A question we are asked almost daily is around the furnishing items – what we accept for donation and what we don’t – and why not.
Our mission is to help marginalized and displaced individuals and families escape furniture poverty. We do this by making available the essential items needed to turn empty housing into a home.
What do we mean by essential? Well, think about all of the things you needed when you got your first apartment: tables, chairs, a sofa, perhaps a bookshelf, a mattress, dressers, etc. And then, there was all the stuff you needed to outfit your kitchen: plates, cutlery, cooking utensils, pots and pans, and so forth.
Here are three things we consider when evaluating a potential donation:
- Is the item in good condition? All donated items MUST be in good, useable condition – free from stains, tears, odours or major damage.
- Is the piece free-standing, assembled, and shorter than 6′? In the large majority of cases, our clients are moving into smaller apartments. Many also do not own tools – or may not be aware of, live near to, or can afford a tool library membership. We want to make it as easy as possible for them to move in, set up their space, and get back on their feet with furniture that fits their home and does not need assembly.
- Is it something our families need? While we’d love to accept all donations, our mission is to provide our clients with the essential items needed to create a home. As such, we don’t accept things like sports equipment or musical instruments. For safety/liability reasons, we also don’t accept items for babies and infants, such as cribs or strollers.
Click here to see the full list of items we accept, as well as a list of organizations that might take the things we don’t.
