As the world recovers from the pandemic, we’ve learned to appreciate the privilege of having a home. We know it serves not only as a place to physically stay safe, dry, and comfortable but as a psychological sanctuary from everything going on in the world.
Families and individuals in Orlando, Florida who are suffering from personal tragedies that range from domestic abuse, transitioning from homelessness, returning veterans, medical hardships, and more, are less likely to recover without having a stable home.
Studies suggest that the longer children experience homelessness or have to live without enough basic home necessities, the higher the chance that long-term effects of childhood poverty will drastically lower their chances of success later as an adult.
Amidst the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the struggling economy, here’s how your furniture donations in Orlando, FL help organizations put the community and sustaining the environment first, which can help combat childhood homelessness.
Why LoadUp Donates Furniture in Orlando FL:
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Why LoadUp Donates to the Orlando Community
LoadUp is a technology-driven junk removal company that donates furniture picked up in Orlando to charitable organizations, in hopes that instead of experiencing sleepless nights and stressful days, these individuals may regain dignity and recover from personal tragedy.
By owning the basic necessities to make their house a home, it’s one less obstacle keeping them from regaining control of their today and their tomorrow.
The Florida homeless population by the numbers
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as of January 2023, the homeless population in the state of Florida was 24,787, the fourth-highest among states in America.
While that is a sobering fact, it hasn’t all been bad news for the Sunshine State:
- Between 2007 and 2023, the state has seen a decrease in homelessness of 41% or more than 13,000 people. Cost of living is now also 0.1% lower than the national average.
- Between 2019 and 2022, the number of unhoused individuals decreased by 8%. The state has implemented programs like rapid rehousing and more to combat the issue.
📍 Orlando: The 2022 homeless estimate totaled 5,178 homeless people living in Orange County.
Government leaders have credited the decrease in the homeless population to the “housing first” philosophy that puts people into homes as early as possible and then addresses their physical and psychological needs.
Seeing a positive trend for Florida is encouraging however, issues still remain. Natural disasters are a common source of homelessness. The state is number one in the United States for recorded number of hurricanes since 1851.
How LoadUp helps donate furniture in Orlando
When an individual or family finally acquires permanent housing, more often than not, they don’t have the means to purchase couches, beds, sheets, dining tables, dishes and more for a very long time and are left to eat and sleep on the floor every day.
In order to reach as many people in Orlando and the rest of the state as we can, LoadUp utilizes reverse logistics to partner with The Mustard Seed of Central Florida in Orlando and donates gently used items for families and individuals to build a stable life.
The Mustard Seed of Central Florida
Established in 1984 by the dedication of Carol Kane, The Mustard Seed of Central Florida’s mission is to help rebuild the lives of those who have suffered disaster or personal tragedy by providing household furnishings and clothing while being environmentally responsible.
Their donations are housed in a 20,000 square-foot building that was built by the blood, sweat, and tears of community partners. They accept any donations to make a house a home, such as furniture, household items, linens and dishes, appliances and more.
Since they are the only furniture and clothing bank in Central Florida, in order to serve as much of the state’s homeless population as possible, they allocate their limited resources to only pre-qualified families, veterans and individuals.
In over 30 years of service, The Mustard Seed of Central Florida has grown into a sustainable non-profit that is ever-adapting to the needs of the community.
Environmental Benefits of Furniture Donation
By choosing to donate furniture in good condition, you’re not only helping people get the rest they deserve, but you’re also lowering the environment’s pollution rate.
Thanks to organizations like The Mustard Seed of Central Florida and LoadUp, as well as all other charities that offer donations to the community like Habitat for Humanity, there are furniture recycling options available in Orlando that also support a good cause.
LoadUp donates as close to all of our furniture pickups in the Orlando area to the Mustard Seed of Central Florida and other organizations rather than sending it to a landfill.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection reported in 2018 the total tons of landfill waste managed in Orange County was 2,346,413. In 2020, that number decreased to 2,342,051!
Since 2011, The Mustard Seed’s recycling program has deconstructed more than 160,000 mattresses, saving 3.6 million cubic feet from landfills in Florida. To put these numbers into perspective, that’s more than enough to fill 40 Olympic swimming pools!
What You Can Do To Help
Donate
The staggering numbers of our landfills grow every year and the homeless population is still too high. Offering your gently-used furniture, appliances, household items, and clothing donations all help families and individuals in need, while also diverting goods from landfills.
A quick search online will provide plenty of local food pantries, thrift stores, furniture banks, and charities that need what you’re getting rid of. Call ahead before you head their way as they might not be open but still accepting drop-offs through a certain process for safety.
❓ Did you know: You receive a tax deduction for all charitable donations at local thrift stores.
Volunteer
Look up your local charities, non-profits, and furniture banks to see what their adjusted hours may be and if they’re currently accepting volunteers due to safety precautions. Many are still serving the community as much as they can and while they are no longer accepting groups, they welcome individual volunteers to help.
Make sure to volunteer not only your physical help but also your creativity. If you’re good with a camera or designing graphics, let them know that you would be willing to highlight their mission and improve their online presence to help them gain more volunteers, donations, and overall reach more people in need.
🤝 Looking to volunteer? Click this link to sign up as a Mustard Seed of Central Florida volunteer.
Get Reliable Furniture Donation Pick Up in Orlando FL
Whenever you find yourself getting rid of furniture, clothing, appliances, and other junk, it’s incredibly beneficial to you, the community, and the environment, to choose to work with companies that adapt their current operations to support non-profits and other charities.
Companies like LoadUp and The Mustard Seed of Central Florida bridge the gap between your desire to help those in need, while reducing the amount of furniture that’s in working condition from wasting away in our landfills.
So, if you can’t re-use, repurpose, or just don’t want it anymore, rely on LoadUp for licensed professionals that will either donate or take care of eco-friendly disposal.
Need to get rid of old furniture? SCHEDULE A PICKUP ❯
Learn more about Mustard Seed by visiting their Facebook page @MustardSeedofFL.
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