We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful John Michael Stagliano. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with John Michael below.
Hi John Michael, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.
In 2016, I learned that the Lowcountry Home of Hope, a men’s homeless shelter, required financial help to keep the doors to the only homeless shelter in Summerville open. I was friendly with many shelter residents through his volunteer efforts with Katie’s Krops. This not-for-profit grows vegetable gardens and donates the harvest to feed people struggling with food insecurity, hunger, and homelessness. I wanted to make sure the shelter could stay open. By hosting a car wash, we raised funds for the shelter. He gathered his friends, and within three hours, they raised $1,526.00 to help with the rent. After donating, I listened to the other needs the shelter had. I began making regular meals for the men at the shelter, collected items to support the shelter, and gathered Christmas gifts for the men, so every resident had a giant sack of presents to open on Christmas morning. When men I was friendly with started moving out of the shelter, I learned most were beginning their new lives with nothing more than clothing. The shelter residents would work very hard to rent apartments, houses, and trailers to move out of the shelter but were unable to furnish their new homes. Home Again was born.
Reaching out to my family, friends, and neighbors, I started to collect furnishing and household items for people transitioning out of homelessness. I wanted to provide these individuals with items needed to make a fresh start in their new homes. Word spread of my efforts, and donations started to pour in. Shady Oaks Storage donated a storage unit to mw, and a second one quickly followed thanks to donations from supporters.
To date, Home Again/I have:
~Helped to furnish homes for 526 people transitioning out of homelessness.
~Prepared 1,000 meals for the men at a homeless shelter in Summerville.
~Raised $2,700 at Hope’s Table, a fundraiser he created to help build a new women’s shelter, Hope’s House.
~Raised $1,526 at a carwash to help pay the rent at the men’s shelter.
~Helped to reunite 53 families by furnishing homes for them, which allowed children to be reunited with their parents.
~Helped the new women’s shelter open by providing all of the mattresses and bedding needed.
~Helped women who are victims of domestic violence start over and move them from the abusers house.
~Engaged over 90 kids in youth service, many of who have never been asked to volunteer before.
~Donate a pool table to a Veterans Home to provide entertainment.
I work closely with the Veterans Administration and the Dorchester County Community Outreach. Over 65 percent of the individuals we assist are veterans. Donations of furniture are always much appreciated and needed.
John Michael, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
See previous answer
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Home Again does not have a website we only use Facebook and Instagram. Sharing the stories of the people we assist (with their permission) has helped garner support. Photos are so important, and being authentic. You don’t need filters and to embellish. Just be real.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I have dedicated the past six years to creating stable homes for individuals transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. What started as a way to assist people transitioning out of homelessness became my liberation from pain and a lack of self-esteem. My parents knew something wasn’t right for years. The head of pediatric endocrinology at MUSC was finally able to I was diagnosed my condition. A growth on my brain’s pituitary gland shut down my endocrine system halting growth and puberty. As a result, I was much shorter, had a higher-pitched voice than my peers, and was always mistaken for being significantly younger than I was. My first job as a lifeguard left me feeling defeated as swimmers vocalized their lack of confidence in me due to my appearance. Home Again was my retreat from the pain.
My journey had a happy ending. I am now almost 6″4 and a freshman in college. The right medical treatment changed my life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: lowcountryhomeagain
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomeAgainoftheLowcountry
Image Credits
Stacy Stagliano