$249,900 OTF Grants Boost Furniture Bank Capacity
MPP Christine Hogarth visited the Furniture Bank in Etobicoke to hear how two grants awarded by the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation have made an impact on the services it provides.
NEWS JUNE 26, 2024
ETOBICOKE – On Wednesday, MPP Christine Hogarth was at the Furniture Bank in Etobicoke to hear how two grants awarded in 2023 by the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) have made an impact on the services it provides. The first of the two OTF grants was a one-year, $99,900 Resilient Communities Fund grant awarded in the spring of 2023 has helped support Furniture Bank’s partnership with IKEA. And the second grant, a $150,000 Capital grant awarded last fall, has enabled Furniture Bank to purchase two trucks that will help the GTA-based charity to fulfill its mandate of eradicating furniture poverty.
“The grants have given Furniture Bank a strong foothold to keep providing a foundation for those trying to rebuild their lives with dignity,” said Christine Hogarth, MPP, Etobicoke-Lakeshore. “It’s great to see them turn empty spaces into fresh starts and craft a sense of belonging, one piece of furniture at a time.”
OTF’s Resilient Communities Fund grant allowed Furniture Bank’s to scale its partnership with IKEA Canada, allowing them to collect donations from all six GTA-based IKEA stores to distribute to families experiencing furniture poverty. Over the last year, Furniture Bank has collected and re-homed 7,802 donated home furnishings from IKEA, and supported 6,627 individuals and their families emerging from crisis.
The OTF Capital grant enabled Furniture Bank to purchase two new trucks that have a 1,000-square foot capacity and will transport donated furniture to Torontonians experiencing furniture poverty for the next 10 years. Each truck can hold up to 35 mattresses, and will ensure beneficiary clients, including women and children leaving shelters, the formerly homeless, Indigenous people, those struggling with mental health, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, BIPOC, newcomers and refugees are able to truly create a home.
“These two grants have helped us revolutionize our operations, enhancing our ability to deliver essential furniture to those in need,” said Dan Kershaw, Furniture Bank’s Executive Director. “This generous funding has provided the organization with resilience and sustainability so that we are able to provide furniture for our clients even when public donations are down.”
About the Ontario Trillium Foundation: The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Last year, OTF invested more than $110M into 1,044 community projects and multi-sector partnerships. Projects aim to enhance economic well-being, foster more active lifestyles, support child and youth development, provide spaces for people to come together and connect, and create a more sustainable environment. Visit otf.ca to learn more.
About Furniture Bank: Furniture Bank is a social enterprise-powered charity that provides low-income individuals and families with home essentials needed to create conditions of comfort, dignity and stability that come from having a furnished home, a service that enhances both psychological and financial stability.
MEDIA CONTACT
Saurabh Kapoor
Senior Communications Specialist
Office of Christine Hogarth, MPP Etobicoke-Lakeshore
saurabh.kapoor@pc.ola.org
416-259-2249
195 Norseman St. Unit 21, Etobicoke, ON M8Z 0E9