Earlier in his high school career, Bishop Connolly senior Matt Diniz was faced with the task of completing 60 hours of community service.

Through the school, he got involved with My Brother’s Keeper, a Christian charity with locations in Dartmouth and Easton that supplies furniture, food, and other services to those in need free of charge in southeastern Massachusetts.

“Initially, I thought, ‘I gotta get my 60 hours and get out,’” said Diniz, 19, “but once I started coming, I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Now I plan on making it a long-term commitment.”

The 501(c)(3) non-profit was started 28 years ago by husband and wife Jim and Terry Orcutt in the basement of their Taunton home. From there, a location was built in Easton, and in 2013, one was added in Dartmouth. In April of this year, representatives of My Brother’s Keeper delivered the 1,000th piece of furniture out of the Dartmouth facility to a local family in need.

“We didn’t think it would happen until next spring,” said Josh Smith, director of the Dartmouth facility. “The credit goes to all our volunteers.”

The organization relies on donations from the community and sends crews of employees and volunteers to pick up furniture and other donations from those who have reached out.

Between the two facilities, the organization employs 11 full-time workers, but Smith said that community support has helped the organization succeed in providing support — whether it’s in the form of pots and pans, bedroom sets, and refrigerators or things like Christmas assistance and help with heating costs.

“There really is an ethic of volunteerism on the South Coast,” said Smith. “I’ve found that people are really committed to the community.”

Smith said that over 800 volunteers have passed through the Dartmouth facility since it’s opened, including groups of more than 600 students from schools such as Bishop Stang and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

“That’s really how we’ve been able to help so many people,” said Smith. “It’s been a great experience for these students. It’s very eye opening.”

“It’s been a great location,” added Smith. “It’s halfway through Fall River and New Bedford, which is where a lot of our services are needed.”

State Trooper Paul Martin said that he got his start volunteering as a student about seven years ago at Bridgewater State University. After some time off from volunteering to pursue his career, he noticed the facility had opened in Dartmouth, and since then, he’s been putting in about a day’s worth of work a week.

“I saw it in the paper, and I decided to come down. Since then, you can’t keep me away from here,” he said. “The joy people get seeing us come through their door — some of them are sleeping on the floor — it’s great to give them some of the things that most of us take for granted.”

Though it’s an organization rooted in Christian faith, Smith said one doesn’t have to be religious to be involved or get assistance.

“It’s unique,” he said. “There are no prerequisites for service. Anyone is eligible. We’ve been able to help all sorts of families.”

For more information, to volunteer or to make a donation, visit www.mybrotherskeeper.org or call 508-238-7572 (Easton) or 774-305-4577 (Dartmouth).