Krysta Taylor – Client Services Volunteer

What inspired you to volunteer your time?

“A few years ago, my family and I moved homes and we were looking for a place to donate some furniture. After a quick search on the internet, we discovered a place called Furniture Bank.  Here was a solution in which we knew our donation would be put to good use.  Two years ago, when my schedule allowed me to volunteer some time in my week to a charity, the first place I thought of was Furniture Bank.”

Why Furniture Bank?

“For me, Furniture Bank is one of the most important charities for helping people live with dignity. It is not always the case that a person who is immigrating from another country, or a person who is fleeing an abusive situation or a person who was formerly homeless can afford to furnish their new home. Getting started in a new life can be a great challenge. However, they can come into the Furniture Bank and can choose furniture to fill their whole house for a delivery fee of $100-$200. When a client visits Furniture Bank, they most often tell me they have nothing; which means they and their children (!) are sleeping on the floor, eating on the floor, trying to study on the floor surrounded by blank walls and empty spaces. The thought of this emptiness alone is enough to churn my stomach. When we have finished our appointment and we are reviewing a client’s order, it fills me with a sense of relief and happiness knowing that in 2 days, these people in front me will no longer be sleeping on the floor or eating their meals on the floor. They can gather around their new dinner table and enjoy a family meal. Their children can sit at a desk and learn. They can all gather on their new sofa and relax together. All of these things that most people take for granted. Once they have a house filled with furniture, they can move onto the next phase of living their new life.”

What does home mean to you?

“A home is a safe place to be with your family and friends. A home is a place to eat, sleep, gather together or a place to be a sanctuary from the outside world. Having the very basic need of furniture turns a house into a home.”

Share this post:

British Columbia
Furniture Bank

HomeStart Foundation

Sunset, Vancouver, BC
HomeStart Foundation is a non-profit Christian humanitarian organization helping people re-establish a home. Working in partnership with over 70 member agencies, we give donated home furnishings to people in need.

Read More »
Furniture Bank and IKEA Logos
Learning Centre
Furniture Bank

Big thank you to IKEA Canada!

Big thank you to IKEA Canada! Just before closing their Etobicoke store, we worked together to bring 21 customer returned mattresses to Furniture Bank for immediate

Read More »
British Columbia
Furniture Bank

Shelter To Home

3255 Edgemont Boulevard, North Vancouver, BC V7R 2P1
We’re providing furniture and household items to people on the North Shore transitioning from homelessness to independent living.

Read More »
Alberta
Furniture Bank

Women In Need Society (WINS)

137, 7007 54th St SE (Bay 26), Calgary, AB T2C 3C2
Women in Need Society (WINS) is an award winning not-for-profit organization and Calgary based shopping alternative investing in the social wellbeing of community.

Read More »
Furniture Bank Directory
Furniture Bank

Home Again

Division No. 1, Subd. D, NL
Home Again Furniture Bank is a nonprofit organization that provides gently-used furniture and household items to individuals and families in need. We work through a referral system of local agencies to help end furniture poverty.

Read More »
Furniture Bank Directory
Furniture Bank

Oyate Tipi Cumini Yape

606 Selkirk Ave, Winnipeg, MB R2W 2N1
Oyate Tipi is a non-profit organization located in Winnipeg which accepts donations of gently used household goods and furniture. All items are then distributed to women and children who are trying to better themselves by escaping poverty and/or abusive situations.

Read More »
Furniture Bank Directory
Furniture Bank

Matthew House Ottawa

340 Legget Drive Door #53, Kanata, ON K2K 1Y6
Matthew House Ottawa is a faith-based, volunteer-driven, charitable organization that helps Ottawa’s marginalized population to establish connected, safe, healthy, and dignified homes within our community.

Read More »
Furniture Bank Directory
Furniture Bank

Furniture Bank

25 Connell Ct, Etobicoke, ON M8Z 1E7
Canada’s largest operating Furniture Bank. Established in 1998, Furniture Bank is a Toronto based charity and social enterprise that transfers gently used furniture and household goods donated by individuals & corporations, to people in need of a fresh start.

Read More »
Featured Insights
Dan Kershaw

Looking back, moving forward…

As I embark upon my 10th year with Furniture Bank and commemorate our 25 years of commitment to the community, I’m thrilled to look back on our

Read More »
Articles & Research
Furniture Bank

How AI Art Works?

How we created AI photos of poverty without harming those we seek to help Share this page to help us fight furniture poverty: Facebook Twitter

Read More »