Turning the waste stream into a resource stream for local communities
As part of our mission to lift up communities, Community Forklift partners with hundreds of nonprofits, community groups, schools, and social service agencies to offer public education, outreach activities, and community giving programs to area residents. Here are just a few of the ways we lift up our community:
Community Forklift provides home repair supplies and other household essentials free-of-cost to families and individuals with low incomes. Since 2011, Community Forklift has provided over $300,000 of materials to our local neighbors in need to improve their homes!
If you or someone you know needs repair supplies, household fixtures, or other building materials that will provide a safer, better living environment, please follow the below steps:
1. First, click this link to read the attached letter for more information about our program. The letter details how folks can qualify, the types of verification we need, and what to expect.
2. Then, FILL OUT OUR APPLICATION by clicking here. This is the only way to apply for our program. Make sure to fill out all the required fields and click Submit at the bottom. The form will show you a message to confirm you successfully sent it to us.
3. Come in for your scheduled appointment time with our coordinator. Once you are contacted by our new staff member, we’ll give you an overview of how the program works and you’ll be scheduled for an appointment. During this time, we’ll go over all of our policies and procedures. Then, we’ll either award you specific materials, or get you set up with a grant to come back to the warehouse at your convenience.
4. Arrange transportation for your materials and take them home, free of cost!
Please note: because we rely on donations for all of our appliances, you may be placed on a wait list if the appliance you need is not available at that time. We will work through the wait list as quickly as we can. Thank you for your patience!
Girl Scout Troop 6899 turned a sturdy old cabinet into a little free pantry, dubbed a “blessing box.” It’s located near St. Jerome Catholic Church and Hyattsville Elementary School.
Community Forklift provides mini-grants of store credit to nonprofits, schools, and volunteer groups who need building materials for projects that serve the greater community. Since 2011, Community Forklift has worked with 400+ organizations and has awarded over $400,000 in store credit for organizations to pick up free materials from our warehouse.
If your organization is in need of building materials and/or household items in order to better serve your community, please follow these steps:
1. First, click this link to read the attached letter for more information about our program. The letter outlines the program and what to expect.
2. Then, FILL OUT OUR APPLICATION by clicking here. This is the only way to apply for our program. Make sure to fill out all the required fields and click Submit at the bottom. The form will show you a message to confirm you successfully sent it to us.
3. Come in for your scheduled appointment time with our coordinator. Once you are contacted by our new staff member, we’ll give you an overview of how the program works and you’ll be scheduled for an appointment. During this time, we’ll go over all of our policies and procedures. Then, we’ll either award you specific materials, or get you set up with a grant to come back to the warehouse at your convenience.
4. Arrange transportation for your materials and take them home, free of cost!
Community Forklift employs more than 30 staff that start employment with higher than minimum wages and extensive benefit packages including health, vision, and dental insurance, short term disability, employer matched retirement, paid leave, 50% store discount, work shoe allowance, and other benefits. Visit our Careers page for current openings.
Community Forklift also works with local workforce development programs that place “returning citizens” and those with employment barriers into local jobs. We provide ongoing training, mentorship, and support. A significant portion of the current workforce is composed of individuals with barriers to traditional employment, with several moving into management positions.
Community Forklift is an internationally-known reuse center that offers a green business model promoting sustainable development. In fact, we have been voted DC’s “Best Green Business” by the Washington City Paper every year since 2014! Our team has hosted everyone from preschoolers and scout groups to grad students and Department of State visitors to teach groups of all ages about topics such as social entrepreneurship, waste reduction, and the reuse movement.
If you would like to schedule your own tour or would like for us to visit your school or organization, please contact Events@CommunityForklift.org.
Community Forklift hosts family-friendly parties & festivals throughout the year. Subscribe to our newsletter and blog, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to be notified about upcoming events!
To find out more about exhibiting, vending, or playing music during one of our events, please complete our:
In addition to our community festivals, we also offer DIY reuse & renovation workshops throughout the year. Subscribe to our newsletter and blog, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to be notified about upcoming workshops!
Do you have experience in reuse, upcycling crafts, old home repair, green living, or historic preservation? If so, please share your workshop idea here – and spread the word to your handy & creative friends, too!
Are you having a community festival or event? Our outreach team would love to be there to support your efforts and educate your community about reuse!
Please contact us at Events@CommunityForklift.org about exhibiting or speaking at your upcoming event.
Come get your hands dirty for a good cause! Volunteer at the Forklift for a few hours, a full day, or even on a regular basis. Opportunities for individuals and groups include organizing and cleaning donations, helping to design or rearrange sections of our store, assisting with community events, and more. It’s a great team-building activity for coworkers and social groups. We can even arrange special projects or more skilled tasks if you’re handy and have a good set of work boots!
Please contact us at Events@CommunityForklift.org about volunteering at our reuse warehouse.
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