Posted on Monday, December 2nd, 2013 by Danny Rosenberg
The Urban Ministry of Durham and a top advertising agency came together to make Names for Change, a creative way to fight homelessness in North Carolina.
At Names for Change you can buy the naming rights to items that are associated with food, shelter, and future for the homeless. At first impression, the idea is a bit silly; who cares if their name is a associated with a bookcase, a sugar packet, or an apron? 
These are just ordinary items around the offices of the Urban Ministry of Durham. But it’s actually quite clever. They have created an unconventional incentive to encourage donations without having anything tangible to offer in return. The homepage for Names of Change also includes short, but gripping recordings of clients of the shelters and pantries. I can’t afford naming the new ward of the hospital, but a winter coat is also a deserving namesake.
