A teenager's idea. A community's impact.
Carry Forward was founded by Nesli Zurel, a sophomore at Vista Ridge High School, to solve the last mile problem: connecting people who have household items to give with families who need them.
The gap isn't scarcity — it's coordination and transportation. By using teen coordinators for logistics and volunteer movers for the heavy lifting, Carry Forward closes that gap. What started as one chapter is now expanding across cities.
Nesli Zurel
Founder & Executive Director · Sophomore, Vista Ridge High School
Why Carry Forward Exists
The idea for Carry Forward came from a simple observation: households have items they no longer need — furniture, appliances, household goods — families rebuilding their lives desperately need those same items, and the only thing standing in the way is coordination.
Traditional solutions require warehouses, staff, overhead, and operating budgets. But what if there was a better way? What if items could move directly from donor to recipient, with volunteer movers bridging the distance and teen coordinators handling the logistics?
That's exactly what Nesli built. Carry Forward is a coordination platform, not a moving company or a warehouse. Every move is direct. Every participant is a volunteer. Every chapter is led by a teenager.
It works because it's simple, transparent, and built on trust. And it scales because the model can be replicated in any city where a motivated teen coordinator wants to make a difference.
The Teen-Led Model
Every Carry Forward chapter follows the same principles: teen leadership, adult support, and direct impact.
Teen Coordinators Lead
High school students manage logistics, match donations to requests, and coordinate moves. They never do heavy lifting.
Adults Volunteer
Community members with trucks volunteer as movers. They choose which moves to accept and provide the transportation.
Partners Refer Recipients
Social service organizations refer families in need. This ensures dignity, privacy, and accountability.
Zero Overhead
No warehouse, no staff, no storage. Items move directly from donor to recipient in a single trip.