Waste Not, Want Not: Mark’s Story
“I’m proud to be part of welcoming newcomers.”
– Mark Edwards
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We love sharing the stories of the amazing people connected to Matthew House Ottawa. Enjoy!
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After retiring just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark Edwards knew he wanted to make a difference in his community.
“I’m a retired electronics engineer, born and raised in Ottawa,” he explains. “I’ve always kept myself busy around the house, and I’m fairly handy. Electronics are my specialty, but I like to dabble in a bit of everything.”
After donating furniture to Matthew House Ottawa when he and his wife downsized several years ago, Mark thought his skills might be a perfect fit.
“They were a bit skeptical when I suggested I could start fixing up broken furniture,” Mark laughs. “But it’s working out well!”
On busier days at the Furniture Bank, Mark also helps out with loading and unloading furniture. He shares that when he sees the families coming in, he thinks about how hard it must be to come to a new country – to feel the stress of trying to provide for your loved ones while also adapting to a new culture and norms.
“I appreciate that Canada is one of the most diverse countries in the world,” Mark says. “You see how we celebrate that diversity with the different cultural festivals throughout Ottawa every year. I’m proud to be part of welcoming newcomers.”
As a Matthew House volunteer, Mark helps make the most of every donation received at our Furniture Bank. Whether it’s using leftover materials to construct tops for vanities without counters or turning spare table leaves into other furniture, Mark is passionate about wasting as little as possible.
He advocates for others to donate to Matthew House, and makes a point of educating neighbours in his local Buy Nothing Facebook group about its potential benefits. “I just wish more people knew about it!” he says.
Mark explains the principles of what he calls a circular economy for furniture. “You reduce, you reuse, and the very last resort is to recycle. Ottawa’s dumps are going to be full in the next few years,” he explains. Throughout 2022, Matthew House Ottawa’s Furniture Bank diverted over 570,000 pounds of furniture from landfills. “Donating furniture, and figuring out how to give it a second life, are great ways to cut down on that needless waste – with the bonus of helping your neighbours.”
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Matthew House Ottawa supporters help keep programs like our Furniture Bank running. Here’s how you can open more doors for our community:
• Donate: you can make a donation online or cheques can be mailed to 380 Centrepointe Drive, Ottawa ON K2G 6A1.
• Volunteer: We currently need volunteers to support our furniture bank and refugee services programs. Click here for more info and to apply.
• Donate Furniture: If you have gently-used furniture to share give us a call at 613-591-6681. And please spread the word among your networks as well.
• Pray: for past, present and future residents and furniture bank clients
Since 2010, Matthew House Ottawa has welcomed hundreds of refugee claimants, and provided quality used furniture to 7000 families in need. Thank you for helping to make this important work possible!