By Karen Coppock
Remember when you got your first apartment? For many people, that happened in college or just out of school. Your family might have helped you move your twin bed from home, and Grandma contributed a couch from her living room. Other family and friends may have helped provide dishes, a table, household goods, and pantry supplies and helped you move in, perhaps with the incentive of a pizza dinner. But what if you had been in foster care or had been homeless?
Tracy Rose Denham, founder of Knoxville nonprofit First Foundations, Inc. (FF), recently learned more about the challenges facing young adults in those situations – and it started as a response to a Facebook Knoxville freecycle group post. “Someone posted, ‘I’m looking for a small love seat for a young man who’s aging out of foster care.’” After deciding to donate an unused love seat, she messaged to ask if he needed anything else. “And she said, ‘He needs everything. He literally has nothing.’” Denham and her husband donated more household items, and she posted for help on Facebook. Friends donated items and gift cards, and they were able to completely furnish his apartment within two days!
After delivering the items, his Compassion Coalition case worker asked if anything left over might be available for another young former foster child. Denham agreed and asked, “Who normally provides them with furniture and housewares?” And she said, ‘Nobody. They’re on their own.’” That eye-opening experience led her to start the 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2023.
Since then, FF has helped more than 60 young adults. Its mission is to help empower young adults who are transitioning from foster care or homelessness to break the poverty cycle and realize their full potential as valued members of society. Local social services organizations like Compassion Coalition or Knoxville CAC’s Youth WINS find housing for the clients. Those case workers then refer prospective clients to FF, and the FF intake coordinator assesses each client’s needs. FF outfits their apartment with basic necessities (see sidebar) and coordinates with the case worker and client to help them move in.
Denham said they help clients move on the second Saturday morning of each month. She and FF volunteers meet at the organization’s storage unit to retrieve donated and purchased items, and then they help the clients move into their new rentals that morning. FF’s website and Facebook page have more information about items that are needed. Although they appreciate interest and donations, Denham asked that donors please consider the condition of the items. “Would you want your child to have this in their place now? We restore dignity here. We don’t believe in the fallacy of something’s better than nothing. We want to give them the best that we can.”
Although FF originally started as a furniture/household goods ministry, it has since expanded to provide more comprehensive support. FF provides classes to help mentor clients with “adulting” skills like budgeting and time management. Denham and other volunteers help clients model or work through interpersonal or relational skills like interviewing for a job or successfully resolving disagreements with roommates or coworkers. FF also helps connect clients to employment opportunities and training, as well as transportation to work when needed.
First Foundations’ motto of “fostering hope, furnishing dreams” inspires their success in helping young adults from challenging circumstances launch into full, successful lives. Per their website, more than 96% of their clients maintain permanent housing, have a 100% connection to community resources, and a 74% increase in positive relationships. For more information on how to help, please visit FirstFoundationsInc.org.
Each client receives
• A bed
• A love seat
• New bed and bathroom linens; new or lightly used household items like dishes, utensils, cookware, as needed
• A grocery store gift card; they can request a food basket from local food pantries if they run out of food
• Pantry staples bag – items like salt, pepper, catsup, cooking oil, paper goods like toilet paper and paper towels, plastic baggies, meal prep containers, and other basics
• First aid kit and basic OTC medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen
• Cleaning basket – laundry and dish detergent and other cleaning supplies
• Basic tool kit – hammer, screwdriver, pliers, plunger
If the client is a single mom, the baby gets a crib, and FF provides a dresser that can also be used as a changing table, diapers, wipes, and other baby needs. FF also connects clients to community resources for food scarcity, clothing needs, and transportation.
HOW TO HELP
• Financial donations
• Annual fundraisers like their Sleep Out campaign
• Restaurant or grocery store gift cards – if you have any that you know you won’t use, FF passes them along to clients
• Kroger Plus card – FF can be designated as your preferred charity
• KARM donations – if FF is listed as the designated charity, their clients can receive KARM gift cards
• Donations of love seats and household goods – please contact FF via their website or Facebook page to coordinate
• Volunteer – see FirstFoundationsInc.org for more information