CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. – Ikea has launched a new initiative called “A Place Called Home” that is focused on promoting learning environments and assisting the homeless population.
As part of this initiative, Ikea has committed $540,000 to Family Promise, a non-profit which addresses family homelessness, and Save the Children, a non-profit committed to early childhood education, via in-kind and monetary donations.
“Ikea believes that home is the most important place in the world. We recognize that now more than ever, many families are in crisis as the pandemic has exacerbated issues facing lower-income students and at-risk and already homeless populations,” said Jennifer Keesson, Ikea U.S. country sustainability manager.
Keesson said everyone deserves a place called home, adding that this initiative aims to further Ikea’s COVID-19 relief efforts in local communities by supporting homelessness prevention and providing much needed educational supplies and furnishings for children across the country.
Keesson said the new initiative is part of ongoing relief efforts for people impacted by the pandemic. Between March and August 2020, Ikea impacted more than 1.1 million people across communities through $1.9 million worth of donations both nationally and locally, more than 350 local donations, and partnerships with Feeding America and the American Red Cross.
“For too many children across America, remote learning has become a tremendous challenge because they don’t have the proper school supplies or at-home learning environment to be successful,” said Betsy Zorio, Save the Children’s vice president of U.S. programs and advocacy. “We are deeply grateful to Ikea for their longstanding support, and we are excited to partner with them to help give kids a productive space of their own to be proud of while they learn from home.”
