Toronto's 1-800-Rid-Of-It junk removal, in partnership with The Furniture Bank, will be holding a Housewarming Drive to collect furniture for less-fortunate families across the city next week.
With the lagging economy and ongoing lack of affordable housing translating into heightened demand, especially from families with children, organizers are hoping the drive will provide enough furniture to accommodate three homes.
"Once people are housed, the question is, do they buy a used easy chair or groceries and continue sleeping on their clothes?" said Sean Lockhart, resource development manager for The Furniture Bank. "We know demand is up, times are definitely worse, which is why we've made this appeal."
The Furniture Bank, which works with 40 agencies across the GTA including the Salvation Army and YWCA to provide basic furnishings, has seen a 40 per cent increase this year in the number of people seeking household goods. In the first four months of 2009 the agency provided more than $400,000 worth of furniture (based on thrift store pricing) to people in need, a 44 per cent increase over last year.
Some items, such as kitchen sets, sofas, easy chairs and dressers, are needed more than others, although the agency generally accepts any household items except large appliances, which are already provided to their clients by housing agencies.
"When our clients come through the system or come out of the shelter, they literally have nothing," Lockhart said, citing the need for sheets, towels, dish ware, microwaves and everything including paintings or household knick knacks. "Anything you would need to make a house a home, that's what we need."
The Housewarming Drive, which organizers hope to make an annual event, is appealing to residents of West Toronto to come forward and donate any gently used furniture or housewares they aren't using.
"We know from pickups and talking with customers that there are loads of old dressers and chairs collecting dust," said Mike McKee, president of 1-800-Rid-Of-It. "It's time to give them a better use."
The drive will be held Wednesday and Thursday, July 22 and 23, and the company will be picking up items in North York, in the area bordered by Hwy. 401, Steeles Avenue, Hwy. 400 and Victoria Park, and in West Toronto south of Dupont between Yonge Street and Islington Avenue. To arrange pickup, call 1-800-Rid-Of-It.
For more information on The Furniture Bank, visit www.furniturebank.org