Today we’d like to introduce you to Theresa Orendi.
Theresa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was called by God in Aug 1997, as 39 years old working mom. We moved the family from Pittsburgh to Central PA in Jan 1998. After 2 years in our new location, God revealed that we were to begin an outreach program called Bountiful Blessings, which would provide nonfood items to families in need. With the help of my daughter and a few church members, Bountiful Blessings was started on Jan 5, 2001. It grew from serving 0 families to 80 families within the first year. Through constant prayer, we learned how God wanted the program layed out and it was his blessing that grew it.. The 2nd and 3rd distribution sites came on rather quickly in 2005, and I learned how to go from managing and overseeing 1 site to running multiple sites, while also finding donors and suppliers for the products. After a few years of developing additional church locations in PA, we expanded to MD and WV. At that point, we were transporting products to other states, and I was trying to learn their rules and regulations around our operation. I had to establish a board of directors, oversee the relocation of distribution to new sites, negotiate new storage facilities and offices for our operations and to eventually get us to the point where we could buy land and buildings for the warehouse and headquarters.
Through every step of the process, our Lord opened doors and windows to where he wanted us to go. And before each major growth spurt, we hit were hit with devastating obstacles. I maintained faith that there was something bigger on the horizon with each hurdle we endured. And each time, I was blown away by the opportunities that presented themselves. When COVID began, like most charities, we were financially impacted and had to find another monetary channel to stay afloat. We also had more families coming to us for assistance due to the shutdowns. God introduced us to various types of recycling to create revenue and help cover our costs. To my surprise, “Heavenly Haulers Ministry” was born, not only creating the much needed revenue, but also opening the doors for us to help various crosssections of the community. Being able to provide service opportunities for families, teens, folks with special needs, senior citizens and people who are correcting the errors of their past has grown an additional source of fulfillment that I hadn’t anticipated.
Today, we are proud to serve roughly 7,500 families per year from 19 distribution sites – giving each family access to, at a minimum, our 8 core items, and doing it all with a 100% volunteer workforce. As we celebrate our 25th year, I’m excited for our upc0ming growth and expansion int0 new territories, including inner-city Philadelphia and more locations in the Pittsburgh area.
We are also in the infancy stages of building out the 3rd leg of the charity, which will be transitional housing for young men coming out of foster care who wish to further their education. Bountiful Blessings, including Heavenly Haulers and the transition center, wouldn’t be where it is today without God’s vision and timing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been anything but a smooth journey. The first major obstacle was convincing my husband and 15 year old daughter that this was my calling without knowing the details why we were moving. Then, I had to convince the church to give us space their building to open our 1st distribution location. I also had to teach myself how to file a 501(c)3, run a business, recruit volunteers, write grants, etc, in a time before the internet was booming and before AI existed.
Over the 25 years we’ve been in operation, I’ve battled stage 2 breast cancer, developed life-threatening allergies, helped my husband through strokes, heart problems and surgeries. Just as things began to level out, my husband was killed while driving our charity’s brand new delivery vehicle, which meant we had lost our primary delivery person and our new van, but also I had to deal with his passing. Our volunteer staff also battled many health challenges that took them out of commission for extended periods of time, if not permanently.
Another major challenge was that I was working full-time in the corporate world until 2019. I was balancing the operation and growth while working a traditional 9-5 for the first 18+ years of the charity’s existence.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Throughout my life, I’ve worn many hats in a variety of industries. The majority of my professional life was spent in corporate insurance. However, my passion has always been in service to others. I believe God gave me a servants heart knowing I was meant for this calling. Bountiful Blessings has required me to persevere, think beyond myself and be creative in my approach to business. I’ve embraced the people God has put in my life who compliment my weaknesses and approach every obstacle with a mindset of positivity. I’m proud of the charity we’ve created, humbled by the results and eager for what’s to come. To know this organization has had a lasting impact on families and individuals who, admittingly wouldn’t have gotten by without our help, is one of the greatest joys of my life.
I’m proud of the fact that we’re thriving 25 years later and maintained our position on not having paid staff so every dollar that comes in goes solely to the charity and that we’ve done it all without government assistance. I’m proud that we are able to operate with extremely low overhead, meaning the donations primarily go to helping families. And, I’m proud of the fact that our best years are still ahead of us.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
There are multiple ways you can help support our charity:
1. Monetary donations are always appreciated, whether it be a personal donation, corporate donation, or collection from your business, church or other organization.
2. Donate and/or collect any of our 8 core items (toilet paper, paper towels, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, trash bags, dish soap, and cleaners).
3. We are always looking for volunteers to help at our warehouse and office.
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