'It's made a huge difference in my life': New furniture bank helps those in need

You may have heard of a food bank, but now a charity group is helping to expand the concept once again — with a furniture bank.

Directors Amy Tulk and Maureen Lymburner officially launched the Home Again Furniture Bank in St. John's on Thursday. Much like a food bank, their group takes donations of furniture and distributes them to people in need.

Adam Cole has used Home Again Furniture Bank, which started in October but had its official launch today, and said it has changed his life.

Cole has cerebral palsy and prior to getting a bed at the furniture bank, he was sleeping on the floor.

"It was horrible, I would not want anybody to go through what I had to go through," Cole said, tears welling up in his eyes. 

"I am so grateful for these guys helping me to get a bed and get my life back on track, and I thank them very deeply."

The furniture bank is currently running on a referral-only basis and helps a wide variety of people in need, whether they're living with disabilities or going through transitional stages of life.

"They may be just entering the country, they may be just exiting homelessness, exiting prison, they could be people escaping abuse," Lymburner said.

"So [they're] often going through a period of transition and [are] needing some assistance."

Lymburner said the group has partnered with 20 local agencies since they started last October, and served 140 clients.

There's still a request list of about 20 people.

"We don't just want to fill people's homes with broken, damaged furniture," Tulk told CBC Radio's The St. John's Morning Show.

"We want to provide them with comfort and dignity. And for them to be proud that they have a new sofa."

Once a week, on "Furniture Friday's," the group delivers furniture to clients and picks up donations around town. 

The group accepts financial donations, furniture, housewares and small appliances.  

"Mattresses are a top priority," Lymburner said.

"People can live more easily without a table and chairs, much less easily without a mattress. So we consider that one of the number one priorities." 

A bed was certainly a priority for Cole, who is full of gratitude to Home Again Furniture Bank.

"It's made a huge difference in my life and I would recommend it to anybody," he said.