'Crisis Mode' As Fresh Start Furniture Bank Inventory Runs Low

HUDSON, MA — A charity that provides free furniture to people in need across the region is scrambling for donations due to an extremely low inventory — and a waiting list of dozens of people in need of items like linens, dishes and cooking tools.

Hudson-based Fresh Start Furniture Bank has been sounding the alarm for weeks about its low inventory, and said this week it has 75 people on its waiting list, but gave away almost all of its inventory last weekend.

"We moved so much out of the store, and now we only have these few lonely pieces left," the nonprofit said in a Facebook post Wednesday. "I would say at this point we are pretty much in CRISIS mode for furniture since we have a waiting list of over 75 people, and most of our furniture went out the door on Saturday and today."

Fresh Start serves a wide range of people, from women and children escaping domestic violence to people displaced by fires. During the two years of the coronavirus pandemic, the furniture bank has seen an increase in the number of people it serves — the furniture bank distributed a record 22,167 items in 2021 to over 1,000 people.

Fresh Start accepts both furniture donations and monetary donations. Furniture must be in good shape and clean.

"We cannot accept items which are broken, torn, stained, covered with pet hair, non-functioning, water-stained, smell like smoke or mold, or are missing parts. We do not accept antique furniture or holiday items," the donation guidelines say.

The nonprofit accepts donations from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays. The furniture bank is especially in need right now of kitchen supplies — dishes, pots and pans, utensils — and household linens.

Find out more about how to help on the Fresh Start Furniture Bank website.