Bel Air-Based Nonprofit Wins IKEA Life Improvement Challenge; Receives Makeover of 4 Rooms

From the Homecoming Project:

The Homecoming Project, a Bel Air-based transitional residential program for homeless women in substance abuse recovery, is one of 42 nonprofits from across the United States to win the IKEA Life Improvement Challenge.

As a winner of the challenge, the Homecoming Project received a makeover of four rooms–three bedrooms and a recreation room—that included design expertise, products and assembly services.

Donated furniture included daybeds, dressers, nightstands and mirrors for the bedrooms. Items for the recreation room included sofas, coffee tables with under storage, stackable chairs, a bookcase and entertainment center in addition to a dining room table. Delivery and set up took place July 8-9.

The IKEA Life Improvement Challenge was created in 2011 to help play a part in creating a better life for the many people, as well as communities, touched by IKEA business. While IKEA works on a global level to improve the lives of people in developing countries, IKEA also wants to be a good neighbor in its local communities.

“We are so grateful to IKEA for selecting us as a winner in the IKEA Life Improvement Challenge,” said Robin Keener, executive director of the Homecoming Project. “Like many nonprofits, we rely on donations of items to furnish our house. Having a comfortable place for our clients to live is important in helping them with their recovery. The generosity of IKEA and their employees is very much appreciated.”

The IKEA Life Improvement Challenge starts each year with IKEA co-workers submitting nonprofit nominations for the campaign. A steering committee from each IKEA store selects up to three nonprofits, and co-workers and customers vote online. The nominated nonprofit from each store market with the highest number of online votes becomes the winner.

Since its inception four years ago, more than 120 charities across the country have received more than $1 million in IKEA products, design expertise and manpower.

The three nonprofits nominated by stores in Maryland include The Homecoming Project, selected by the store’s contact center in White Marsh; Digital Harbor Foundation, selected by the Baltimore store; and The National Building Museum, chosen by the store in College Park.

“IKEA is honored to be a part of this makeover of the Homecoming Project. Our goal is make the everyday lives of people just a little bit better through our home furnishings expertise,” said IKEA public relations spokesman Bill Meiswinkel.

The Homecoming Project, in is ninth year, works with women to provide a safe, calm and nurturing environment to help them begin rebuilding their lives from homelessness and dependency. More information about the Homecoming Project may be found at homecomingrecovery.org.

The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for many people by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at low prices so that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. There are currently 315 IKEA Group stores in 28 countries. Additionally, there are 40 IKEA stores run by franchises. For more information, visit IKEA.com.