A Walpole furniture bank is helping people furnish new starts and helping local students develop life skills.New Life Furniture Bank is volunteer-led and run. The nonprofit organization accepts new or gently used furniture and household goods. It then provides those items to people transitioning from shelters, escaping domestic violence, those who are victims of fire, and more.Executive director Richard Purnell said the need is great.”Unfortunately, as we serve 800, our waitlist (is) over a thousand,” Purnell said. “We’re just trying to make sure we serve everybody who is coming to us with the need.”Every Wednesday morning, students from Clifford Academy at the Home for Little Wanderers, a therapeutic school that serves young people who have experienced trauma, volunteer at the furniture bank.JoAnn McDade is the vocational coordinator at Clifford Academy. She said the volunteer work provides the students with opportunities to learn and give back.”Most of these students haven’t had any experience out in the community with jobs,” McDade said. “We try to give them skills that they can take from school to work…things like flexibility, relationships, teamwork.”Furniture recipients are referred to New Life by partner agencies, including the Home for Little Wanderers. They select the items they want online, and the students fulfill the orders by finding the items and preparing them for pickup.Amanda Hartley, the volunteer and development coordinator at the furniture bank, helps to oversee the students as they work.”They come in, they’re energized, they’re excited to learn what they’re going to be doing,” she said. “We always try to ensure that we switch up the tasks and give them the opportunity to lead the way and use their best judgment as a team.””Some of these students have experienced homelessness themselves, or they know that they’re at risk,” McDade said. “So, for them to be able to say, ‘Wow, I’m helping someone that is coming out of homelessness,’ it makes them feel good.”Find more information about volunteering at New Life Furniture or donating items here.
A Walpole furniture bank is helping people furnish new starts and helping local students develop life skills.
New Life Furniture Bank is volunteer-led and run. The nonprofit organization accepts new or gently used furniture and household goods. It then provides those items to people transitioning from shelters, escaping domestic violence, those who are victims of fire, and more.
Executive director Richard Purnell said the need is great.
“Unfortunately, as we serve 800, our waitlist (is) over a thousand,” Purnell said. “We’re just trying to make sure we serve everybody who is coming to us with the need.”
Every Wednesday morning, students from Clifford Academy at the Home for Little Wanderers, a therapeutic school that serves young people who have experienced trauma, volunteer at the furniture bank.
JoAnn McDade is the vocational coordinator at Clifford Academy. She said the volunteer work provides the students with opportunities to learn and give back.
“Most of these students haven’t had any experience out in the community with jobs,” McDade said. “We try to give them skills that they can take from school to work…things like flexibility, relationships, teamwork.”
Furniture recipients are referred to New Life by partner agencies, including the Home for Little Wanderers. They select the items they want online, and the students fulfill the orders by finding the items and preparing them for pickup.
Amanda Hartley, the volunteer and development coordinator at the furniture bank, helps to oversee the students as they work.
“They come in, they’re energized, they’re excited to learn what they’re going to be doing,” she said. “We always try to ensure that we switch up the tasks and give them the opportunity to lead the way and use their best judgment as a team.”
“Some of these students have experienced homelessness themselves, or they know that they’re at risk,” McDade said. “So, for them to be able to say, ‘Wow, I’m helping someone that is coming out of homelessness,’ it makes them feel good.”
Find more information about volunteering at New Life Furniture or donating items here.
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