About Pass It Home Initiative

A student-run community program built on a simple belief: useful things deserve another chapter.

Our Story

From one home to another.

Pass It Home Initiative began with a simple observation: usable household goods were being discarded every day, while nearby households lacked the basic furnishings and items that make a home feel like home.

Three students decided to do something about it. What started as a small effort to connect neighbors with usable furniture has grown into a more organized community program — one driven by the belief that practical, dignified support can come from the community itself.

We are not a resale shop, a hauling service, or a charitable organization in the traditional sense. We are students helping to move useful things from homes that no longer need them to households that do.

Jonathan Chen, Michael Hermanto, and Garrett Wu — co-founders of Pass It Home Initiative
Mission

Why we exist.

Pass It Home Initiative helps usable household goods move from people who no longer need them to people who do — reducing waste while supporting local households with practical, dignity-centered assistance.

Vision

What we're working toward.

A community where no usable household item is thrown away simply because its owner no longer has a use for it — and where every household has access to the basic furnishings and goods that make a home feel like one.

What Guides Us

Our Values

These principles shape how we operate and how we treat everyone we work with.

Dignity

Every person who requests an item deserves to be treated with respect. We aim to make the process feel simple and normal — not like charity.

Sustainability

Giving items a second life reduces waste and benefits the environment. Every rehomed item is one fewer item in a landfill.

Community

We believe neighbors helping neighbors is one of the most direct and meaningful forms of community support.

Reliability

We follow through on our commitments to donors and recipients. If we can't do something, we say so clearly.

Safety

We review items carefully and do not accept goods that could pose safety or health risks.

Respect

We respect the privacy of everyone involved and handle all personal information with care.

Practical Service

We focus on what's actually useful: getting functional items to people who need them, with as little friction as possible.

The Team

Meet the Founders

Pass It Home Initiative is run by three students committed to making a practical difference in their community.

Jonathan Chen

Jonathan Chen

Co-Founder

University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine · Medical Student

[ A short biography paragraph about Jonathan — their background, what motivated them to start the initiative, and their role in the organization. ]

Michael Hermanto

Michael Hermanto

Co-Founder

University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine · Medical Student

[ A short biography paragraph about Michael — their background, what motivated them to start the initiative, and their role in the organization. ]

Garrett Wu

Garrett Wu

Co-Founder

University of Vermont, Larner College of Medicine · Medical Student

[ A short biography paragraph about Garrett — their background, what motivated them to start the initiative, and their role in the organization. ]

A note about our capacity: Pass It Home Initiative is student-run, which means our capacity has real limits. We may have constraints around service area, storage space, transportation, scheduling, delivery, item acceptance, and response times. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Help useful items find their next home.

Whether you have something to give or something you need, we're here to help make the connection.