Waiting for the Special Season
Soon families will be moving into their fully furnished homes at both of Saranam’s campuses. All year long people in Albuquerque have donated household items, furniture, and décor. Each week, volunteers sort and organize the donations and store them in our temporary storage areas. To name a few of the items—bed sheets, towels, silverware, cups, and dinner sets are folded, stacked, grouped, and labelled. The items wait for this special season when decorators prepare the homes to welcome brave families needing refuge.
Priceless values & monetary impact
The items donated hold memories and value. A lamp may have helped you read at night while you waited for a child to come home before a curfew or the Correlle dishes your mom pulled out for every family dinner, or the babies have grown out of their little plates and high chair. So many items that once helped and supported us to live our lives, celebrate, and hold us are no longer needed in your homes. Saranam is honored to welcome your beloved items.
Let’s take another look at the in-kind donations that fill a home. Based on our decorators’ list of furnishings and furniture we will list a general estimated value for each room (keep in mind, family sizes and ages differ).
Imagine— all the items in the homes have an estimated value just over $4,000 to nearly $6,000 for a 4-bedroom! This is HUGE for families moving in because it is warm and welcoming, and they can also take the items with them once they complete the 2-year program to set up their next home. The continuity helps with a smooth transition and saves on costs for the next home.
The homes are also stocked with all a family needs to start their journey. For example, nearly $300 in paper goods, toiletries, and cleaning (home and laundry) supplies are stocked on the shelves. There is also $100 value of stocked pantry staples. And the beloved donated casseroles in the freezer. Learn more about what are in the welcome kits.
From cleaning supplies to silverware, the home is set up with the utmost care and kindness for each family. There is a community of supporters behind each home that the families don’t even know! Watch a short video of the homes set up and decorated.
Emotional Impact
On the first day, the parents are given the keys to unlock their front door. The children curiously run in giggling and saying “Oooo.” They rush to find their bedroom to explore the shelves, colors, and décor. Parents are overwhelmed with relief and gratitude knowing they have their own space, their own kitchen, bathroom, and each member of the family has their own bed. Not to mention all the little things like toothbrushes, towels, or the staples in the pantry.
From their own experiences, parents have shared:
“There were things in each room that fit each of us. It was like someone sent a group of angels to set it up.”
“Knowing that a complete stranger wanted to help my family restored my faith in humanity and showered me how I could help be a part of that change.”
“When a person knows they are safe, they can grow and produce lots of good things.”
“I am able to take a deep breath and say we’ll be OK for two years and can prepare for what comes next.”
That first day the parents open the door not knowing exactly what lies beyond, and quickly learn they are safe to dream, grow, and create a new path for themselves and their family.
Donation Center
The ADC Family Campus on Montano will include 23 homes, our main offices, two classrooms, a family center, community gardens, a playground, and an exciting new donation center! The donation center will be around 3,600 square feet and will serve as the warehouse for all our donated furniture and household items for both Saranam locations. There will be a small receiving office at one end with both a standard door and a garage door for donation drop-offs. The building is not yet completed, but when it is, we plan to offer volunteer shifts to accept, sort and label donations. We will post the donation hours and available volunteer shifts as soon as it is ready to open.
How to Get Involved
All the household items have been collected for the homes this year, but we could use help with the Welcome kits. Review the lists and sign up to provide some of the supplies. Please deliver to 1028 Eubank NE, Suite F by June 18, 2025. Contact Jen Clear, jclear@saranamabq.org or (505) 362-6283 if you have any questions.