In search for better employment opportunities, Ranju moved to Canada in October 2018 from Dubai, where he had lived for the past 30 years. Thinking back to the moment when he was headed to the airport, Ranju recalls, “I left with nothing more than a small suitcase, a few documents and a whole lot of hope.”
Ranju and a friend were able to secure an apartment after a month of looking, but lacked the financial resources to furnish their space. At times, Ranju felt completely alone, with no family or friends to lean on for help, it was a really challenging time. 6 months passed (November to May) and Ranju continued to live with nothing more than a mattress and a few Ikea chairs. He was at a loss and didn’t know that there were resources like Furniture Banks to help. It was through the Learning Enrichment Foundation that Ranju was put in touch with Furniture Bank.
When asked about his experience picking furniture in the FB showroom, Ranju recalls, “I didn’t know what to expect when I first set foot in the showroom, but I immediately felt comfortable and welcomed by the staff. The woman who helped my friend and I was like our own personal shopper. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m terrible with design and matching decor so having someone there to make suggestions and help us pick items that matched was really touching. It was these extra touches that made the experience so memorable.”
Thinking back to the day his furniture was delivered and set up throughout his apartment, Ranju says, “to have a full house brings a lot of good change to your life.” Coming from a place where you have no family around to support you, Furniture Bank steps in and almost feels like your family.
“The whole experience really touched me and motivated me to return the favour as soon as I could. […] Experiencing help from an organization like Furniture Bank who does so much good for the community unlocked a sense of purpose in life that I hadn’t experienced before.”
Ranju explains what it’s like to be able to give back to an organization that gave him a fresh start, “Being a FB donor comes from a place of thankfulness and purposeful living. I know that for as long as I can, I will always support Furniture Bank. In sharing my story, I’m proud and really happy to be a part of Furniture Bank’s reach to the community. I feel thankful knowing that my story might inspire donations that will help others who are in more desperate need than I once was.”
I now work in Technical Sales for a company in the Construction Industry. I like to take nature walks and run long distances in my spare time.
