In With The New, Out With The Old

As you open up your holiday presents this month and think about how much fun you are going to have with your new stuff, give a thought or two to your old stuff.  Are there CDs, DVDs, video games, software, or books that no longer hold your interest now that you have new ones?

Think about donating them to the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter (NCS).

NCS runs Emporium Online, a 16-week on-the-job training program for homeless (and formerly homeless) men and women, through which they operate an online virtual store selling new and gently used donated items like the ones I listed above.   Participants spend half of each day in computer instruction and employment workshops, and half running the online store.

In addition to stipends, the participants receive valuable experience gaining skills in technology, administration, and customer service.  The program has a 94% completion rate, with 81% vocational placement.

If you would like to donate new or gently used goods to Emporium Online, please contact Mark Adiedo at madiedo@ncsinc.org or (917) 477-2210.

And next time you’re looking to buy one of those types of items, consider purchasing it from Emporium Online, which can be found on Amazon.com by clicking this link: http://www.amazon.com/shops/support4homeless

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