Welcome to First Foundations…
where we’re not just about making a difference; we’re about making dreams come true. Nestled in the heart of Knoxville, our grassroots organization has been a beacon of hope since October 2023, standing alongside young adults transitioning out of foster care or emerging from homelessness. What began with a handful of dedicated souls has blossomed into a community of over 1100 volunteers and donors, all driven by a shared passion for fostering hope and furnishing dreams.
Who We Serve
First Foundations seeks to provide a boost to young adults
transitioning out of foster care or emerging from homelessness.
In just six months, we’ve helped 14 local young adults.
Here are a few of their stories.
CHARLES
After high school, Charles struggled to keep a job and fell into homelessness. He lived under a bridge for more than a year. He secured an apartment through a local program and we helped furnish it. But when his place of employment closed due to a fire, he was back in crisis. First Foundations helped him secure a new job closer to his apartment and a cool new means of transportation.
KATELYN
Katelyn was placed into the system at age 9 along with 3 siblings. She bounced between foster care, kinship, and an addicted parent. She recently moved to Knoxville to start college, leaving behind her hard-earned possessions. We were pleased to outfit her apartment including a study spot and lots of her favorite color.
How We Serve
personalized to each client’s needs
Furniture & Housewares
We provide everything they need to make a home.
Emergency Rent Assistance
We help when an unexpected crisis could lead to eviction.
Groceries & Meals
Between jobs, new moms, emergency situations… all require food.
Financial Counseling
Living on a budget is an absolute necessity.
Job Assistance
Using our connections in the community, we help find jobs close to where they live.
Reading Tutor
Personalized one-on-one tutoring that comes to them.
Mom Mentor
A new mom’s person to call with any question.
Bus Pass
We provide clients on the bus line an initial pass so they can get to work.
How You Can Help
Our comprehensive suite of professional services caters to a diverse clientele, ranging from homeowners to commercial developers.
DONATE
- Contact us to donate furniture and housewares in new, like new, or very good condition
- Check our amazon and walmart wishlists for specific items
- Contact us to donate money for our young clients
GET INVOLVED
- Join our local FaceBook group where we connect to serve our clients. You can offer your time to help secure items, move our young clients into their new place, and work directly with them to learn to budget, find a job, etc. Be sure to answer the questions for access to the group!