Acts 4 Ministry's Prominence in Greater Waterbury Community Warrants Donation Pick-Up Charges

WATERBURY, Conn. - June 10, 2015 - PRLog -- As of result of widespread awareness throughout the Greater Waterbury region of the charitable works of the non-profit, non-denominational Acts 4 Ministry, Inc. that serves people in need throughout the region, the organization’s board of directors has announced newly-introduced charges for the pick-up of large-sized donations.

Ellen Rogers, chairwoman of Acts 4 Ministry, Inc. Board of Directors, stated, “We are very grateful to report that awareness of the charitable works of our organization has significantly increased which has resulted in a measurable increase in requests we receive each week for the pick-up of donations of furniture and household goods from people’s homes. While our volunteers very generously offer their time and physical abilities to pick up these items, we have numerous day-to-day operational expenses related to these pick-ups including fuel and storage facility costs that warrant our request for donors to pay for the physical pick up of their donations.”

Acts 4 Ministry, Inc. is dedicated to building relationships with people while providing them with the basics of daily living needs. “Our mission,” explained executive director Sarah Elizabeth Carabetta, “is to provide individuals and families who have suddenly lost their homes to a fire, flood or other unexpected devastation or upsetting life event to come to our facility to personally select clothing, dishes, glassware, furnishings, and other basic needs at no charge.

We partner with churches, social service agencies, and public schools to help identify and serve people with these needs regardless of their faith, race, creed, or national origin, or their willingness to participate in religious activities.” Each year the organization distributes clothing to nearly 4,000 people plus over 1,000 pieces of furniture and house wares to people of varying income levels throughout the Greater Waterbury area.

Acts 4 Ministry’s newly-initiated costs are: $50 tax-deductible donation for pick-up from a home within the Greater Waterbury region including Beacon Falls, Bethany, Bethlehem, Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott, and Woodbury; a $100 tax-deductible donation for pick-up from a home or business outside the defined Greater Waterbury district; and $200 tax-deductible donation for clean out of a home.

“Our organization is dependent on donations from people throughout the region, including monetary,” stated Rogers. “Because we are growing very rapidly with donations, plus the number of people we serve on a daily, week-to-week basis, we need to request pick-up donation fees from generous donors.” Carabetta added, “The volume of calls we receive each week from people who graciously desire to donate pieces of furniture, gently-used mattresses, and other large household items has significantly increased, for which we are very grateful. However, with the increase in calls for pick-up of items comes increased costs in day-to-day storage of those items in our storehouse and in our thrift retail store both located at 1713 Thomaston Avenue in Waterbury. These costs necessitate the charging of fees for pick-up of large donations from people’s homes.”

Each week Acts 4 Ministry schedules a limited number of furniture donation pick-ups. Additionally, the organization can only pick up mattresses and box springs; dressers; chests; bed frames; nightstands; end and coffee tables; TV stands; small and kitchen tables; kitchen and living room chairs. Currently, the organization is also accepting linens; blankets; dishes; cups and glasses; utensils; pots and pans; bakeware; small appliances including coffee pots, toasters, etc.; and home décor items including placemats, napkin rings, etc.

“Donors can visit our website, www.Acts4.org,” explained Carabetta, “to find a list of donations currently needed. This list changes season-to-season as it relates to clothing, however, there are changes in furniture and household good needs according to current inventory in our storehouse. For example, we may currently have 100 sofas however we may only have 20 end tables, or 13 coffee tables. There may be greater need of certain items, and less of others, so we post current inventory needs on our website to help our generous donors understand our up-to-date needs.”

Tax-deductible payment for Acts 4 Ministry’s pick-up of donated items is required at the point where the pick-up is being made. Cash, checks made payable to Acts 4 Ministry, Inc., or money order would be accepted at that time. Clothing donations for men, women and children are accepted for all seasons on a year-round basis either inside the Acts 4 Ministry thrift store or can be placed in Acts 4 Ministry’s 24/7 donation box located on the side of their building.

Donations can be brought to Acts 4 Ministry’s facility at 1713 Thomaston Avenue Mondays through Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monetary donations can be U.S. Mailed in the form of cash, or money order to P.O. Box 4524, Waterbury, CT 06704. To donate online with a credit card, visit www.acts4.org and go to “How to Donate” and click the “donate” button at the top right corner of the page. All donations are tax-deductible, and donors will receive a letter at the end of each year stating history of support during the calendar year.

For further information, or to register as a volunteer, contact executive director Sarah Elizabeth Carabetta at 203-574-2287 or via email to executivedirector@acts4.org.