Transforming Furniture

Volunteer James Martin is truly one of Furnish Hope's best kept secrets. Working behind the scenes, James uses his woodworking skills to repair, refurbish and repurpose furniture items. His beautiful transformations give furniture pieces a second chance and help to do the same for Furnish Hope recipients seeking new beginnings.

Pictured with FH Co-Founder Mary Barlow, James unloads some of his creative pieces at the warehouse.

“While I don’t have direct interface with recipients, I enjoy being able to use my skills to help others; it feels good to see how fast most of my pieces move out of the warehouse and into people’s homes.” ~ James

Initially, James relied on donations, and even his own resources, to secure second-hand dressers and nightstands. Now, Furnish Hope supplements his personal efforts with a $500 monthly budget, enabling James to repurpose between 30-60 pieces every month. Funds are used to purchase dressers as well as necessary paint, hardware and supplies. James has even started to creatively convert old desks into small dressers, a much needed item for most Furnish Hope recipients.

James has seen first-hand the transformative effect Furnish Hope has on its recipients. When a close friend was transitioning from homelessness, Furnish Hope provided the basics to set him up for success in his new apartment. A story of hope now shared by over 1,500 households in Central Oregon.

“Simply sanding and painting can turn what one person considered ‘junk’ into a beautiful, functional piece of furniture; like each of us, some things just need care and attention to bring hope into our lives.”