Our Program

The JRCC Furniture Depot (FD) is a non-profit program through the JRCC that aims to give free furniture to families and individuals in need.

We accept donations of gently used furniture from the surrounding community. Our 13,000 square foot warehouse is located in the heart of Thornhill at 1416 Centre Street. Our inventory includes many furniture items which are essential for establishing new homes, including tables, chairs, desks, mattresses, and sofas.

Since 2014, the JRCC Furniture Depot has given just over 36,000 items of used furniture to families in need. Diverting these items from landfills means that our program is not only charitable, but an environmentally friendly way to give used furniture a second life.

Part of the initiative operates as a social enterprise: the income from pickup fees paid by donors assists the Furniture Depot in creating financial sustainability, and allows the program to operate partially self-funded.

 

Who do we help?

The JRCC Furniture Depot collaborates with over 60 social services agencies across York Region and Toronto. These agencies work with a variety of vulnerable populations across the GTA, such as new immigrants to Canada, people with chronic illness or disabilities, and people suffering from domestic violence and homelessness.

Providing free furniture to these groups allows them with an opportunity to re-establish their lives with basic necessities. Those donating furniture can take pride in knowing that their gently used items are going to people who truly need it.

Since 2014, the JRCC Furniture Depot has served just under 16,000 clients and close to 5,300 households. In 2022 alone, we received close to 4,000 donated furniture items and served over 700 families.

According to our evaluation data, 91% of our clients are below the poverty line, 70% are newcomers to Canada, 60% are families with young children, and 40% are transitioning to stable housing. 

In 2022, 96% of Furniture Depot’s clients did not have furniture or did not possess basic furniture items, prior to being referred to the FD.

The impact of our program is immense. Each month, the Furniture Depot performs client satisfaction surveys. Our results show that the FD helps clients reduce their expenses in furnishing their homes. We estimate that furniture donations result in thousands of dollars saved per client.

According to feedback from our clients, the furniture that we provide make them feel good, and they are likely to recommend the JRCC Furniture Depot to a friend.

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