Making-It-Home Matches Colorful Furniture with Catherine's Bright Smile

By Chris Schwake, Making-It-Home

Making-It-Home brings furniture to formerly homeless people leaving emergency shelter and starting over in new but unfurnished apartments. Our clients lack the disposable income necessary to purchase and transport furniture to their new spaces. Without a comfortable place to sit, a table at which to eat and a dresser to store your clothing, a room can feel chaotic, lonely and uninspiring. That’s why we reached out to the Bergen County community to collect unwanted, gently-used pieces and give them to those who need and appreciate them.

Some of our clients are open to letting us add a little pizazz to their apartments. We knew Catherine liked pops of color the first time we met her. She was wearing a ruffled blouse and sparkling earrings, and she had a brightly colored blanket on her bed. We asked if she wanted a few pieces that would stand out against her beige walls, and if she was OK with the color purple. We always ask what people like and try to match their style with the donated pieces in our storage unit.

Making-It-Home furnished Catherine’s bedroom, dining area and living room with bright lights and colorful pieces. We dressed up a medium brown kitchen table with a shiny patterned tablecloth and livened up her living room with a love-seat, a flower printed fabric-covered side chair, a purple ottoman, and a matching green lamp shade. Now Catherine has a cheery space that she calls home.

Read more about Making-It-Home on our website at www.bergenvolunteers.org/making-it-home.