NW Furniture Bank Programs
After a family has been processed by one of our partner agencies and referred to NW Furniture Bank, they are assigned a date and time to come to our 15,000 square foot warehouse in downtown Tacoma where they are matched with one of our more than 300 volunteers. The volunteer helps them “shop” for the furniture and household items they need to make their new living quarters a real home – often the first real home they have ever had. Each client is charged a $50 processing fee to help instill ownership in their new furnishings. This incredible opportunity is available to each client only once in their lifetime, and we strive to make it an encouraging and life-changing experience for each one.
Most furniture is donated to the NW Furniture Bank from individual homes, remodels of large facilities like hotels or universities, or slightly damaged or out of date inventory from local retailers such as IKEA. In addition to supporting clients from our home base in Tacoma, we also provide furniture for low income people or transitional housing projects in surrounding counties, as well as disaster relief efforts both at home and abroad, such as the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Our dedicated corps of volunteers donate over 1,600 hours annually, and serve a steadily increasing clientele. To date we have provided over 30,000 pieces of furniture valued at close to $2.3 million for over 7,500 families, including 3,800 children.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Need
We have an incredible opportunity to move into a much larger warehouse space that will allow us to develop a furniture thrift store in order to increase revenues to support our services. The property is being offered to us on a lease with a option to purchase, and capital funding will be required over the next three years to pay for the building and remodel it to fit our needs.
Successes
There is a notebook on the counter in the furniture warehouse, and we ask family members to jot down a note and tell us how their experience was and if getting furniture helped them. Here are some responses……..
“My family has been blessed with a household of furniture! We are a family that has survived domestic violence. Now we have a beautiful fresh start.”
“Me and my son appreciate everything! Thank you for making our house a home.”
“This really was a huge blessing for my boys and I. May family and I are really gonna have a home. Thank you all and God bless you all!”
“Everyone is very courteous and hospitable. If there were more places and people such as this place, there would be a lot less needy. Thank you for the experience and for creating a positive memory that will last for years to come.”
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. What a blessing! ……from homelessness and abuse, to safety and a beautiful home because of you. Thank you!”
“Thank you all so very much. This is going to give me and my son a great start on our future. God Bless.”