Shula knows firsthand what it means to have nothing. After experiencing homelessness herself, she saw the world through a different lens. While watching her partner, Luis, work with storage units, she saw so many useful, life-changing items being thrown away.
That moment sparked an idea: What if those items could go to the people who needed them, driven by compassion and determination.
Shula began collecting and cleaning everything she could find. As word spread like wildfire, she realized the need in our community was far beyond what she ever imagined. Together with Luis, she named her mission Up2Us Neighbors—a grassroots effort to fill the gap for anyone in need.
Our policy is simple: Upon request. No questions asked. For the past year, Shula and Luis have worked tirelessly on a fixed income, doing their best to answer every request. Whether it's a bed, warm clothes, or household essentials, they pick up and deliver donations across the entire state of Rhode Island. Their dedication even caught the attention of Sam Read NBC Channel 10 News ( Show Us Something Good ) , who featured their journey of turning struggle into service shinning a light on Up2Us Neighbors mission.
The Challenge: We Are Growing Faster Than Our Wheels
Today, Up2Us Neighbors faces a new challenge. The demand for help has grown to a point that requires us to keep growing, but our resources are stretched thin. We currently have three storage lockers that are overflowing with donations, and we are quickly outgrowing our current space.
To keep up with the constant stream of requests, we urgently need to upgrade our fleet:
• A Box Truck: To eliminate the high cost of constant U-Haul rentals and mileage fees when moving furniture and large loads.
• A Cargo Van: To replace our aging minivan. We need the extra space to fit more items in a single trip and keep up with daily pickups and deliveries across the state.
On a fixed income, these costs are impossible to meet alone. We have volunteers the donations and the heart to do the work—we just need the bigger wheels to get it done.
Please help us turn these overflowing lockers into furnished homes for our neighbors. Every dollar brings us closer to a reliable vehicle and a stronger community.