For the 100 families in the pilot stage of a new, focused Beyond Housing initiative, cleaning the floors in their rental homes will soon be easier. Local manufacturer Riccar Vacuums has made an in-kind donation of 200 vacuum cleaners valued at $149,798.
“We love supporting the communities where we live and work. Partnering with a St. Louis-based organization like Beyond Housing felt like a natural fit—especially knowing we could help families and individuals maintain cleaner, healthier homes,” said Erin VanTrease, Vice President of Product for Riccar.
Health outcomes—along with housing, education, transportation, personal finance, and employment—are key components of the Beyond Housing model for strengthening families and creating lasting change. The donated vacuums have highly effective filtration that is beneficial for those with asthma and other respiratory challenges.
“Riccar’s HEPA vacuums meet the HEPA filtration standard of 99.97% efficiency at .3 microns, meaning they capture common household pollutants like pollen, bacteria, pet dander, dust, and mold,” VanTrease said. “We also use charcoal and self-sealing bags, which help trap odors and reduce harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds). All of that adds up to a cleaner, healthier indoor environment—something we care deeply about.”
A new focus on coordinated service delivery
Beyond Housing Gift Officer Nico Krehmeyer, who helped coordinate Riccar’s generous donation, is excited about the evolution of Beyond Housing’s holistic approach to increase economic mobility for residents of its rental housing.
Beyond Housing’s commitment to holistic support has long been central to its work. “What is evolving is how that support is delivered,” Krehmeyer explained. “Rather than spreading services broadly across the community, we are now focusing more intensively on a cohort of 100 families in our affordable rental homes—providing more coordinated, consistent, and measurable support across housing, health, education, personal finance, and employment.”
Beyond Housing’s affordable rental homes have always been a stepping stone that helps families attain stability so they can focus on achieving long-term economic independence. Community development research demonstrates that when even 20% of families in a neighborhood achieve greater economic mobility, it sparks a ripple effect that also lifts the residents and businesses around them.
This approach resonated with the team at Riccar. Its privately held parent company, Tacony Corporation, was founded in 1946, is family owned and operated, and now has 300 associates in eight locations around the world. “Tacony prides itself on building long-lasting business relationships that are based on trust and feel like family,” VanTrease said.
“We’re strong believers in the power of local business,” she added. “Riccar is committed to supporting independent retailers, and we hope to see the St. Louis small business community continue to thrive and grow in ways that truly serve local residents.”
Krehmeyer also thanked damage cleanup and repair company Servpro for donating the use of its trucks to transport the vacuums to Beyond Housing’s warehouse, where most of them were stored pending distribution. “These high-quality vacuums will help families get started in their new homes on the right foot,” Krehmeyer said. “Beyond Housing tenants take great pride in their homes, and we are excited to provide them with these appliances to keep their surroundings clean and looking great.”
