I have worked with charitable and non-profit organizations in the past and this one easily earns 5-stars!
At the invitation of a local pastor in my hometown, our team of volunteers was organized in Metro Detroit and traveled to HARP for a week-long work session in and around Caldwell, OH. Located in Appalachian southeast Ohio, the region is not recognized for an abundance of wealthy inhabitants. On the contrary, this area is better known as a poor region populated by many people who simply eek out an existence.
Their stated purpose at HARP is to primarily assist people in southeast Ohio, but with the recent devastation by flooding in West Virginia, out of brotherly love they have drastically expanded their scope of operations to include those affected by the floods.
I can personally attest to the shoe-string budget they operate with. Donated building materials go directly into home repairs, furniture and appliances help out people who have none. Unlike Salvation Army type thrift stores, they sell nothing to generate revenue..With little overhead, HARP runs an efficient operation.
Our group of 16 stayed at the warehouse in a dormitory fitted out by volunteers. Bunk beds were provided in a spartan setting. We brought our own food and drink, and cooked our own meals.
While some in our group have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity here and abroad, a majority of our group simply showed up with no special skills. Count me in that group. And sipping at the Fountain of Youth isn't a prerequisite for volunteering - not one person on our team was under fifty.
During our stay, we unloaded a couple truck loads of donated items, and reloaded a truck which was sent directly to West Virginia. We were told by the driver that once the truck arrived, it was completely unloaded by flood survivors in under an hour.
The need for donations of time and talent, monetary donations, and material donations is overwhelming. The latest estimate was that it would take 2 years to fill the requests currently on hand.
Check out their website (www.harpmissions.org) to learn more. They sure could use your help. read more