In 2010, St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County (SVdP) in Eugene, OR wanted to find a way to serve vulnerable populations not only in their own region but nation-wide. They recognized that non-profits needed a way to generate long-term, sustainable revenue when grants and donations weren't dependable, and they had a solution to both problems.
Our Story
For the past 20 years, SVdP had been receiving reusable materials from consumers and landfills and transforming those items into value-added products. In the process, they created hundreds of entry-level jobs paying fair wages that are perfect for people who often have trouble entering the job market. Sales from the reusable and recyclable products also generated revenue to support the agency's charitable mission and used to provide affordable housing to low income people and people getting off the street, provide emergency services such as food boxes, rent and utility help, and free clothing and furniture.
With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, SVdP began partnering with other non-profits across the country to replicate their business model, share their knowledge, and help them achieve the same success in producing sustainable income to support their own local services.
