Furniture Bank of Central Ohio
Who We Are: We are a unique and collaborative local organization on a mission to reduce the impact of poverty by providing furniture to central Ohio families struggling with severe life challenges. We believe that furniture is the setting for life’s most important moments. It’s where critical conversations happen. Where impromptu moments cause laughter. And where families make strides towards independence. Supported by our 75+ social service and faith-based partners, over 2,000 volunteers, and nearly 8,000 furniture and financial donors, we help turn empty houses into furnished homes of hope for 3,200-3,400 local families every single year.
What We Do: Through furniture donations from the community and furniture built in our volunteer woodshop, we provide quality, gently-used furniture to local families struggling with poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, and other crises. On average, we serve between 15 and 24 families and deliver over 300 pieces of furniture daily. With a goal to provide them with a personalized and dignified experience, our families typically visit the Furniture Bank to hand-select 5 to 20 pieces of furniture to fill their home such as beds, couches, dressers, tables, chairs, and other items and have it delivered the same day.
Why We’re Important: Although COVID-19 will subside, poverty and homelessness among our community’s families will not. Too many families and their children live in houses void of warm beds, cozy couches, and even kitchen tables. We try to change that. Through our furniture provision programs, local families in need receive an average $1,500 value in furniture and delivery services - an expense that is otherwise out of reach for the 86% of families we serve who make less than $18,000 per year. Their resources can then be used on other essentials such as housing, food, medicine, and schooling in order to achieve independence.
How We Impact the Community: Furniture is such an impactful resource for families. It can increase positive outcomes for mental health, childhood development, school achievement, and chronic health issues. It also directly contributes to greater residential stability by giving families the basic comforts and tools essential to everyday life. The Furniture Bank also helps stabilize the living situations of families impacted by poverty so they can address the underlying issues related to their life circumstances, allowing them to gain their independence and achieve self-sufficiency. Additionally, our donation services eliminate nearly 400 tractor-trailers of waste from the central Ohio landfill.
How You Can Help: We thrive on acts of kindness from the central Ohio community. To join our effort to turn empty houses into homes and ensure every child has a bed to call their own, you can:
Volunteer in our woodshop! Build and paint tables and more for local families in need.
Donate furniture! Give your spare mattress or dining set a second chance with a family in need.
Invest in our mission! All it takes is a donation of $250 to provide an entire houseful of furniture to a family in need. To join us, visit furniturebankcoh.org/get-involved or call 614-272-9544.
Connect with Furniture Bank of Central Ohio
118 S Yale Ave
Columbus, OH 43222
614.272.9544
Executive Director: Steve Votaw
Email: info@furniturebankcoh.org
Development Director: Christine Mills
Email: cmills@furniturebankcoh.org
Board Chair: Patrick Bennett
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