Furnish a home, change a life
What might just look like a table and chairs to unsuspecting eyes can mean everything for a family in need.
For Pierre, it meant a place he could sit down to a warm meal with his wife and daughter. It meant a place to gather, to laugh, and to share conversation. It meant a place that was theirs – and permanent, unlike the shelter they’d lived in when they first came to Canada.
Kind Matthew House Ottawa supporters just like you helped Pierre and his family furnish their apartment. Now, countless more people in our community need your support to turn barren living spaces into homes.
This season of giving, will you ensure our Furniture Bank can continue to serve refugees and other low-income families when they need a helping hand? Please make your donation to Matthew House Ottawa today so we can continue this important work.
When Pierre was referred to the Furniture Bank, he could hardly believe his good fortune. He and his wife walked through room by room, marking the items they needed to equip their apartment and set up a proper home for their daughter.
He knew then and there that he wanted to be a part of helping others, the same way he had been helped. He asked on the spot if he could become a Matthew House volunteer.
That’s the cycle of compassion your generosity makes possible. When people like Pierre would otherwise have nowhere to turn, you give them the dignity and possibility of choice. Just half an hour spent picking out pieces at the Furniture Bank can make a huge impact in somebody’s life.
Can you imagine the joy and relief of coming home to a once-empty apartment and seeing it transformed?
Being able to climb into bed after a hard day of work, sinking into a comfy chair to read in the evening, setting out plates for a meal around the kitchen table… All things so many of us take for granted, but moments of normalcy that can truly uplift someone when they are struggling.
This year has been a struggle in one way or another for many of us. We are facing unprecedented challenges and uncertainty. But through it all, I have been warmed and inspired by the way our Matthew House community continues to reach out and embrace people in need.
When I asked Pierre what message he would wish to share with you, he said something simple but profound: what Matthew House does is humanitarian work.
Donations go directly to where they are needed. The social investment people like you make in helping our neighbours pays dividends in how they can then go on to contribute to bettering our world – just like how Pierre has gone on to become first a volunteer, then a staff member at our Furniture Bank.
Demand for Matthew House’s services remains strong during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our committed team has gradually increased the number of households we are able to serve at the Furniture Bank, with lots of face masks, hand sanitizer and gloves available for clients and volunteers alike.
Our goal as we weather this crisis is to continue serving the most vulnerable families in Ottawa who are in dire need of furniture essentials. We can’t do that without you.
Please make your generous donation to Matthew House Ottawa today. Your gift will provide hope for countless men, women and children who would otherwise sit in empty apartments this winter. Together, we are transforming these barren spaces into homes.
May God bless you and yours. Thank you for your compassion and your commitment to serving our community.
Sincerely,
Allan
Allan Reesor-McDowell
Executive Director
Matthew House Ottawa
Since 2010, Matthew House Ottawa has welcomed hundreds of refugee claimants, and provided quality used furniture to about 6000 families in need. We have done this as a large, dedicated team of volunteers and a small handful of employees, with a lot of passion and commitment. Thank you for helping to make this important work possible!