Our Team
Our amazing and dedicated team, of 24 people, hails from 10 countries. Each brings their own energy and talents to make HandUp an impactful organization
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Rita
Director of Recycling Operations
Rita manages the mattress recycling operations. She is from Chile and, along with her family, is eagerly exploring all that the South coast area of MA has to offer.
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Isabel
Director of Upcycling
Isabel leads our upcycling/resale efforts. She is full of energy and great ideas. Isabel is from Chile and settled in the New Bedford area with her family.
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Bereniz
Dispatch Manager
Bereniz is at the heart of HandUp. She schedules all the pickups and drop offs and now knows where all the towns are located in Massachusetts.
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Aghostinho
Mattress Deconstructor
Aghostinho is originally from Guinea Bissau and has the most experience deconstructing mattresses and can take down a pile quickly and efficiently.
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Alex
Machine Operator and Driver's Assistant
Alex has learned to operate the steel shearing machine and is quick and efficient. He is also always available to help with deliveries and unloading trucks. He is originally from Guatemala.
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Armando
Machine Operator and Forklift Driver
Armando quietly and diligently operates our steel machine day in and day out. He also loves to drive the forklift whenever he has the chance. He quickly learns and operates each of his jobs efficiently and skillfully. He originally comes from Guatemala.
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Celia
Mattress Sanitizing Operator
Celia is a great assistant to Digna and is learning how to clean and sanitize a mattress so that they will be ready to be resold. She is originally from Ecuador and lives with her family in Fall River. -
Cirilo
Driver
Cirilo is the driver that goes anywhere, anytime the need arises - no matter how narrow the street or confusing the directions. Originally from Guatemala, Cirilo somehow finds the energy and play soccer on this time off.
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Digna
Mattress Sanitizing Operator
Digna is a master at cleaning and sanitizing mattresses to give them a second life. She is constantly looking at how we can improve our approach, and her attention to detail is so appreciated. She is originally from Honduras and is the proud mother of three wonderful children.
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Domingo
Forklift Driver & Driver
Domingo began his work as a driver's assistant and has consistently moved up the ranks to an expert forklift driver and Driver. He hails from Guatemala and continues to impress with his willingness to learn and grow.
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Edu
Mattress Deconstructor
Edu works quietly and efficiently deconstructs mattresses day in and day out and always has a smile to brighten up the room. Edu is originally from Cape Verde but calls New Bedford home.
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Gabriel
Machine Operator
Gabriel is always singing and smiling. He is the first one to offer to help and is our resident jack of all trades doing whatever is needed around the factory. He is originally from Senegal.
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Jared
Driving Assistant/Machine Operator/Salesperson
Jared has been helping as a Driving Assistant and a Machine Operator and is filling in wherever he is needed. He also sells mattresses at the store on the weekend. He brings enthusiasm and dedication to his career.
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Juan
Driver
Juan is always ready to do whatever is needed while out collecting mattresses or in the facility. He is originally from Guatemala and lives with his family in New Bedford.
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Julia
Mattress Deconstructor
Julia is the heart of the mattress deconstructing operations, and she has learned to spot a tricky mattress a mile away. She hails from El Salvador and is heavily involved in many community groups and activities, including community gardening.
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Lucely
Mattress Deconstructor & Machine Operator
Lucy has slowly been learning and advancing at many jobs in the factory. She is enthusiastic and is great at trying new things. She is originally from Guatemala and lives with her family in New Bedford.
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Michael
Driver's Assistant
Michael is dependable, hardworking, and consistent. He is a New Bedford native. Michael is out on the truck each and every day helping to pick up mattresses from all corners of the state.
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Nestor
Driver
Nestor is always the first person to arrive at work and is a consistent and dependable driver. He is originally from Puerto Rico but has lived in Massachusetts for many years.
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Olga
Mattress Deconstructor and Driver's Assistant
Olga is a quick learner and a hard worker. She enjoys working alongside her sister deconstructing mattresses but also is the first to offer help to the drivers. She always has a smile on her face. She is originally from El Salvador but calls New Bedford home. -
Vania
Mattress Deconstructor
Vania is quick and efficient at taking apart mattresses. She is originally from Cape Verde but calls Fall River home. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and exercising -
Walter
Driver's Assistant
Walter is originally from Guatemala and now calls New Bedford home. He is a great help to the driver's when they go out to pick up mattresses to be recycled as well as deliveries from our store. He is always available to help out when asked. -
Yuri
Driver Assistant & Machine Operator
Yuri has jumped in to take on two important jobs. He helps on the trucks doing pickups and deliveries and has also learned how to operate a few of the machines. He is originally from Cape Verde and lives in New Bedford.