Sincere Foundation announced that it has made $125,000 in grants to 10 nonprofit organizations that address basic needs in Massachusetts, including two nonprofits in Acton: Household Goods and Boston Area Gleaners. This most recent round of funding completes the Foundation’s first full year of operation and brings its total donations to $385,000.
Household Goods, which received $10,000, provides a full range of donated furniture and household items, free of charge, to help people in need make a home. Recognizing that without basic furnishings, an apartment or house is little more than a bare shelter, Household Goods furnishes over 2,500 homes with 60,000 pieces of furniture and smaller household items yearly – all made possible by hundreds of dedicated volunteers.
Household Goods Executive Director Sharon Martens said, “We are seeing a huge increase in the need for our services. Last year, we furnished 18% more homes than we did the year before, and this year we saw an 18% increase on top of that. The grant from the Sincere Foundation will really help us meet this increasing demand for our services, so we are really grateful to the foundation for their support.”
Acton-Boxborough United Way Executive Director Katie Neville commented on the grant announcement. “Household Goods’ work to prioritize dignity in helping families make a home is a model for nonprofits in our community. At Acton-Boxborough United Way, and especially through our operation of Acton-Boxborough Resource Center, we see the immense value in helping families connect with the resources they need to thrive. Household Goods is a huge piece of that puzzle for so many families in our community.”
Boston Area Gleaners received $25,000 from the foundation. Boston Area Gleaners is dedicated to improving affordable access to fresh fruits and vegetables for everyone. They partner with local farms and food access organizations to connects the dots in the local food system.
Gleaners Executive Director Usha Thakrar commented, “This week marks the third anniversary of our purchase of Stonefield Farm – a move that has been transformational for the organization. The Acton community has welcomed us with open arms and been tremendously supportive of our work. Without the support of the local community, volunteers, donors and funders like Sincere Foundation we would not be able to distribute millions of pounds of fresh produce to communities in the region.”
Neville spoke of the importance of Boston Area Gleaners’ work at the intersection of sustainability and food security. “Boston Area Gleaners is meeting a critical need for access to healthy foods in our community through local partnerships including Acton Food Pantry and Boxborough’s FreeBee Market.” Acton-Boxborough United Way supports the Acton Food Pantry and Stow Food Pantry, both of whom have partnerships with Boston Area Gleaners.
“Many of the grant recipients in this funding cycle seek new and creative ways to solve systemic challenges, and we are proud to contribute to this work,” said Rebecca Reiner, Executive Director of Sincere Foundation. Grants from Sincere Foundation support programs that align with its three key funding priorities: food security, housing stability, and safe spaces.
Boston-based technology company Sincere Corporation created the Sincere Foundation in 2023. Matt Douglas, Founder & CEO of the Sincere Corporation says, “We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to celebrate, recognize milestones, and honor memories. That’s only possible when people have their basic needs met. We’re excited to support this exceptional group of organizations and their work with our Foundation.”
