the community, set a good example for my children, and experience firsthand the joy that can be created when we serve others. In my free time outside of volunteering, I'm a fitness enthusiast, a singer in the Bel Air Community Chorus, and I enjoy playing the guitar and violin.
About the Delivering Home Campaign
Why did I create the Delivering Home Fundraising Campaign?
The Delivering Home initiative for Fresh Start Furnishings began when I realized, through my volunteer work, that many clients were canceling donation appointments because they lacked the means to transport larger items home. Often, clients need more financial resources to rent or hire someone to pick up & drop off the furnishings. By addressing this issue, our campaign will significantly increase the number of successful donation deliveries, immediately impacting our community.
Where does donation money go?
The Delivering Home Campaign is crucial in helping Fresh Start generate the funds to purchase a moving vehicle to then assist more clients in receiving much-needed furniture donations. Funds generated would go towards the initial purchase of the delivery vehicle, as well as ongoing associated maintenance & insurance costs.
The Heart Behind the Initiative
My mom and dad are from southeastern Kentucky, where they grew up in poverty. They later moved from Kentucky to Michigan to get a fresh start on new job possibilities. Growing up, we didn't have all the nice things life could offer, but we always had a roof over our heads. We were on government assistance programs to help supplement our medical care, and we had food on our plates. I foster a deep and genuine understanding of how important Fresh Start Furnishings is for individuals in need, and I have heard directly from clients how blessed they feel to receive donated furnishings to help them create a home they can call their own.
Fresh Start Furnishings' tagline, "Transforming Empty Houses Into Homes," resonates deeply with me, as I've used this exact concept in my staging work. I understand firsthand how crucial furniture is in creating a sense of home within four walls. For families, having a home fosters feelings of security and comfort. A home is a safe place and a refuge, and furnishings play a critical role in achieving those feelings. These donations are so much more than just "used furniture"; they serve as a catalyst, grounding recipients and providing essential stability to those in need.
About Fresh Start Furnishings
Our twofold mission is to transform empty houses into homes by providing essential furnishings, home goods, and connections to resources that increase self-sufficiency, and to build a sustainable non-profit organization through social enterprise.
What do we do?
Fresh Start Furnishings is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in Maryland. We provide furniture and home goods to families and individuals who financially qualify for our program. Our current focus area is Harford County, Maryland but are happy to give referrals to resources in other counties when possible. We are currently the only organized furniture and home goods resource in Harford and Cecil counties.
Formerly Found in Faith Ministries, Fresh Start Furnishings was established in 2016 when three dedicated women from three local churches convened to address a pressing community need that each of them had been serving independently. While several organizations in Harford County were helping underserved individuals find shelter and housing, there was a noticeable gap in assisting these families in furnishing their homes and transforming them into safe and comfortable living spaces. Since that time, the Fresh Start Furniture Program has provided essential furnishings to over 1,550 families, delivering goods valued at over $312,000. Our program takes great pride in diverting these items from an otherwise destined landfill, demonstrating our commitment to sustainability. The program regularly serves a diverse population of people including seniors, people with disabilities, those in recovery, domestic violence survivors, single parents, and more.
Current Volunteers Opportunities
Fresh Start Volunteers are the heartbeat of our organization. Since 2016, we have worked as a team to furnish homes and stabilize futures for Harford's most vulnerable citizens. If you would like to experience the joy of transforming someone's empty house into a place that truly feels like home, please take a few minutes to complete our Volunteer Interest Form!
- Showroom Attendant
- Transport Team
- Community Partner Development/Outreach
- Small Group Opportunities/Serve Days
- Behind-the-Scenes Support (admin, social media, grant-writing, etc.)
- Special Projects (collection drives, furniture rehab, etc.)
- Earned Income/Social Enterprise Development
Help Make a Difference
Our mission is about so much more than providing someone with a table, sofa, or bed. It’s about giving people a sense of value and dignity, positively impacting every other aspect of their lives. Lacking basic necessities has been shown to negatively affect mental and physical health, decrease educational performance in children, and increase housing instability. Fortunately, there are many people with plenty of “stuff”.
Here are some ways you can help us ensure that these useable items that are so desperately needed by others, don't go to waste.
- Donate in-kind goods to the Fresh Start Furniture Program.
- Make a one-time donation to support our mission or become a monthly donor .
- Become an Annual Program Sponsor through your business.
- Join our Board of Directors.
- Attend our Annual Tapas & Treasures Signature Event.
- Participate in our Annual Fresh Start Flip Competition.
- Purchase a Charitable License Plate.
- Join a committee or team.
- Share about us on social media and with your network.
- Pray for our clients and the sustainability of our mission.
Technology 4 Causes
This page is powered by Technology 4 Causes (T4C). T4C is a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the productivity and impact of local charitable programs through member's expertise in technology, networking, and collaboration. Our goal is to create innovative solutions like the Harford Helps website and the Volunteer Harford initiative to drive positive change and foster stronger connections and more effective charitable efforts in our community.