We believe the kitchen is the heart of the home.
about the program
Pots and pans. Dishes and silverware. Small appliances and cleaning tools. A microwave or a toaster oven. Even paper goods that are not included in SNAP vouchers. These are just some of the essential kitchen items provided through New Start.
Partner agency-identified recipients are given all of the items necessary to completely outfit a kitchen. Every item is brand new. Our member volunteers purchase, bundle and ready the kitchen set for pick up by the collaborating agency.
why it’s important
Of the hundreds of individuals helped by New Start each year, more than two-thirds are children. Without the resources necessary to acquire all of the items needed to equip a working kitchen, our recipients would have difficulty managing the daily responsibility of feeding their loved ones nutritious meals. Our hope is that - with the gift of new kitchen items – some budgetary stress is relieved, and the sense of home is strengthened.
“…By providing the kitchen donations, [Assistance League of Chicagoland West] helps a family set up their household and feel welcomed into the program. The clients are always surprised by the kitchen sets - that they contain EVERYTHING, and that the items are NEW. Your donation sends the message to our clients that people do care about and believe in them as they begin a new life in our program…Receiving the kitchen donation helps a family settle quickly into our Bridge Communities program and allows them to begin rebuilding their lives and to focus on long-term goals. Thank you.” Janet Gaza, Bridge Communities
Funding for the New Start program in 2023-24 was provided in part through a grant from the DuPage Foundation.