Remember moving into your first apartment or home? The excitement of finally having a space to call your own? And all the household items you needed to get set up in your new place?

You can help people who've spent years living on our streets and in shelters feel that same warmth and excitement as they move into their new place and get started on their new lives by providing the essential items we all need to make our house a home.

Boston’s "Housing First" Initiative is making great strides towards ending long-term homelessness by placing people in safe, dignified housing first - immediately removing the chaos of living on the street and in shelters - and providing them with the support they need to rebuild their lives.

By assembling and donating Housewarming Baskets, you'll be an important part of welcoming people into their new homes where they'll find the stability and serenity they need to begin their journey to hopeful, peaceful futures.

It’s as simple as assembling new (not used) items like cleaning supplies, dish soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper, a set of sheets or towels, in a basket to be given as a housewarming gift to someone about to move into a place of their own- many for the first time in their lives.

And please include a welcome note, they mean a lot to the people who receive them.

You can also make this a fun and meaningful group project by holding a collection at your work, school, place of worship or even with a group of friends and family, and create as many baskets as you'd like!

We expect to help at least 200 more people move beyond homelessness into homes of their own this year and they'll all need a little help getting started. The baskets you make will be a big part of this! No matter what you choose, your gifts will transform someone's new apartment into a warm, welcoming home.

To get started, just download this flyer and share with everyone you'd like to participate: http://ow.ly/1Pnm307a4dB