ABOUT US
Why "Blackberry Winter?"
In the Springtime, when the blackberries are in bloom, sometimes a “cold snap” occurs…a brief return of winter weather. Appalachians refer to this “cold snap” as a Blackberry Winter. This Appalachian saying embodies what our organization does. We provide “a hand up” to people through a “cold snap” in their life.
WHO are we & what is our purpose?
Blackberry Winter is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit composed of kind-hearted, hard-working, and generous volunteers. The volunteers help in different ways…some organize donations, some donate money, some donate household items and furniture…some help us through word of mouth, some help us meet families, and others fundraise. All of these acts of love come together to create Blackberry Winter.
What we do
To help our community!
We take donations of gently used household items, furniture, and appliances to give to someone who needs “a hand up” in life.
We furnish homes for individuals who are starting over in life, no matter the reason: fire, addiction, illness, domestic violence, imprisonment, etc.
We give new beds, linens, and pillows to children in our community who are going without. Blackberry Winter believes that children struggle to learn, grow, or feel loved sleeping on the floor.
Help us give a hand up!
Financial Donations can be made By mailing checks or through paypal
Mail checks to:
PO Box 673 Richlands, VA 24641
Donate Household items
*Unfortunately, we are unable to pick up donations.**
Blackberry Winter will provide you with the address and access code to drop your furniture donation off at your convenience. Donations we take: gently used furniture, small appliances, sets of dishes, sets of pots and pans, full-size appliances, mirrors, lamps, curtains (washed, bagged, and labeled with size), sheets and blankets (washed, bagged, and labeled with size), hampers, trash cans, shower curtains, ac units, small heaters, and some household decor.
We do not take clothing, odds and ends, single cups, bowls, plates, ext. King size bedding, items that need repair, items missing parts, floral arrangements, vases, display dishes, king size beds.
Donate YOUR TIMe:
If you are interested in volunteering to help us give a “hand up” Get the TeamReach app enter code 987898 to be notified of volunteer OPPORTUNITIES.
You can also email Tericrawfordbrown@blackberrywinter.org
how to get help
REQUIREMENTS If the request does not meet these requirements, we, unfortunately, will not be able to help and will not respond to assistance request.
The person requesting assistance cannot live in the home they are requesting help for. YOU CANNOT REQUEST HELP FOR YOURSELF!
You confirm and attest the need to be legitimate.
We cannot help when only a few furniture items are needed. Needing a couch, table, chair, etc., is a common occurrence. We help in uncommon situations when people are starting with nothing.
The person filling out the request MUST meet the following requirements.
Cannot live in the home they are requesting help for.
Confirm and attest the need to be legitimate and meet the above criteria.
Be present with us the day we meet. When possible, the person we are helping should also be there.
We meet each family only once, with no exceptions. You'll need to provide adequate vehicles and people to lift and load the requested furniture.
Be willing to communicate with Blackberry Winter on behalf of the person we are helping. throughout the process.
Expect us to provide 60-80% of what is requested.pl
Blackberry Winter is committed to providing a
“nonjudgmental hand up” whenever we can. We do this by furnishing homes for people when they are starting over in life: for whatever reason.
Teri Crawford Brown RNC, MSN, CPPS
Blackberry Winter CEO/ Founder
Frequently Asked Questions
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We do not have a pick up service for donated furniture. We need it brought to us.
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You can send a check to PO Box 673 Richlands Va 24641 or paypal money to us. If you paypal be sure to check the box friends and family. This by passes any charges and allows us to receive 100% of your donation.
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-Used furniture that it is in good condition that does not need any repairs.
-Small kitchen appliances.
-Mirrors, lamps, sets of sheets that are clean bagged and labeled with size, blankets.
-Sets of dishes, pots, pans, cookware, sets of glasses.
-Appliances in working condition. Window unit ac, small heaters, laundry baskets, rugs, table cloths, curtains that are bagged and labeled with size.
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-King size sheets and blankets.
-Single plates, cups, bowls, ect.
-Anything that needs repaired before we can give away.
-Flower arrangements, books, toys, decorations.
-Clothing or shoes.
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You cannot request help for yourself. We need someone to verify your need and be our contact person. They can request help for you through our online form. That person must be willing to arrange for at least two abled bodied people to meet us, load the furniture. and take it to you. You are also welcome to come also. That person will be who we communicate with to obtain a list of needs, arrange when we meet, be there when we meet, and take the donations to the person in need.
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No. We furnish 2-4 homes a week. Blackberry Winter is ran 100% by volunteers. We can only meet each family once.
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We do our best. It is according to what we have donated at that time. We generally can provide 80-95% of what is requested.
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No, we do not do any of these things.
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No. Blackberry Winter does not help when one or two items are needed for a home. We have found that there are a lot of people that need one or two items and meeting those needs prevents us from being able to help when families have nothing.
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We do not. We only help when people are starting from nothing. We have found there are a lot of people that need one or two things. This depletes our storage and ability to help those that need everything.
OUR CORE BELIEFS...
Everyone needs help in life. We’ve all been given help by our parents, friends, co-workers, teachers, cousins…by someone. We believe help should always be given without expectation, no guilt required. No child should be sleeping on the floor. Every child needs a clean, comfortable, warm bed in order to grow, learn, and thrive. A community is only as good as it treats its children, vulnerable, and elderly.
WHY DO WE DO THIS?
That’s what we do here in the Appalachian Mountains. We help one another.
The spirits of love and generosity thrive here in these beautiful mountains.
The people of Appalachia, like the majestic mountains surrounding them, are formidable, hardy, and proud. We at Blackberry Winter are the sons and daughters of these mountains, as are those we help.
We do this work for those that didn’t have a family to help them through life.
We do this work for the addict or imprisoned to feel that they are not their choices...that they are worthy of help.
We do this work for the children that are sleeping on the floor. So that those children can have a clean, warm bed to sleep in...so they can grow, learn, and thrive. We do it so they feel seen and know they are important.
Blackberry Winter 501 (c) (3)
P.O. Box 673
Richlands, Va 24641
EIN 84-3495640
