In its 18th year, Westchester County’s only furniture bank celebrates the impact of its donors, volunteers and community partners
WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. — September 4, 2024 — Furniture Sharehouse announced today that, in its 18th year of operation, the organization has officially served 18,000 clients, distributed 100,000 items of furniture and provided more than $6 million worth of furniture free of charge to Westchester residents in need.
These milestones highlight both Furniture Sharehouse’s impact throughout the county and the continued need among individuals and families struggling with furniture poverty.
“We take great pride and happiness in knowing that we have helped so many of our Westchester neighbors rebuild their lives after overcoming dire personal circumstances like homelessness, natural disaster and domestic violence,” said Kate Bialo, Executive Director of Furniture Sharehouse. “Furniture poverty is a discouraging and draining way to live, affecting self-esteem, productivity and mental health for adults and their children. Furniture provides the building blocks to start a new life after personal hardship.”
Bialo added that the milestones also reflect the extraordinary generosity of Furniture Sharehouse’s furniture and financial donors, member agencies and volunteers.
Since 2007, Furniture Sharehouse has provided free furniture to economically disadvantaged individuals and families throughout Westchester County. The organization connects donations of gently used furniture from local residents and businesses with neighbors who would otherwise be unable to furnish their homes.
By keeping usable furniture in circulation, Furniture Sharehouse also prevents thousands of pounds of bulky household items from entering the waste stream.
The Need Continues to Grow
Requests for furniture from families and individuals struggling to furnish empty homes have increased by 30% in the past year alone.
Furniture Sharehouse currently furnishes approximately 8 to 12 homes each week. The organization also raises funds to purchase new children’s beds, cribs and bedding through its annual Beds for Kids campaign.
For many clients, access to basic furniture means much more than having a place to sit or sleep. Beds, tables, chairs, dressers and other household essentials can help transform an empty apartment into a comfortable and dignified home.
Celebrating the Milestones
Furniture Sharehouse celebrated its 18,000th client and 100,000th item of furniture with mini-celebrations at its warehouse earlier this summer.
The organization will recognize its $6 million furniture milestone with a special contemporary furniture vignette that will be raffled among Furniture Sharehouse’s nearly 50 member service agencies.
One winning agency will receive the entire vignette to provide to a client of its choosing.
The drawing will take place during a special event on September 24 at the Furniture Sharehouse warehouse at Westchester County Airport.