December 2025 Furniture Bank Newsletter
We need your help — right now—to reach our 1,000 Beds Challenge goal.
We need your help—right now—to reach our
1,000 Beds Challenge goal.
Bed poverty is a daily crisis. Children across Metro Detroit are sleeping on floors, couches, or crowded into beds with caregivers. A lack of proper sleep affects everything—health, learning, behavior, and emotional stability.
Through our Beds for Kids program, we’re providing brand-new beds to children who have gone without for far too long. Thanks to generous supporters, 500 children are already sleeping better tonight. But 500 more are still waiting.
Your donation, in any amount, directly purchases new beds for children in need. We’re halfway there, and there’s still time to change the life of a child who doesn’t have a bed of their own.
Join the 1,000 Beds Challenge
Your gift lifts the thermometer — and lifts a child off the floor.
Help us reach our goal by December 31.
From the President
Dear friends of the Furniture Bank,
As we close out another year, I’m grateful for all we’ve accomplished together—and all we’ve overcome.
2025 brought both triumphs and tests. One of the brightest moments was the incredible success of our inaugural Furniture Flip Challenge, which grew from a creative idea into a community-wide movement that raised critical support and showcased the power of generosity and creativity.
But the year also brought real challenges. Economic uncertainty, inflation, and slowed housing movement—our biggest driver of furniture donations—made it harder for families to find stability and harder for us to keep up with rising need. Still, through every shift, you stayed with us.
Because of your support, 2,000 families transitioning out of crisis had a bed to sleep in, a table to gather around, and the dignity of a furnished home. You turned hope into something tangible.
Looking ahead to 2026, we know change isn’t slowing down. We expect new challenges—and new opportunities to step up. We’re excited to launch a new partnership that will put even more children into beds and to open a new, larger facility that will help us serve more families than ever.
With your continued support, we will adapt, innovate, and keep showing up for the families who need us most.
Thank you for believing in second chances, fresh starts, and the power of home.
With gratitude,
Diane Charles,
President & CEO
From Foster Care to Full Circle: Shamya’s Story
When Shamya Bourgeois graduated from high school, most of her classmates celebrated with family and looked forward to their next chapter. For Shamya, the path was different.
After her mother gave up custody of her and her six siblings, Shamya spent her teenage years in foster care. At 18, she aged out of the system. While her foster parents cared for her during high school, they expected her to move out on her own once she graduated.
Determined to build a better life, Shamya worked tirelessly as a nursing home assistant while attending Oakland Community College. She’s on track to graduate next year with her associate’s degree and has already set her sights on transferring to Wayne State University. Her ultimate dream is to become a social worker and open homes that provide the support and love she knows foster children so desperately need.
Just two months ago, Shamya moved into her very first apartment. Despite her pride and excitement, she faced an empty space. With every paycheck stretched thin, she could not afford furniture. Her “bed” was a pallet on the floor.
That’s when Shamya turned to the Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit. With a referral from the Department of Human Services, she received a sofa and loveseat, a dining table, and most importantly, a brand-new mattress. For the first time in years, Shamya could sleep comfortably and come home to a space that truly felt like her own.
Today, Shamya feels a renewed sense of hope and stability. Her apartment is no longer just four walls—it’s a foundation for her future.
Her story is one of resilience, perseverance, and dreams coming full circle. She once needed the support of foster care, and now she’s working toward a career where she can give back and help children walk the very path she once did.
Because of donors like you, Shamya can pursue her education, rest well at night, and focus on building the life she’s always dreamed of—one where she can help others find their way home.
Shop with a Cause This Holiday Season
Still looking for a last-minute gift with true Detroit flair? Make a stop at The Detroit Shoppe at Somerset Collection North (3rd floor near Macy’s).
Throughout December, a portion of all sales will support the Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit and our 1,000 Beds Challenge—helping ensure local children have a safe, comfortable place to sleep.
So go ahead: shop a little, give back a lot, and make a meaningful difference in a child’s life.
Fun Fact!
We are small but mighty. The Furniture Bank serves more than 2,000 families a year with a team of ten employees—many of whom have worked at the organization for more than ten years.
