He’s a man with a Mission

A. Our founder is Tony Triglione. He grew up poor, and when he reached his 60s he wanted to give back to the community. In 1993 he started Mission of Deeds in Reading and Woburn, where he had property. He’s still the founder and president emeritus at age 85.

Q. Who are your clients? Is there a typical profile?

A. The typical profile is probably a young mother with children, someone who has been homeless and possibly a battered woman who had to flee.

Q. How do clients hear about you?

A. Through agencies that refer them. Everyone has to have a referral. It could be the Department of Children and Families, homeless shelters, the Red Cross, Department of Mental Health, churches and temples, school systems, town halls, the housing authority. We depend on agencies to screen clients, know their circumstances, and know that the need is genuine.

Q. What is the age range of your volunteers and what do they do?

A. From 13 to 90, and they do everything from picking up, organizing the warehouse, servicing clients, sorting goods, minor repairs, answering phones, helping with fund-raising. We try to give volunteers tasks they like to do.

Q. What items do you need?

A. Certain items are always on our desperately needed list, especially twin-size bedding and pots and pans. We take household furniture as long as it’s in usable condition. Bureaus, coffee tables and end tables, sofas, and kitchen sets are always in demand. We will take a donated mattress if it is incredibly clean and pristine. We’re dealing with sanitary issues and the dignity of the client. We’ve been here 18 years and we’ve never so much as seen a bedbug, flea, or anything else — and we want to keep it that way.

Q. What items do you not accept?

A. We don’t take sleep sofas because they’re difficult for volunteers to move, and we don’t take large entertainment centers, anything king-size, TVs, computers, or children’s furniture.

Q. That’s sad that you don’t take children’s furniture.

A. It is, but we are concerned about safety and recall issues.

Q. Is demand high, and approximately how many folks do you help?

A. Economic conditions have increased demand, but at the same time a lot of our clients are outside the economy no matter what economic conditions are. In the course of a year we help about 800 households, about 15 a week.

Q. How has the recession affected you?

A. Donations are up and the generosity of people is incredible. When times are tough, people think about what they can do to help. Donations have increased each of our 18 years.

Q. What are some interesting items that have been donated?

A. Maybe the most unusual item was a cement mixer. We were cleaning out a house that was about to be sold, and there was an emergency deadline. The donor called us in tears, so we went out that day. They gave us a cement mixer, and a volunteer on the truck was about to lay a new front walk in his yard, so he got the cement mixer as thanks for helping us out.

Q. Have there been any treasures? What do you do with them?

A. One time we had a vase that sold for $1,300 in auction. The net proceeds went into our fund to buy mattresses.

Q. Do you accept cash donations?

A. Yes, and we purchase mattresses, box springs, and frames. We really squeeze the dollars, look at every penny donated, and treat it better than if it were our own money. We do not receive, seek, or want any government money. This is a completely private charity.

Q. Can you recall a particularly moving story?

A. There are so many, but one I remember is a Christmas story. There was a mother and father with one child who came in before Christmas. A volunteer asked the little boy: “Who’s coming?’’ The kid wasn’t saying anything, and the father said to the boy, while looking at the truck: “Santa Claus came today.’’

Mission of Deeds, 6 Chapin Ave., Reading. 781-944-9797. info@missionofdeeds.org. www.missionofdeeds.org. Donation drop-off hours: weekdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and the second Saturday of the month from 9 a.m.-noon. Check the website for items needed. Pickups can be arranged in Reading and neighboring towns.

Murison also recommends these agencies: Household Goods Recycling of Massachusetts in Acton (www.hgrm.org), My Brother’s Keeper in Easton (www.mybrotherskeeper.org), Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless in Lynn (www.mahomeless.org), and Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance in Worcester (www.cmhaonline.org).

Interview has been condensed and edited. June Wulff can be reached at jwulff@globe.com.