About Us - Our Mission
To accept and distribute donated, recycled household goods free of charge to individuals and families in need through the use of volunteers and in cooperation with community agencies and organizations.Our History
HGRM began out of the garage of Ira and Barbara Smith in 1990 when they helped a refugee from El Salvador who had arrived in the US with 
nothing. A call to neighbors and friends yielded enough material to furnish an apartment with goods left over. By matching the great need for household items with the generosity of the surrounding communities, HGRM has grown to an organization that has served many thousands of individuals and families since its inception. From the Smiths’ garage, HGRM moved to a church basement and then in 2004 to its current facility on Main Street in Acton.
This year, 600 volunteers walked through the doors of HGRM. Our volunteers work with more than 300 social service agencies to help over 3,000 families a year to rebuild their homes and start their lives over.
Who We Serve
The people served by HGRM have at least one thing in common — they need help during a difficult time. They come from over 130 communities in eastern Massachusetts, including many of the more affluent towns.HGRM clients are individuals and families in transition who need help to rebuild their lives. They include:
- victims of fires or floods
- women and children escaping abusive domestic situations
- people coming out of shelters or halfway houses
- war veterans
- refugees and recent immigrants to the U.S.
Board of Directors
| Founders & Directors | Ira and Barbara Smith |
| President: | Lee Mapletoft |
| Vice President: | Mark Sigman |
| Clerk: | Diane Duane |
| Treasurer: | Caroline Crosby |
| Directors: | Val Asbedian |
| Directors Emeriti: | James Eldridge Pamela Harting-Barrat |
Advisory Council
Bob Goddard,Tim Taylor, John Fanton, Rod Plimpton, David Duane, Bill Ryan
Staff
Executive Director Sharon Martens
Volunteer Coordinator Jo-Ann Berry
Special Inventory Coordinator/Furniture Mover Robert Zink
Some Numbers
Since its inception in 1990, the need for the service provided by HGRM has grown exponentially over the years. Currently, HGRM:- Assists over 260 families a month to find the household goods they need to improve their quality of life,
- Works with over 300 social service agencies to meet the needs of their clients, click here to see a partial list of agencies HGRM works with.
- distributed 36,477 large items as well as 14,235 boxes & bags of smaller items
- had over 8,000 donors help individuals and families make a home
Click here if you would like to join us as a volunteer!
