Off the Floor volunteers deliver furniture to a family in need.-DID YOU KNOW?
By Tara Yilmaz
→ Did you know there’s a non-profit organization that provides Pittsburgh-area families and individuals with free furniture? Off the Floor Pittsburgh Furniture Bank is a faith-based volunteer ministry that believes furniture is an important part of every home. Furniture makes a house a home, just as much as the people who live there.
→ Did you know furniture poverty is when any person lacks the financial means to furnish a home? Being without a bed to sleep on, a sofa to sit on, or a table to eat at can deeply affect a person’s ability to get a restful night’s sleep and make it difficult to do homework, or even enjoy a meal.
Not having a sofa or chairs in a home to entertain family and friends can lead to social isolation and feelings of shame or despair. Suffering from furniture poverty comes with harmful emotional, physical and financial consequences.
→ Did you know almost every daily activity people perform is centered around a piece of furniture? From completing schoolwork at a desk or dinner table, to watching television on a sofa, cooking and eventually sleeping, everything revolves around furniture.
→ Did you know since 2004, Off the Floor Pittsburgh Furniture Bank has helped thousands of families in Pittsburgh, surrounding counties, and the neighborhoods of Sheraden, Elliott, McKees Rocks, Carnegie and the West End create comfortable homes to thrive in? In 2021, Off the Floor delivered 3,847 pieces of furniture and served 769 individuals. The people Off the Floor serve with furniture donations include families living in poverty, single mothers and their children transitioning because of domestic violence, individuals who are forced to relocate under a rapid rehousing program due to tragic circumstances such as fire, young people aging out of the foster care system and new immigrants who come to Pittsburgh with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
→ Did you know Off the Floor accepts generous donations from the community? Supporters who donate new or gently used furniture enable Off the Floor to continue its mission of ending furniture poverty. Every donation will help transform a house into a successful home. Off the Floor is consistently seeking monetary and furniture donations or volunteer time to help move the organization forward.
→ Did you know Off the Floor is always looking for either individuals or teams of volunteers who are available during the week to help organize the warehouse, clean furniture and stage items for the next delivery? Off the Floor received less funding this year, and is aiming to help 600 households, 169 fewer than last year.
→ Did you know on Oct. 15, Off the Floor Pittsburgh Furniture Bank will host its inaugural “There’s No Place Like Home” fundraiser to benefit Pittsburgh area residents? The fundraiser will be held at the Pittsburgh Presbytery, 901 Allegheny Ave., North Side. Tickets are available for purchase on eventbrite.com.
For more information on Off the Floor Pittsburgh Furniture Bank, visit offthefloorpgh.org or on Facebook.