Top 5 Reasons to Give Furniture to PFB
Donating to a furniture bank may not seem like a big deal, but it can have immeasurable impact on the people receiving your items. Here are some compelling reasons to consider donating furniture to the Philadelphia Furniture Bank.
P.S. If you can't drop your donation off to our warehouse, our nonprofit junk hauler, Good Haul, will take your donations (and more!), and for less than our competitors!
1. Allowing Choice
One thing that individuals and families experiencing homelessness share is their lack of choice. They have to rely on others for everything: food, clothing, and shelter. They don’t get a say in the style, color, size, flavor, location, or other basic choices that you get to make on a daily basis. Not only can quality furniture make a huge difference in people's lives, but allowing our clients to choose items that fit their personal style, family size, and apartment size allows our clients to reclaim a little bit of their identity. At the Philadelphia Furniture Bank, we provide essential home furnishings to individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness, facing financial hardship, or escaping domestic violence or other crisis situations.
We partner with over 60 member agencies across the city to ensure that the furniture we receive reaches those who need it most.
2. Reducing Waste
Donating furniture prevents it from ending up in landfills, which is an eco-friendly choice. It's estimated that Americans throw out 12 million tons of furniture each year. Donations also promote recycling and a circular economy, which are essential for environmental sustainability. If PFB stumbles across a piece of furniture or other donated item we cannot use, we ensure it is donated to other community partners or recycled properly first.
3. Community Building
Furniture banks strengthen communities by facilitating the redistribution of resources within a specific area. This creates a sense of solidarity and support within the community: neighbors are supporting neighbors while also making economically and environmentally conscious decisions. We take great pride in our warehouse and in providing our clients with quality furniture. All of our items are treated for potential pests, repaired if needed, and in clean and working condition before placed in our showroom to be chosen by members of the community.
4. Freeing Up Space
Donating furniture you no longer need doesn’t just help others – it helps declutter your home and free up space. It can lead to a more organized living environment, a fresh start, and possibly improved mental health. If you're moving to a new home and have furniture you can't take with you, we can speed up your moving process by removing whatever you don't need. Good Haul will sort your items to ensure that everything usable is donated to the Philadelphia Furniture Bank or another partner, and remaining items are recycled.
5. Tax Deductions:
Depending on where you live and the tax laws in your area, donations to furniture banks may be tax-deductible. This can result in potential financial benefits for you. At the Philadelphia Furniture Bank, we can provide tax receipts for the items you donate so you can claim the donation in your tax return.
