Donating Furniture to Charity

Who Needs Donated Furniture?

Millions of people don’t have enough money to buy furniture for their homes.  You can make a difference in people’s lives when you donate furniture to charity.  Make sure your furniture is clean and in good shape before you donate it, so it not only looks nice but especially that it’s safe.  Upholstered furniture needs to be free of rips and stains.  Cushions ought to be in good condition, so they’re comfortable to sit on.  Wooden furniture should have no broken pieces or missing parts.  Most people that receive donated furniture can’t afford to have it cleaned or repaired.

There are many reasons why someone may be homeless such as lack of work or disasters such as fire and floods.  When homeless people are able to move into a home, they usually don’t have any furniture.  You can donate furniture to help them make their home comfortable.  Dressers, sofas, coffee tables, beds, and a kitchen table with chairs are some kinds of furniture they may need.  Most homeless people will be moving into small apartments, so furniture shouldn’t be too large.  Charities to support pregnant women often need furniture for their babies such as bassinets, playpens, changing tables, strollers, and baby carriers.

Victims of domestic violence are often in need of donated furniture.  Most women centers or shelters for abused women accept donated furniture.  Women that have been abused often have to leave their homes quickly and leave furniture and other belongings behind.  One organization called S.A.F.E. for abused women will provide storage for furniture.  You need to deliver your furniture donation to the storage unit.  www.safesherlter.net

Many people live paycheck to paycheck and don’t have money for furniture.  A Furniture Assistance Program called Albany community Action Partnerships Furniture Assistance Program helps provide furniture to low-income families.  The majority of the donated items are given to Albany County residents, but those in need are often referred to the Furniture Assistance Program through other agencies.
http://www.acoi.com/furnitureassistance.html

There are many organizations and charities where you can donate furniture, and they will pick the furniture up for you.  Some places require that you drop your furniture off.  The Salvation Army takes furniture donations.  They have many drop-off centers where you can take your furniture to donate.  Goodwill is another organization that accepts charity furniture donations.  If you deliver the furniture, then drop it off during business hours.  Someone could steal your donation if the site is closed.
Many furniture donations are resold in thrift stores or given directly to the needy.  Thrift stores usually accept donated furniture along with other items.  Not all thrift store sales benefit charities.  The National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops states that only 30% of thrift shops are run by charities.  It’s important to find out who will benefit from your donations.  The BBB Wise Giving Alliance recommends you research and find out more information about the thrift store before you donate furniture or anything else.  Secondhand furniture stores aren’t all registered charities.  Most secondhand furniture stores will post the name of the charity where the profits will go.  Sometimes, the store is run by the charity itself.  Again, do research to find out more information.

Excess Access is a program that serves the US, Canada and beyond.  They link donations of business and household items, such as furniture, to the wish lists of nearby nonprofits.  The nonprofits need to provide pick-ups or accept drop offs. 
http://www.excessaccess.com/

Furniture banks accept donated furniture.  There are many furniture banks.  All you need to do is call and make an appointment.  Tell them you want to donate furniture, and they will send a truck to pick it up.  You’ll be given a tax receipt.  Furniture banks prevent furniture from being thrown away.  It’s a good feeling knowing your furniture is being given to a family that can really use it.

The National Furniture Bank Association is a non-profit organization that represents furniture banks all over the country.  This organization’s work involves increasing the service capacity of existing furniture banks and opening up new furniture banks in areas that need them.  The general public donates furniture to the furniture bank.  The furniture is then distributed to people in need. 

Retailers and manufacturers can get involved by becoming a corporate sponsor of the NFBA public awareness, campaign, called Help1up.  When manufacturers or retailers donate furniture to a furniture bank, the NFBA will alert local televisions and newspaper media.  The benefits include:  consumers receive a tax receipt for donating used home furnishings, and families and children receive needed home furnishings.  Furniture banks are given public awareness and in-kind donation campaigns from the NFBA.  Consumers buy more furniture when they donate their used furniture, which benefits the retailers and manufacturers.  To read more about his look up:
http://wwww.furninfo.com/absolutenm/templates/News.asp?articleid=6185&zoneid=8