Every year, Apartments.com holds a ThanksGifting campaign, which highlights four nonprofit organizations that work to support residents in multifamily housing. Meet the four organizations we’re celebrating this year: Hatching Hope, Move for Hunger, United Way Centraide Canada, and Entryway.
Hatching Hope
Hatching Hope serves residents who have been displaced after natural disasters. They provide essentials like cleanup supplies, personal hygiene items, pet supplies, and children’s toys to bring hope to communities after disaster strikes. So far, Hatching Hope has served 1.2 million residents across the United States.
Most recently, Hatching Hope has been serving residents of Tampa, Florida, affected by Hurricane Helene in September and Hurricane Milton in October.
Move for Hunger
Move For Hunger tackles two key issues: food waste and food insecurity. They partner with multifamily communities to help residents donate unopened, non-perishable food items upon move-out, reducing food waste and providing food to those who need it.
So far, Move for Hunger works with 3,000 multifamily properties across the United States and Canada and has provided over 42 million meals to those in need.
United Way Centraide Canada
United Way Centraide Canada works to connect residents with the resources they need through the 211 helpline. The 211 helpline is a free, confidential service that directs callers to local resources that address needs like housing, medical care, and mental health care. The 211 helpline supports over 2 million Canadians each year.
Entryway
Entryway partners with apartment communities across the country to help those at risk of or experiencing homelessness find employment and housing. Entryway trains participants for entry-level jobs in multifamily communities and then connects participants with employment.
Entryway provides a win-win for participants and apartment communities: those employed through Entryway get the stability of an income and a place to live, and apartment communities get loyal employees who are proven to have a higher retention rate than traditional employees.
Entryway projects 110 participants hired and housed in 2024, plus 100 family members housed.
How Can I Support My Community?
Donating money and supplies to local nonprofit organizations can be a quick and easy way to support your community, but you may be looking for ways to be more hands-on.
Donating your time is one of the most valuable ways you can give back to your community. Nonprofit organizations need donations, but finding people to spend their time and energy helping out can be even harder.
As we head into 2025, keeping up the spirit of giving from the holiday season can be a challenge. Here are some ways you can spread love through your community by sacrificing just a few hours of a weekend.
Volunteer at food banks and kitchens
Food banks and kitchens need volunteers to help sort food and distribute meals. Find a food bank or food kitchen near you and get involved!
Volunteer at animal shelters
Fostering or adopting a pet isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay! If you like dogs and cats (and you aren’t allergic to them), volunteering at your local animal shelter is a great way to help the non-humans who can’t help themselves.
Animal shelters always need volunteers to help clean cages, bowls, and toys, feed the dogs and cats, and spend quality time with the animals. Grab an animal-loving friend and commit a few hours of your weekend to your local shelter—and enjoy being around furry friends!
Pick up trash
Organizations like Keep America Beautiful organize cleanup campaigns where volunteers pick up trash left in public spaces. Keep America Beautiful has chapters all across the U.S., but you don’t have to join an organization to clean up your community. Get a group of friends together and enjoy a walk around your community while picking up litter. Make sure you wear bright colors so you’re visible to drivers and remember to bring gloves and a trash bag!
Find organizations near you
Sites like VolunteerMatch can help you find specific volunteer needs in your area, but you can also find volunteer opportunities through social media, a quick Google search, or exploring your neighborhood. Keep an eye out for organizations that align with what’s important to you, and don’t be afraid to reach out and ask how you can get involved.
Looking for a New Community?
Are you looking to move into a new community? Apartments.com has the tools to help you find a new place easily. Navigate housing across neighborhoods with our customized search engine and learn about each community with the area guides under the menu in the left corner of your screen.
Wherever you are and wherever you’re going, the options are endless with Apartments.com.
