CLEVELAND — Moving into a first apartment is a rite of passage for many, but for those aging out of foster care, the experience can be scary and liberating all at once. 

What You Need To Know

  • Nonprofit provides furniture to youth aging out of the foster care system

  • Woman started organization at 16 after being touched by a foster child

  • Former foster youths able to choose furniture that fits their personality

One woman has been helping foster kids with that process since she was still a kid herself.

Maria Paparella was laughing around a dining room table at a home she just helped furnish.

Paparella is an only child who grew up in a large Italian family with lots of cousins.

“I’d be playing with them and they all went home and I'd play barbies with my dad,” she said with a smirk

Her parents considered fostering, and Paparella remembers a child she met during that time.

“i realized she hadn’t been adopted, and I started to learn about the process of aging out. I couldn’t believe this harsh reality of their being no support system,” Paparella said.

It was then — at 16 — that her journey to change those people’s lives began.

“I’ve seen all my older cousins move into their first place — mom and dad gave them a bed, aunt and uncle gave them a dresser. It took a community,” she said.

This inspired her to start the nonprofit Chair-ity. What began as a project in high school is now celebrating 10 years. The organization provides furniture to people in northeast Ohio aging out of the foster system.

Devone Jackson was a foster youth. His mom died when he was 16. He aged out of foster care when he was 19. Chair-ity provided furniture for his new place.

“This rug is amazing. It feels so good on my feet. I’m thinking of moving the desk on top of it, that way, my feet is always on top of it,” Jackson said as he walked across the rug gifted to him.

 “After so many months, maybe years, of not being able in a peaceful environment, we have our own place we can call home,” he said.

Paparella has a rule of thumb for what she gives the young adults.

“iI wouldn’t put it in mine or my cousin's apartment. I wouldn’t give it to our kids,” she said.

While these foster kids are no longer kids — most are between 18 and 26 — she said they're still getting started in life.

“I’m 27 but still need to call my mom three times a day for things,” Paparella said.

The organization delivers the furniture to the people’s front doors. Most recipients don’t have a driver's license and therefore can’t pick furniture up. As a fun bonus, they get decorating tips during the process.

Paparella said beds are particularly important as many of them have never had a bed of their own.

She said being able to provide something for someone so they can be full rested so they can be present at school or work is very impactful.

While getting one’s first apartment is a milestone for many, Paparella said this stage for these young people is much more.

“They know that tomorrow they’re not going to be placed in a different home. They know they have this safe place to come home to,” Paparella said.

The organization buys new mattresses for the recipients and welcome monetary donations for them. They’re currently in need of dressers, TV stands and coffee tables. On how you can give, you can log onto chair-ity.org  or go to their Amazon wish list.