September 2026 Furniture Bank Newsletter
From the President
WWDD: What Would Dolly Do?
We are all feeling a little heartbroken.
Since the news of Dolly Parton’s death, I’ve found myself thinking about just how much one person can mean to so many people.
My love affair with Dolly started when I was a little girl watching her on television. I remember being fascinated by the wigs, the makeup, the clothes and, yes, that figure! But then she opened her mouth and sang. She told stories. She laughed at herself. She made people laugh. And she won me over.
Over the years, I came to love her voice, her songwriting and her incredible talent. I admired the little girl from Tennessee who built an extraordinary life through talent, determination, imagination and hard work. I thought I knew Dolly’s story. I knew about her humble beginnings, her remarkable business sense, Dollywood and her Imagination Library. But in these past few days, I’ve come to appreciate something even more important.
Her light
Listen to the stories people are sharing about her. The gratitude. The generosity. The humor. The humility. The way she made people feel seen. The way she seemed to choose kindness when she could have chosen ego, and grace when she could have chosen anger.
And it has made me think: WWDD?
What would Dolly do?
What if we asked ourselves that question before we reacted? Before we complained. Before we judged. Before we decided someone else was the problem.
Maybe we would choose a little more grace. A little more gratitude. A little more kindness.
That question feels especially meaningful to me because of the work we do at Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit. Every day, we meet families who have been knocked down by circumstances they never expected: an illness, a fire, poverty, domestic violence or the loss of a home.
We provide the furniture they need to rebuild. But what we really provide is hope.
Hope that someone sees them. Hope that tomorrow can be better than today. Hope that when life knocks you down, someone will help you get back up.
Dolly spent her life using her gifts to lift people up. Maybe that is the best way to honor her.
Use what you have. Give what you can. Lift someone else up. And when you have a choice, choose kindness.
With gratitude,
Diane Charles,
President & CEO
The 2nd Annual Furniture Flip Challenge & Bash:
A Night to Remember
What happens when 60 talented flippers, 80 pieces of furniture, more than 200 guests, and a whole lot of creativity come together? An unforgettable night for Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit!
Our 2nd Annual Furniture Flip Challenge & Bash, featuring celebrity judge Hilary Farr, was a tremendous success. Together, we raised more than $125,000 to support our mission while giving new life to furniture that might otherwise have ended up in a landfill.
The night was about so much more than a competition. It was about celebrating creativity, craftsmanship and community. Guests had the chance to bid on truly unique, one of a kind pieces, with many walking away with incredible finds at a great price. Every piece sold represented both creativity in action and another step toward keeping usable furniture out of the landfill.
A special thank you to our incredible judges: Amanda Burgess Proctor of Dee Dee Fine Vintage, Duane Petroskey of Gorman’s Fine Furnishings, Mary Liz Curtin of Leon & Lulu, and Table Talk sponsor and judge Judy Frankel. Your expertise, time and enthusiasm helped make the competition so much fun.
And we simply cannot thank our celebrity judge, Hilary Farr, enough. Hilary brought her incredible talent, experience and energy to the challenge, and generously gave her time and expertise to make the evening truly special.
To our flippers, judges, sponsors, volunteers, bidders and every person who joined us: thank you. You helped turn 80 pieces of furniture into works of creativity, and proved that when a community comes together, we can make a difference in some pretty extraordinary ways.
We can’t wait to see what we flip next!
What does it take to create a home that makes you happy?
That was the question at the heart of Creating a Happy Home, a lively evening of design, ideas and inspiration held Wednesday, September 9 at Leon & Lulu in Clawson.
Internationally acclaimed designer Hilary Farr led a panel of Detroit area design experts including all the way from High Point, North Carolina, Caroline Hipple, Leon and Lulu owner Mary Liz Curtin, Edmond Hagopian,Hagopian, Amanda Burgess Proctor, Dee Dee’s Fine Vintage, and Judy Frankel, Judy Frankel Antiques. Together, they shared their perspectives on everything from the pitfalls of fast furniture and the importance of scale to the personal touches that transform a house into a home.
But this was more than a night of great design. It was a friendraiser and fundraiser for the Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit, bringing together people who believe that creating a happy home is about far more than what you see in a room. It is about comfort, dignity, connection, and the feeling that you belong.
A Bigger Home for a Bigger Mission.
A new chapter begins as HGTV star Hilary Farr joins Furniture Bank Board Chair David Zick, President & CEO Diane Charles, Madison Heights Mayor Corie Haynes, and members of the Madison Heights City Council and Chamber of Commerce to officially cut the ribbon on our new 7,400-square-foot warehouse.
This exciting new space means more room to accept, store and distribute donated furniture—and, most importantly, more opportunity to help families create warm, comfortable homes.
A Dream Day for 100 Detroit Kids
A good night’s sleep is on the way for 100 Detroit children.
At the Back to School Fair on Thursday, August 27th at Detroit Learning Academy each child received a new pillow and bedding, with a new mattress and bed frame to be delivered to their home.
It’s all part of Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit’s 1,000 Beds Challenge, launched last year to ensure more children have a safe, comfortable place to sleep.
For these 100 kids who attend the charter school near 7 mile and Lahser, the school year started with a special promise: a bed of their own is coming soon.
