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Needs Clearing House was founded about a year ago by Joe Kaliko and state Rep. Fred Camillo (R-Greenwich) to help connect nonprofit organizations with businesses and individuals who want to give back to the community. The organization has helped to secure funding to provide music therapy to Alzheimer's patients, shelter for homeless people, training for firefighters and getting restaurants to donate food to local shelters.
Executive Director Phil Brous was reaching out to hotels to find sheets that could be given to organizations such as Neighbor to Neighbor, Kids in Crisis, veterans associations and the Disability Resource Network. Starwood offered to give thousands of sets that it had in storage. Brous then reached out to Two Men and a Truck to transport the sheets and Westy to store them before they are distributed.
"When I asked for help, nobody said no," Brous said. "I'm amazed at how everything came together so easily with everybody's help."
He said the donation will be helpful, because demand is high for sheets and blankets in Fairfield County.
"It's a simple item we take for granted. A lot of families have no sheets and no pillowcases at all. It's filling a huge need in the community," Brous said.
Westy Director Preston Moore said the storage facility was happy to provide space for the sheets.
"It's such a worthwhile cause," Moore said. He said the facility likes to provide its lobby and other space to charities a few times a year to hold events and fundraisers as a way of giving back to the community. This is the first time they have worked with Needs Clearing House. "They have a great history and it seemed like the right thing to do."
Kaliko said organizations in need of sheets can contact them to arrange to pick some up. He said that although the organization is new, their network is growing fast and they are always looking to connect charities in need with those who have the desire to help.
"Charities are invited to call us. Anybody with a need of up to $100,000 can contact us, and we'll evaluate them and try to find a way to help them," Kaliko said.
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