History
OHAAT was formed in 1998 as a social ministry of Upper Dublin Lutheran Church. Two industrious women equipped with a station wagon collected donations of furniture and delivered them to low income disaster victims referred by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross. By 2000, our ad hoc referral service had become an independent agency, and in 2001 OHAAT received its 501 (c) (3) determination. For the past ten years, OHAAT has gradually expanded and strengthened its reach. We currently accept referrals from over 30 recognized social service agencies.
In 2001 OHAAT began a program called Beds for Kids. While making deliveries, our volunteers noticed a considerable number of children sleeping on the floor, on sofas, or crowded into beds (sometimes with bed bugs). One group of volunteers even found a child sleeping on the back seat of a minivan. And in more serious situations, children are unable to stay with their parents until proper bedding is available. For our Beds for Kids program, we purchase discounted twin mattresses and box springs to deliver with donations of pillows, mattress covers, bed linens and blankets.
In 2011 OHAAT made an important program change. We phased out our work as a furniture bank so that we could focus all efforts on Beds for Kids. OHAAT can no longer keep up with the growing demand of both programs, and our board of directors believes that Beds for Kids serves a more critical need. No child should have to sleep on the floor. By reducing scope, we will reach more children, more quickly.