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Program History
Fresh Start Furnishings at Inner County Outreach was inspired by a small but powerful act of kindness that quickly revealed a much greater need across Harford County.
In 2014, our story began when Fresh Start Founder Alicia Hamilton was working with young women in foster care. One young woman had secured her first apartment, but she had nothing more than a mattress on the floor, her clothes, and a $300 gift card to Walmart when she moved in. What was meant to be her fresh start still felt empty and hopeless.
Learning of her hardship, Alicia rallied her community to fully furnish the youth's apartment, turning it into a space that truly felt like home. That experience led her to ask a bigger question: Who else was facing this same challenge and was there anyone meeting this need in our community?
That search led her to Evelyn McSorley, a mom of adult children who had recently revived a dormant furniture ministry at her church and Mildred Hopkins, an 80-year-old homeless shelter volunteer who had turned her garage into a donation collection center to furnish guests moving out of the shelter and into housing. While each was making a meaningful impact, there was no coordinated, county-wide effort to address furniture poverty at scale. Together, they recognized both the gap and the opportunity. In 2016, they formally joined forces to launch Found in Faith Ministries, a nonprofit organization on a mission to transform empty houses into homes by providing free furniture and home goods to those in need across Harford County.
The program began in a modest setting, operating out of an old house on the property of Bel Air United Methodist Church. What started as a grassroots effort quickly gained momentum as community members, volunteers, and partners rallied around the mission. By February 2018, the organization had recruited a Board of Directors, finalized our 501(c)3 status, and moved into a 4,800 square foot showroom space in Joppa, Maryland. Program services grew 218% our first year in the showroom and requests for assistance have continually increase ever since.
As demand grew, so did the program’s reach and impact. Families referred through local agencies, schools, and partner organizations were receiving not just furniture, but a restored sense of dignity and stability. What became increasingly clear was that furniture is not a luxury-it is a basic, foundational need. Without beds, tables, or seating, families struggle to establish routines, maintain employment, support their children, or experience the sense of home that fosters long-term wellbeing.
Within the first 5 years, Found in Faith Ministries navigated both a global pandemic and another major transition when our building was sold and we had to move. In December 2022, we moved to Aberdeen where our showroom is currently located and in spring of 2023, we rebranded as Fresh Start Furnishings, reflecting a clearer articulation of its mission and impact. Alongside this rebrand, the launch of a signature fundraising event helped fuel continued growth, strengthen community engagement, and increase awareness of furniture poverty as a critical but often overlooked issue.
Over the past decade, the program has furnished more than 2,050 homes, serving over 5,900 individuals and families throughout Harford County. Through volunteer-driven efforts, community donations, and strong partnerships, Fresh Start Furnishings has transformed empty houses into homes where people can begin again with dignity.
In February 2026, Fresh Start Furnishings entered a new chapter through a strategic merger with Inner County Outreach (ICO). This partnership brings together two organizations with a shared commitment to strengthening families and creating generational change.
Now operating as Fresh Start Furnishings at Inner County Outreach, the program continues its core mission while expanding its reach and impact. By integrating into ICO’s comprehensive service model, which includes basic needs support, licensed mental health services, and youth and family programs, the furniture program now serves as a critical entry point for individuals and families seeking stability.
For many, receiving furniture is the first step. It opens the door to additional support, connecting clients to resources that address food insecurity, mental health challenges, and family stability. This integrated approach allows for more holistic, long-term outcomes rather than one-time assistance.
The merger also strengthens the program’s sustainability and scalability. Fresh Start Furnishings brings its strong volunteer network, community engagement, and focus on dignity-centered service, while ICO provides established infrastructure, deep community partnerships, and a 40-year history of comprehensive care. Together, this unified effort recognizes that a fully furnished home is more than comfort, it is a foundation. When individuals and families have a safe, functional, and welcoming space to live, they are better positioned to thrive.
Today, Fresh Start Furnishings at Inner County Outreach continues to grow, not just in size, but in impact. What began as a response to a single unmet need has evolved into a program that plays a vital role in addressing housing stability, family wellbeing, and long-term success across Harford County.
