Sharefest Texas

Arlington Nonprofit Helps Transform Lives of Domestic Violence Survivors, Foster Kids and More

exas-dfw23 — Tue, 20 May 2025 18:33:33 +0000

One man’s idea to help underserved communities in Arlington has grown into a major nonprofit that helps meet the needs of domestic violence survivors, aids foster children in adapting to new surroundings and provides assistance to at-risk children, senior citizens and the city’s homeless population.

ShareFest-Texas was founded in 2012 by John Thielman, who lives in north Arlington’s Viridian community. The agency helps find housing for women recovering from domestic violence and their children and also collects and distributes furniture and household necessities to furnish their homes.

But that’s not all. ShareFest-Texas collects luggage for foster children needing to move their things into new homes and collects bicycles for unhoused Arlington residents in order to provide mobility that might help them find work.

The organization has delivered furniture and household items for more than 300 families affected by domestic violence since its founding. It began as a way for Thielman, 78, to donate items to SafeHaven, the well-known Tarrant County women’s shelter, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, it helps provide hope to the underserved via collaborative partnerships and community service.

ShareFest-Texas began by helping beautify and fix up several Arlington Independent School District schools such as Kooken Educational Center and Wimbish World Language Academy with the help of students volunteering with Kiwanis Club International.

That work is something Thielman, an IT professional, was exposed to in California where he worked for shoe company Skechers. He worked with ShareFest and its activities in some of the toughest neighborhoods and schools in the Los Angeles area.

After a few years there, he returned to Arlington and started ShareFest-Texas.

“I lived in Viridian and we used a couple of those clubs to clean up the construction mess when it was expanding. It was a lot of fun,” Thielman said. “We worked with AISD campus beautification. We did two elementary schools, one of which was Kooken, the other one was Wimbish. We did a lot of internal murals.”

Thielman said those school projects “kind of put us on the map in the Tarrant County area.”

After students affiliated with Kiwanis International could no longer volunteer because of policy changes brought on by the pandemic, Thielman changed his focus to begin helping foster children.

“We heard that they needed suitcases, so I started collecting suitcases until my garage overflowed with them, and they were using those for when a foster event happened,” Thielman said. “Child abuse or something of that nature.”

He said the kids get a suitcase for their belongings instead of a black trash bag, which were previously used.

“I collected hundreds of suitcases, and was passing them out for that usage,” he said.

Thielman said that the homeless population ballooned around that time, too, and ShareFest-Texas stepped up again.

“I came up with the idea of providing bicycles to homeless people so they could get to and from work and find better work,” he said.

Thielman said there were a couple thousand known homeless people at the time and he would accept donated bikes and get them street ready with new tubes, tires, seats — whatever was needed to make them usable.

“I did several hundred bikes over the years,” Thielman said. The refurbished bikes allowed people in need to find work in a wider search area, he said.

Then, Thielman took on the plight of women and children affected by domestic violence.

“I was connected to all the agencies, Arlington Urban Ministries, Arlington Housing Authority, Arlington Night Shelter, SafeHaven and Salvation Army,” he said. “I was taking furniture to their retail outlets where they would sell it.”

Thielman said those organizations spread word about what he was doing with the furniture and other items he collected at Viridian.

“My neighbors became my best friends. They knew when my garage door opened,” he said. They brought items to Thielman when they cleaned out their garages or replaced furniture in their homes.

He said that during a visit to SafeHaven’s retail outlet in Fort Worth, he met the organization’s director of housing who quickly asked for Thielman’s help. He said the director said they had to reduce occupancy and move those clients out of the shelter into apartments.

“I wasn’t there for 15 minutes, and he asked me if I could help. And of course, being naive, I said, ‘Yes,’” Thielman said. That was in August 2020.

“When I asked him when he wanted me to start, he said, ‘Next weekend,’” Thielman said. “We did 14 apartments between August until the end of the year. It just ballooned from there.”

Thielman said he will soon have to rent storage lockers to hold what he gathers, including many beds.

“It’s more than a material value, because we do things beyond just delivering furniture. That’s just a piece of this,” Thielman said. “We’re transforming lives.”

Arlington Mayor Jim Ross helps ShareFest-Texas volunteers unload furniture last year at a home for a victim of domestic violence and her children. (Courtesy photo | City of Arlington)

ShareFest-Texas’ work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Last year, Arlington Mayor Jim Ross rode along with Share-Fest’s crew helping a mother and her children move into a safe home, furnished with furniture and other items provided by the organization.

“We actually went out and delivered some furniture to a young lady who had children and was a victim of domestic violence,” Ross said. “It was really cool to see that kind of work firsthand, what they did, unloading the furniture and getting it into her place.”

Ross lauded the nonprofit’s work that day.

“They helped her get into a place, helped furnish it, helped with all kinds of stuff — just a great group of volunteers doing wonderful work,” he said.

Lance Murray is a freelance contributor covering business for the Arlington Report.

The post Arlington Nonprofit Helps Transform Lives of Domestic Violence Survivors, Foster Kids and More first appeared on Sharefest Texas .

EXPLORE ARLINGTON PACKS UP AND DELIVERS FURNITURE WITH SHAREFEST TEXAS

brigserman — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 20:50:10 +0000

On the next great adventure of Explore Arlington, Mayor Jim Ross joins John Thielman and the crew at ShareFest Texas to furnish homes for families of domestic violence, homelessness, foster children, at-risk children and senior citizens.

ShareFest Texas has delivered furniture and household items for over 300 families since it started in 2020. What started as Thielman was donating goods to Safe Haven during COVID, has now turned into a non-profit helping to provide hope to the under-served through collaborative partnerships and community service.

“If you saw the level of gratification that pours out of the recipient mom and her children, and see the emotional transformation as they go from traumatic home environment to the shelters to their “model-like” apartment in very public space,” said Thielman, ShareFest Texas’ Founder and President. “That has an immediate impact on everyone involved.”

To donate or volunteer with ShareFest Texas, visit sharefest-texas.org or call (817) 369-8080.

ShareFest Texas’ Mission Statement:

To provide hope to the under-served through collaborative partnerships and community service.

About Explore Arlington:

Explore Arlington take viewers on a journey across multiple small businesses, tourism destinations, outdoor activities and many other venues and topics highlighting all of the fun things happening in The American Dream City.

The City’s Office of Communication schedules and produces franchise programs for MyArlingtonTV. Viewers can find MyArlingtonTV programs on the following cable systems: Spectrum Channel 16 and AT&T U-Verse channel 99, and streaming capabilities at arlingtontx.gov/broadcast. All episodes are also available on the City’s YouTube channel, Facebook page and Twitter account.

The post EXPLORE ARLINGTON PACKS UP AND DELIVERS FURNITURE WITH SHAREFEST TEXAS first appeared on Sharefest Texas .

ShareFest-Texas Combines “Safe Housing” and “Wheels In Motion” Initiatives for its October 19 Move

brigserman — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 15:33:31 +0000

For the 106^th time in 2024 we fully furnished another domestic violence victim mom and children apartment and we did so by providing furniture, household goods and “wheels” to loud screams of joy from everyone. Our great team worked in tandem quickly arranging furniture, kitchenware and bathroom content at the direction of “boss-mom” completing the install in under 45 minutes. In the midst of foot-traffic were two little ones, given ride-able play motorcycle and car (pictured) they somehow managed to maneuver without injuring anyone. To say there was an abundance of smiles on everyone’s face is an understatement , especially the mom. As our mission objective is to provide hope and while doing so initiate the erasing of the past, this day was one of our best and the end-result was as beautiful as the beautiful weather. After wishing mom another “Happy Birthday” and see a few teardrops form, we know we have another “Mission Accomplished” to ShareFest-Texas’ credit. The fulfillment received by today’s small-huge heart team of 9 (pictured) again provided fuel for our donated item collection activities being scheduled next week.

If you’d like to receive some of that fulfillment on any given Saturday. please sign-up as a volunteer on our website www.ShareFest-Texas.org. If you wish to see your furniture being repurposed with someone really needing it like below, again donate on our website. Like wise, if you wish to help with funding initiatives that opportunity is also found on our website. If you just want to observe the amazing activity, just come confirm by email to INFO@ShareFest-Texas.org as we always have plenty of pillows needing to be carried.

The post ShareFest-Texas Combines “Safe Housing” and “Wheels In Motion” Initiatives for its October 19 Move first appeared on Sharefest Texas .

Another Significant ShareFest-Texas Milestone Today

brigserman — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 19:44:17 +0000

Today, Arlington’s own Women Inspiring Philanthropy presented a check to ShareFest-Texas paying for its first truck and “wrapping”. Pictured with the truck are WIP representatives, SFT Board members, volunteers and proud family members. Prior to this addition ShareFest had to rely on personal trucks, cars, trailers or rented UHaul vehicles to collect and deliver donated furniture and household items for over 310 family apartments since September, 2020. At this point the truck was packed with three apartments worth of furniture that, within 4 hours, would furnish the 78th domestic violence family for 2024.

Many thanks to all of in our fast growing village who contributed to the highly successful mission which transforms lives by giving hope where before it was absent!

If you’d like to volunteer, donate items and or funds please visit our website at www.ShareFest-Texas.org. Or you may also call (817)-369-8080 to leave a message.

The post Another Significant ShareFest-Texas Milestone Today first appeared on Sharefest Texas .

ShareFest Texas provides stricken families with a welcoming home.

brigserman — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 02:10:10 +0000

ShareFest Texas provides stricken families with a welcoming home

The post ShareFest Texas provides stricken families with a welcoming home. first appeared on Sharefest Texas .

ShareFest-Texas “Wheels in Motion” Bikes Delivered!

brigserman — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 01:22:08 +0000

Dec 23 Surprise : ShareFest-Texas “Wheels-in-Motion” Bikes Delivered!!!

Cold, rainy and little “blustery” some would say but a set of wheels brought out the warmth for two unsheltered homeless today so they can look forward to finding employment in a wider area. That’s what our “WIM Initiative” is all about where since early 2020 we’ve collected, repaired and distributed over 200 bikes. They find work where they can consistently get to, then earn enough to qualify for an agency-sponsored program apartment which we furnish via our “Safe-Housing” initiative. They then can come volunteer or work for us, paying it forward and voila, we have a transformed with hope individual thanks to a donated bike. These two also received new sleeping bags, tent, suitcases and blankets all of which were donated.

Doesn’t take much to make someone’s Christmas a whole lot better. Don’t have to look far for the opportunity. Doing so will make your Christmas as well!

If you’d like to add your hands to ShareFest-Texas’ volunteer squad for one of our 10 initiatives, call our new number at (817)-369-8080.

The post ShareFest-Texas “Wheels in Motion” Bikes Delivered! first appeared on Sharefest Texas .

Effective Immediately: 20 Mile Pickup Radius

brigserman — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 00:49:25 +0000

Due to the increasing costs of fuel, effectively immediately, there will be a $50 pickup charge for any donation pickup outside a 20 mile radius of our warehouse in Arlington. We appreciate your continued support as we work to continue helping those most in need.

Thank you!

The post Effective Immediately: 20 Mile Pickup Radius first appeared on Sharefest Texas .

ShareFest-Texas Safe Haven-Arlington Housing-AUM Triple July 5,8

brigserman — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 01:33:24 +0000

Having frequently been doing double moves on Saturdays thus far in 2023, we managed to furnish three apartments this past week with a formerly homeless, now employed and under a roof young male and two Domestic Violence families including 4 children. The real joy is that the former is already assisting us in the collecting and furnishing operations “paying it forward” and enthusiastically asked to continue do so. Wednesday ‘D’ and I picked essentials out of our warehouse and moved them to his efficient upper floor apartment by himself with ease. Saturday we had 13 volunteers to move a two trailer loads, pickup and car full of donated furniture and households to two very grateful moms. As always we transformed their bare (except for inflatable mattress) apartments into a model-home-like environment. Welcome home bags with beginning essentials were delivered to both the moms and children filling the kitchen and bath. One highlight was a younger daughter’s saucer-wide eyes as she saw her pink blanket with one of her heroes imprinted, grabbed, hugged, and ran up the stairs to put on her new bed. As always, the ShareFest-Texas “signature-light” perfectly epitomized the extreme amount of hope we try to bring with our deliveries and with that many volunteers, it was indeed loud and full of hugs once again. By the looks on the faces of all three recipients we could tell that a lot of yesterday’s darkness was pushed to the background, and we left signs to help remind them of that.

It’s important to also note that in the prior seven days SFT successfully moved 5 families with a total of 12 children with a welcome feeling of “home” where before they were in a shelter sometimes for months. We accomplished this despite the heat and second floor apartments, one of which presented a “access challenge.” And we couldn’t have done it without our persistent village of donors. We are still on track for furnishing 100 apartments in 2023.

If anyone is interested in assisting us on this incredibly fulfilling mission by donating needed items, hours or financially please reach out to us via email INFO@SHAREFEST_TEXAS.ORG.

The post ShareFest-Texas Safe Haven-Arlington Housing-AUM Triple July 5,8 first appeared on Sharefest Texas .

Metroplex Insurance Professionals share with ShareFest-Texas

brigserman — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 20:53:52 +0000

The Metroplex Insurance Professionals donated $500 to ShareFest-Texas and assembled 20 welcome home bags filled with household goodies for women coming from Safe Haven in Fort Worth into their own apartments. We’d like to thank Community Service Co-Chair, Debbie Stirm, and the entire MIP team for their generous donation and support!

The post Metroplex Insurance Professionals share with ShareFest-Texas first appeared on Sharefest Texas .

ShareFest-Texas – 2022 Recap!

brigserman — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 16:48:45 +0000

Here’s summary of the highlights of 2022:

With our “Safe Housing” Initiative we fully furnished 85 (did 60 in 2021) apartments for Domestic Violence victims, a vast majority being Safe Haven clients.

Supported church partners’ refugee resettlement initiative with furniture and household goods

Supplied tents, sleeping bags, blankets to homeless; refurbed and distributed 25+ bikes that enabled them to get to work

New client interface structure had a very positive impact on the effectiveness and efficiency on our housing processes

Added Arlington Housing and Arlington Night Shelter to the client supply side of our operation

We closed out 2022 by forming a new alliance with the Salvation Army (Arlington) that will certainly bring multiple mutual-benefit opportunities

We increased our storage capacity to almost 2,000 square feet to meet the increased demand but now are seeking contiguous storage of 3,000′

Received almost $30,000 in cash donations. November fund raiser delayed until 2023 due to low sponsorship level sales

Received 44 mattress donation from Sealy and will receive additional early next year.

Partially furnished Foster and Adoptive Care family clients

Continued to add volunteers but need some to take on formal roles.

Donations-in-Kind volume steadily increased throughout the year and presented its own process challenges which we finally got under control

Added retail and online auction service organizations to handle DIK that we couldn’t use in furnishing apartments; glass, size, damaged, etc.
Engaged Arlington, Mansfield ISD and UTA Students to assist in support of “Safe Housing” Initiative activities; i.e., welcome home bags, hygiene kits, furniture collection and distribution

The post ShareFest-Texas – 2022 Recap! first appeared on Sharefest Texas .