09/29/2024
WESTCHESTER COUNTY CARES: The local organization that has been quietly helping to offer dignity to those trying to make ends meet in trying circumstances is taking a breath to celebrate some remarkable accomplishments since its inception 18 years ago.
HARRISON, NY: Furniture Sharehouse said it has officially served 18,000 clients and distributed 100,000 items of furniture, or about $6 million worth, given away for free to those in need.
Furniture Sharehouse is Westchester County’s first and only only furniture bank. The group said it is recognizing the major milestones in helping furnish struggling homes as evidence of the organization’s impact as well as the continued need in Westchester County.
"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, domestic violence," Furniture Sharehouse Director Kate Bialo said.
"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. Our institutional milestones reflect the continued need in the community and the incredible generosity of our furniture and financial donors, member agencies, and volunteers."
Since 2007, Furniture Sharehouse has provided free furniture to the economically disadvantaged and families living in Westchester County. Furniture Sharehouse connects donations of gently used furniture from local residents with those living in furniture poverty.
By connecting used furniture with those in need, the group notes, Furniture Sharehouse keeps thousands of pounds of bulk out of the waste stream.
Requests for furniture for families and those struggling to afford to furnish empty homes has increased by 30 percent in just the last year alone. Furniture Sharehouse furnishes between 8 to 12 homes per week and also raises funds to purchase brand new children’s beds, cribs, and bedding through its annual Beds for Kids campaign.
Furniture Sharehouse celebrated its 18,000th client and 100,000th item of furniture with mini-celebrations at its warehouse earlier in the summer, and will mark its $6 million worth of furniture milestone in the form of a stunning contemporary furniture vignette which will be raffled off in a special drawing for the organization’s nearly 50 member service agencies.
One lucky agency will win the entire vignette including sofa, cabinets, coffee table, to give to a client of their choosing.
The drawing will be held in a special event on September 24, at the warehouse located at the Westchester County Airport.
