Every day, our dedicated Furniture Bank impact teams are hard at work completing pickups and deliveries. In 2022 alone, Furniture Bank successfully delivered an impressive 51,156 furniture items across the GTA. Each donated item holds its own unique story, having lived a life with previous owners.
We understand the sentimental attachment people have to their belongings, making it challenging to part ways. By choosing to become a donor with Furniture Bank, you can give your cherished items a fresh start, knowing that they will find a new home with a family in need, rather than ending up in a landfill. Furniture is one of the least recycled items, and we diverted a remarkable 744 tonnes of furniture from local landfills in 2022, redirecting each piece to the homes of our clients.
The revenue generated through our pickup service plays a vital role in enabling us to redistribute furniture to those who truly need it. Just last year, we were able to support over 5,550 individuals, each of whom will create beautiful, new memories with their carefully selected furniture.
Our donor's story
We had the opportunity to interview a donor who hired Furniture Bank to remove furniture and other belongings from their aunt’s apartment in a senior residence. This was not the first time Claire had used Furniture Bank’s service; in fact, she’s hired us multiple times over the years. The items in question were not easily removable, and she was more than willing to pay for Furniture Bank’s assistance. Her decision was driven by the assurance that she wouldn’t risk injury attempting to move the items and the knowledge that her loved one’s possessions would find a new home where they would be appreciated. As a registered charity, Furniture Bank also provides our donors with tax receipts for their charitable contributions.
Why choose Furniture Bank?
Driven by the desire to make a positive impact on society and the environment, Claire’s motivation stemmed from her daughter’s career in environmental engineering, and the significance of offering assistance and support.
Our daughter is an environmental engineer, and she has driven home how much people throw into landfills. This is perfectly good furniture—why are we throwing it in landfills when it can help somebody. I'm not sure who exactly will end up with this furniture, but there are a lot of people who need help. My aunt was an immigrant, and everybody appreciates a hand up. It's very hard when you have nothing, and we're all the children of immigrants."
Why donate instead of selling?
Claire expressed her reluctance to engage in the selling process amidst her numerous responsibilities related to her aunt’s estate. Instead, she preferred that the furniture be donated to a worthy cause that aligned with her values.
“I'm not in it to make money on the deal. I have to get rid of it—I'm the executor of my aunt's estate. I don't want to deal with selling, but I also don't want to see it junked.”
Convenient pick-up service
Claire didn’t have to concern herself with the logistics of moving the furniture out of the apartment; instead, she could sit back as the Furniture Bank team took care of all the heavy lifting.
“It seemed like a good option for us,” she says. “Most people are not movers, these are big guys, and they have the equipment. I don’t want to risk my back, I don’t know what I’m doing. They can safely remove the furniture.” She believed that the services provided were of great value, justifying the cost.
“It’s a service, and for any service you have to pay, you go to the restaurant and they don't give you the food for free.”
A sofa filled with memories
Claire cherished the nostalgic moments of sitting on this specific piece of furniture with her family, as well as the precious visits with her aunt.
“I’ve sat on this sofa how many times… the whole family has sat on this couch, the design is fantastic, very comfortable to snooze on… you can use two parts of it, three parts of it and move it around how you like.”
Watch the journey of our donor's sofa...
Do you have unwanted furniture that you’re unsure what to do with? Booking a pick-up with Furniture Bank is simple. By donating your furniture, you can become a homing hero just like Claire and help us transform empty spaces into welcoming homes.
