How You Can Help Families in Need with Hannah's Treasure Chest
What began as a mother giving away extra children's items out of the trunk of her car has transformed into a massive Dayton operation, gifting hundreds of thousands of items to area families who are in need - but the need is greater than ever this holiday season.
How You Can Help Families in Need with Hannah's Treasure Chest
What began as a mother giving away extra children's items out of the trunk of her car has transformed into a massive Dayton operation, gifting hundreds of thousands of items to area families who are in need.
Hannah's Treasure Chest, a Centerville operation since 2001, has been invaluable for other charities in the area seeking to equip young families that are struggling financially for as little as $3.50 per child per week.
Says executive director Sarah Williams, the need is greater than ever this holiday season.
Dayton Local: What services does Hannah's Treasure Chest offer?
SW: "Hannah's Treasure Chest started 12 years ago, founded by Angela Addington. It came out of the need for area agencies to provide children's items for their clients. It's an indirect service organization, our clients are other non-profit agencies as well as school districts. We are partnered with about 65 agencies in Montgomery, Butler, Warren, and Green counties."
"Ninety-five percent of what we do is give out new and gently used children's items, from clothing, equipment, children's books, play items, it's everything that a kid could use, need or want, as long as it doesn't require food or air to breathe."
DL: How did the group get started?
SW: "About 10 years ago was when Angela was pregnant with her first child, Hannah, the agency's namesake. Hannah was the only grandchild in the family, and Angela was the last of her friends to have a baby, so everybody was giving her their old things. She ended up with an overload of children's items.
"She pretty much started brokering items out of the trunk of her car from work to other agencies and case managers who needed them, things the families and children needed. It went from there."
She tried to clean out her garage, and then it took over her basement. She kept trying to clean out but kept getting more when people found out what she was doing and wanted to help. All from the trunk of her car to an 8,000-square foot facility."
DL: What has the need been in Dayton?
SW: "Over the years the need has grown, even from where we were last year to where we are now, our request rate is up about 52 percent from where it was last year. It's just a huge gap we’re trying to fill."
"In 2011, we gave out about 350,000 items, anywhere from a pair of socks to a large riding toy or a game."
DL: How can people help?
SW: "People can volunteer, donate money or donate objects, all of the above. Our greatest need right now is for clothing apparel for winter, mainly pants. We accept cash. We’re always looking for volunteers, we only have two staff members. We usually have around 60 to 70 volunteers who come in and sort items and put together care packages and work with our partners, they do everything."
For more information about Hannah's Treasure Chest and how you can help, visit their website:
