C.O. nonprofit Furnish Hope providing furniture for new Veterans Village in Bend
(Update: Adding video, comments from founder of Furnish Hope)
'If you hear that voice, don’t ignore it. Lean into it and with faith, say yes, and do whatever it is that you can.'
BEND, Ore (KTVZ) -- Furnish Hope is playing a big role in the finishing stages for the Central Oregon Veterans Village, a new transitional shelter with 15 tiny homes to help veterans get back on their feet.
The nonprofit organization in Bend provides furnishings and household essentials to families in need throughout Central Oregon.
They are currently working to assemble and install furniture to help welcome unhoused veterans into their transitional homes. They will be furnishing five Veterans' Village cabins and the common area within the next two weeks. The project will be ongoing as the construction for the tiny homes continues.
“The veterans are going to be getting twin sized beds. They’ll be put on to a platform so they’ll have storage tubs and space underneath," CEO of Furnish Hope, Megan Martin said Wednesday.
“Furnish Hope began with a vision that was birthed October of 2019, and it’s a vision that came to me when I got a text message about a mom and some kids that were leaving the Bethlehem Inn. They were moving into an apartment and needed everything furnished," Martin said.
In the beginning, Martin said she covered the costs of the items, but when demand rose, she wasn’t sure how she’d make it work.
“Here’s the miracle: Within six months, all of a sudden people started donating," she said.
With more than 70 volunteers a week, the organization furnishes 30 homes a month on average, a significant increase from furnishing five to eight homes a month last October.
The organization typically works on a referral basis with more than 30 community partners, including service agencies, school programs, and churches to aid families.
Teams from the community such as Summit Soccer Girls, J Bar J Youth Services, First Interstate Bank and The Embrace Foundation are working with Furnish Hope in assembling and putting in the furniture.
To set the decor, Martin is also partnering with photographer Dan Higgins, who captures scenic landscapes. Higgins said the addition of nature photography offers the opportunity for people to think beyond themselves and step away from their challenges.
Martin encourages others to be a part of community solutions.
“If you hear that voice, don’t ignore it. Lean into it and with faith, say yes, and do whatever it is that you can," Martin said.
The nonprofit is also accepting donations to further their efforts. They accept used furniture, housewares, kitchen essentials, linens, other home good, and financial donations. Drop-offs are Thursdays from 9-11 a.m. at 1006 SE 9th Street in Bend.
