Page 7 - CLH Foundation - Connected - Summer 2022

Partnership

+ Employment

A new partnership between Redwood
Park Communities Furniture Bank (Barrie)
and CLH Developmental Support Services
brings an innovative social enterprise to
Midland and provides employment to
members of the CLH community.
Built on the principle that “lots of people
have usable furniture they don’t want
anymore, and lots of other people need from vehicles, organizing
furniture but can’t afford it” the Furniture and keeping the unit clean,
Bank helps both – and keeps perfectly good loading the furniture into the
items out of landfill! moving truck when needed,
and upcycling furniture that
Redwood Park Communities builds, sources needs a bit of TLC.
and connects individuals and families
with safe, affordable housing. In 2018, the Anna Sedore leads the
Redwood community support team was Barrie Furniture Bank: “When
running out of ways to access affordable furnishings and we were searching for a new partner to expand the Furniture
household goods for their “Success Kits”. They connected Bank into North Simcoe, the team at CLH Developmental
with the Toronto Furniture Bank to learn how their business Support Services seemed like a perfect fit, but we never could
operated, and soon, a new partnership was formed. By 2019, have imagined just how perfect it would be. The CLH team
the Barrie Furniture Bank was in operation. Now Redwood is incredible, the Furniture Specialists we hired through the
clients and those of its 23 current partner agencies across Supported Employment Program are AMAZING and the
Simcoe County, including CLH DSS, are able to access synergies between our organizations are remarkable. The
furniture through a referral to the Furniture Bank. North Simcoe project checks a lot of boxes: from genuine
integration, good work for a living wage, skill development
In 2021, Redwood approached CLH about working together for both CLH and Redwood staff, and providing valuable and
to provide a Midland-based location to receive donated much needed service for the community. But we imagine the
furniture, a project made possible with operational funding potential for partnership between Redwood and CLH extends
support that Redwood received from United Way Simcoe broader and farther than this initial program. It feels like the
Muskoka.
beginning of a wonderful, long-term partnership. ”
Launched in March of 2022 and located at All-Access Storage, How It Works!
812 William Street in Midland, on Monday, Wednesdays and
S VE THE D TE Thursdays, from 11am to 1 pm, the drop-off is open and staff • A donor with useable but unwanted furniture

are ready to assess and accept donated items.
brings it to Furniture Bank for assessment
and acceptance by Redwood Team (Monday,
Michael Grima and Ralph Moreau, members of CLH’s
Wednesday, Thursday 11am-1pm, All Access
Supported Employment Program, applied for, interviewed
Storage 812 William Street Midland)
MIDL ND CURLING CLUB
and were hired to work for the Furniture Bank. They are
• Donor Recieves an in-kind charitable tax
thriving in their new roles, and excited to be earning a living
receipt from Redwood.
• Furniture gets put together at warehouse
Amanda Shala and Trisha Walker have been working

wage for their work. CLH DSS Employment Specialists RedwoodParkCommunities.com/furniture-bank/ 7
• Furniture gets delivered to a household in
alongside the two men throughout training, helping to ensure
need, through partner agency referral.

their success. When folks bring their furniture to the front gate,

it’s assessed by a member of the Furniture Bank team for
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suitability before it’s brought to the storage unit. From there,
Michael and Ralph are responsible for unloading furniture