On Sunday, March 7, 2021, Jackie Craig, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Green Chair Project delivered a Moment for Mission during our worship service. FPC Outreach Director, Kathy Johnson, recently interviewed Jackie about The Green Chair Project.
Kathy: What drove you to found The Green Chair Project?
Jackie: My friend, Beth Smoot and I started collecting the extra things we all have in our closets and cupboards and set out to put them to good use furnishing homes for families who had been homeless and were starting over again and would otherwise be without. That was AFTER the undeniable “whisper” we heard from God to follow Him into this unchartered territory!
Kathy: Where did you get the inspiration for the name The Green Chair Project?
Jackie: That’s simple. Green is for the earth and the concept of recycling items from one home to another; Chair because everyone deserves to have a chair or comfortable place to sit in their home. Project because we knew from the outset, that this ministry would require the support of many people and the entire community.
Kathy: How has the scope of what The Green Chair Project does changed since the beginning days?
Jackie: While we first started out helping those who had experienced homelessness, we quickly learned that there are many other reasons for the need we set out to fulfill. Women fleeing domestic violence, those exiting incarceration, refugees, young adults aging out of foster care. In addition, we saw that families living in poverty cannot always afford beds for their children, and we set out to provide beds to children and cribs to babies who are otherwise sleeping on the floor. There are over 6,000 children in Wake County who are without…so we started our Sweeter Dreams program to end “bedlessness” for Wake County’s children.
Kathy: Who does The Green Chair Project serve?
Jackie: Clients are referred from over 90+ nonprofits, social service agencies and Wake County School social workers for a once-in-a-lifetime appointment to furnish their homes and provide beds for their children.
Kathy: What are you most proud of in regards to The Green Chair Project?
Jackie: To see how The Green Chair has grown in so many ways all with the support of this community. It was a God-sized idea and I’m just trying to keep up!
Kathy: How can First Presbyterian Church members become involved or volunteer with The Green Chair Project?
Jackie: When COVID is over, we will welcome back volunteers on a much larger scale. In the meantime, we always need furniture – especially the most basic essential pieces: couch, table and chairs, side chairs, dressers, kitchen and bath items. Large donations of these furnishings can be picked up by Green Chair’s truck at no charge and smaller items can be dropped off directly at Green Chair. We are currently doing a contactless drop-off of donations every Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Kathy: What items do you need most or what types of kits could we create to support your mission?
Jackie: The healthy bundle baskets you already provided were incredibly helpful and one is needed for every family we serve, particularly during these COVID times!