Apply for a grant

Illness or injury

To assist associates or immediate family member (limited to spouse/domestic partner or dependents) who have encountered financial hardships for reasons beyond their control (illness or injury) with household expenses or travel expenses to appointments.

Note:
Staples Cause for Caring does not provide funding for medical bills.

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Qualifying expense

• Past due rent or mortgage
• Past due basic utilities
• Travel expenses to attend appointments

Required documentation

• Medical leave documentation or FMLA form (if applicable)
• Doctor’s note documenting dates associate was not able to work
• Itemized medical bill statement to prove illness/injury occurred
• Documentation of time off from work due to medical reasons
• Travel receipts to attend appointments

Funeral

Available to assist those who have incurred the loss of an associate, immediate family member or relative if the associate is financially responsible for arrangements. Associate must be able to prove that they are financially responsible or contributed to the expenses. An associate’s spouse/domestic partner may apply for assistance in the event of an associate’s death.

Note:
Staples Cause for Caring does not provide funding for medical bills.

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Qualifying expense

• Essential funeral expenses for deceased family member
• Travel expenses to attend the funeral or to make funeral arrangements
• Past due rent or mortgage
• Past due basic utility bills

Required documentation

• Itemized funeral invoice or estimate
• Proof of the death of relative (death certificate or obituary)
• Transportation receipts showing cost and date of travel to funeral or travel to make arrangements
• Copy of past due bills

Natural disaster

Associate’s primary residence is severely damaged, destroyed or rendered unlivable by a localized natural disaster (fire, flood, tornado, hurricane, ice/wind/snowstorm, mudslide, etc.) or federally/state-declared natural disaster or terrorist attack, or associate is displaced from home and forced to pay for alternative housing.

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Qualifying expense

• Uninsured/underinsured needed repairs to primary residence
• Security deposit (or other move in fees) to move into a new residence
• Emergency housing (if needed)
• Past due rent or mortgage
• Past due basic utilities
• Food
• Necessary items lost due to event

Required documentation

• Insurance report of damages or current insurance declaration page
• Proof of deductible amount from insurance company
• Insurance decision (e.g., amount awarded by insurance, denial of coverage)
• Itemized contractor quote showing amount needed to make repairs to primary residence
• Fire report from local fire department or other proof of fire
• Statement from community organization assisting associate (e.g., American Red Cross, fire/police department, shelter, etc.)
• Provide images of the damage to primary residence
• Copy of past due bills or travel expenses
• Copy of grocery/food receipts

Unemployment

Loss of a spouse’s job or associate’s second job due to a layoff or company closure within the past 6 months. Excludes Staples’ employment or reduction in hours.

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Qualifying expense

• Past due rent or mortgage
• Past due basic utilities

Required documentation

• Copy of the termination letter with date and reason of termination or paperwork from unemployment office showing date and reason of separation
• Copy of past due bills

Housing assistance

Associates in need of new housing due to:

• Rental unit/home condemned or deemed uninhabitable due to unsafe living conditions.
• Unforeseen sale/foreclosure of a home rented from a private landlord and the associate is forced to find new residence with less than 30 days’ notice (foreclosure of a home owned by the associate does not fit this circumstance).
• Preventing homelessness – extreme situations only where an associate received an official court order and on the verge of eviction with less than 30 days’ notice to vacate.

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Qualifying expense

• Security deposit or other move in fees to move into a new residence
• Past due rent or mortgage (if applicable)

Required documentation

Note: Associates requesting assistance as a result of the sale or foreclosure on their rented residence are required to submit proof of the sale or foreclosure including:

• Complete the New Tenant/Temporary Housing Statement
• Inspection report or other documentation showing how the home is uninhabitable
• Foreclosure notice from the landlord or owner of the rented property
• Documentation showing the property is for sale
• Current lease or proof of address
• Copy of eviction notice
• Copy of court order

Domestic abuse

Associate in unsafe home environment and is need of new housing.

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Qualifying expense

• Security deposit or other move in fees to move into new residence
• Temporary housing if needed

Required documentation

• Police report or restraining order documenting the abuse
• New landlord/temporary housing statement
• Copy of past due bills

Military deployment

Associate, immediate family member or spouse/domestic partner who has encountered financial hardships after being deployed.

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Qualifying expense

• Rent or mortgage
• Other bills where assistance is needed

Required documentation

• Copy of deployment orders
• Copy of basic utility bills
• Copy of rent/mortgage statement