Windham Area Interfaith Ministry

Uplifting and uniting our community by providing caring services and resources to meet our neighbors’ needs with dignity and respect.

WAIM (Windham Area Interfaith Ministry) provides basic needs and support to area residents with insufficient income. Our goal is to keep people safely housed, meet basic material needs and connect them to resources that sustain their stability.

Our Programs

Emergency Financial Assistance

WAIM is dedicated to helping our neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet. Emergency financial assistance from WAIM can help with rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, transportation expenses, and other basic needs.

Material Donations

WAIM distributes donated clothing, furniture, appliances, and other household items to people in need in our community for free. Literally, tons of useful items are kept out of local landfills and welcomed into the homes of individuals and families who give them a second life.

Partners in Independence

Meet with a trained mentor who will provide thoughtful guidance and help you identify goals and develop strategies to achieve them.

Get Involved

Events

Support engagement with our community partners, schools, churches, and individuals like you.

Material Donations

WAIM distributes donated clothing, furniture, appliances, and other household items to people in need in our community for free.

Volunteer

Volunteers are essential to achieving our mission of uplifting and uniting our community.

Check Out Our Facebook!

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Less than one week away!!

The first WAIM Flea Market of 2024!

Saturday March 23rd from 8 am - noon on the 5th floor.

All proceeds go directly into the WAIM general fund. WAIM is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization located in Willimantic.

We serve most of the lower part of Windham County. We run our material goods, emergency financial assistance and mentorship programs on private donations and grants.

Antique, vintage and other unique finds await you! Find that special treasure and help out a local organization fulfill its mission.

Hope to see you there!

www.facebook.com/share/NXrMJcWWvmi1XshH/?mibextid=9l3rBW
... See MoreSee Less

Less than one week away!! 

The first WAIM Flea Market of 2024!

Saturday March 23rd from 8 am - noon on the 5th floor.

All proceeds go directly into the WAIM general fund. WAIM is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization located in Willimantic. 

We serve most of the lower part of Windham County. We run our material goods, emergency financial assistance and mentorship programs on private donations and grants. 

Antique, vintage and other unique finds await you! Find that special treasure and help out a local organization fulfill its mission. 

Hope to see you there!  

https://www.facebook.com/share/NXrMJcWWvmi1XshH/?mibextid=9l3rBWImage attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment

Comment on Facebook

Petey Adams

Alcapone Michelle

Wish I could go!!

As WAIM celebrates its 40th anniversary, I've been looking back at the history of the organization.

In 1999, WAIM was gifted the building we're currently in at 866 Main Street in Willimantic by retiring retailer Sam Gordon.

Prior to that WAIM was located in a rented building on Moulton Court.

The building that Sam so generously donated is known as the H.A. Bugbee building. It had been a flour, feed and grain mill for many decades.

If you look over the top of the storefront where Swift Waters Artisans' Cooperative is located, you can still see the name.

This sturdy mill building houses WAIM material goods, rental assistance, energy assistance, unmet needs assistance and the Partners in Independence Mentoship programs on the first three floors.

In the front of the 4th floor are the artist's
studios that Swiftwaters subleases. In the back part of the 4th floor called "The Annex", we share our space with Toys for Tots and The Connecticut Medical Recycle
Program.

We run our annual Bike Drive and the Back to School programs out of the 4th floor as well.

The 5th floor houses the WAIM Flea Market (the first one is March 23rd) and storage.

We had a visit from the Willimantic Fire Department yesterday. They appreciate the complexity of our building. It's an exciting time as the department has many new recruits.

I walked them through the building so that the newer firefighters can get a sense of how the building is laid out. It's better to know what you're walking into before there is a fire or some other event.

It was really cool to hear the veterans share their knowledge and talk about potential scenarios.

I'll be electronically sending them our Building Operations and Maintenance Manual that includes floor plans. The FD will have all of the information about the building including electrical panel locations and sprinkler system information in case of an incident.

We are diligent and take the safety of our volunteers, staff and customers seriously. It's nice to know that the Willi FD has our back.

Thank you Sam Gordon for your generosity many years ago.

Thank you to the Willimantic Fire Department for keeping us safe. I appreciate your visit and all that you do for our community.

- Susan Hunter, Executive Director
... See MoreSee Less

As WAIM celebrates its 40th anniversary, Ive been looking back at the history of the organization.

In 1999, WAIM was gifted the building were currently in at 866 Main Street in Willimantic by retiring retailer Sam Gordon. 

Prior to that WAIM was located in a rented building on Moulton Court. 

The building that Sam so generously donated is known as the H.A. Bugbee building. It had been a flour, feed and grain mill for many decades. 

If you look over the top of the storefront where Swift Waters Artisans Cooperative is located, you can still see the name.

This sturdy mill building houses WAIM material goods, rental assistance, energy assistance, unmet needs assistance and the Partners in Independence Mentoship programs on the first three floors. 

In the front of the 4th floor are the artists
studios that Swiftwaters subleases. In the back part of the 4th floor called The Annex, we share our space with Toys for Tots and The Connecticut Medical Recycle
Program. 

We run our annual Bike Drive and the Back to School programs out of the 4th floor as well.

The 5th floor houses the WAIM Flea Market  (the first one is March 23rd) and storage.

We had a visit from the Willimantic Fire Department yesterday. They appreciate the complexity of our building. Its an exciting time as the department has many new recruits. 

I walked them through the building so that the newer firefighters can get a sense of how the building is laid out. Its better to know what youre walking into before there is a fire or some other event.

It was really cool to hear the veterans share their knowledge and talk about potential scenarios.

Ill be electronically sending them our Building Operations and Maintenance Manual that includes floor plans. The FD will have all of the information about the building including electrical panel locations and sprinkler system information in case of an incident. 

We are diligent and take the safety of our volunteers, staff and customers seriously. Its nice to know that the Willi FD has our back. 

Thank you Sam Gordon for your generosity many years ago. 

Thank you to the Willimantic Fire Department for keeping us safe. I appreciate your visit and all that you do for our community.

- Susan Hunter, Executive DirectorImage attachment

Comment on Facebook

WAIM does so much for our community. Thank you for all that you do.

This is my favorite charity. I support them and recommend them to everyone. God bless your work.

You’re a wonderful organization! Thank you for all your amazing work!

Great history of WAIM. And a great place to be associated with in my retirement years. Happy 40th!!

Charles Giardino

View more comments

Ramadan, the month-long celebration begins today, March 10, 2024. It commemorates when the Quran was revealed and is a sacred time for the Muslim community. It specifically centers around piety, family, generosity, community, and reflection.

In support, one must first seek to understand the significance of observing Ramadan, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. As a requirement in the Islamic faith, Ramadan is viewed as a holy month during which Muslims participate in consistent prayer, gather in community, engage in self-reflection and abstain from food, water, and tobacco during daylight hours.

Ramadan Mubarak is an Arabic phrase that translates to "blessed Ramadan.”

Ramadan Mubarak to all of our Muslim friends and neighbors!
... See MoreSee Less

Ramadan, the month-long celebration begins today, March 10, 2024. It commemorates when the Quran was revealed and is a sacred time for the Muslim community. It specifically centers around piety, family, generosity, community, and reflection.

In support, one must first seek to understand the significance of observing Ramadan, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. As a requirement in the Islamic faith, Ramadan is viewed as a holy month during which Muslims participate in consistent prayer, gather in community, engage in self-reflection and abstain from food, water, and tobacco during daylight hours.

Ramadan Mubarak is an Arabic phrase that translates to blessed Ramadan.” 

Ramadan Mubarak to all of our Muslim friends and neighbors!
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