What this is
Two friends who met in a homeless shelter now buy abandoned storage units and donate the contents to people in need throughout their community.
Shula Kitkowska and Louis Peralta show us how our community can turn challenges into opportunities to help others. The two Rhode Island friends met when they both lived in a homeless shelter and have since found stable housing.
Peralta had been buying abandoned storage units for 25 years as a hobby. He would keep valuable items to sell and throw away the rest. When Kitkowska saw this, she had a better idea. She knew many people coming out of homelessness needed furniture, clothes, and household items that were being thrown away.
Now the friends work together through their program called Up 2 Us Neighbors. They buy storage units and keep useful items in three storage lockers. When people request furniture, clothes, or household goods, Kitkowska delivers them or arranges pickup. Our community has responded with over 100 requests and 30 to 40 volunteers have joined their effort.
Kitkowska spends 10 hours each day fulfilling requests and receives no payment. She says helping others makes her feel good. The demand keeps growing as families struggle with high costs for basic items like clothing and furniture.
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Our neighbors are building something bigger than just giving away items. They are creating connections and showing how we can support each other. Their work proves that people who have faced housing challenges often become the strongest advocates for others in similar situations.
Key details
- Daily requests: Over 100
- Volunteer network: 30-40 people
- Storage lockers: 3 units
- Daily work hours: 10 hours
- Storage buying: 25 years
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