Furniture Bank: Sprinter Van

Meet Gerod.

He is a single father who served time in prison. Gerod’s number one priority was establishing stable employment and housing for himself and his children. Thankfully, he was connected with Furniture Bank and is now a part of their employment program.

After pausing their services during the pandemic, Furniture Bank recently relaunched their employment program this fall to focus on individuals transitioning out of the prison system and back into the workforce. These interns work at Furniture Bank and receive a stipend and transportation assistance while they help in the warehouse or collect furniture donations.

Interns also get a sponsorship to go through CDL-A training or to receive their forklift certification. This prepares graduates for careers working in truck driving or warehouses. The program’s final step is to connect graduates with job opportunities at Furniture Bank or elsewhere.

This kind of practical job training removes barriers to employment and sets people up for a career of meaningful work and expanded opportunities. For Gerod, this opportunity not only provides stability for today, it also gives him the ability to provide for his family for years to come.

If you’ve given to the Be Rich campaign, you’ve been a part of Gerod’s story. Over the past few years, you’ve funded the employment program, helped Furniture Bank expand their pickup services, and recently helped them purchase a sprinter van which allows them to collect more donations around the Atlanta area. 

Your generosity enables Furniture Bank to outfit homes for people transitioning out of homelessness or fleeing domestic violence and creates meaningful work for individuals like Gerod.