Donor Stories: Alek

The furniture we restore here at the Repair Bank comes from the generosity of many empathic and environmentally-minded King County residents who learn about us through a variety of channels. One of those is the “What do I do with…?” tool on the King County website where residents can determine what to do with materials that need to be recycled, donated, or disposed of but are not accepted in their curbside pickup. One of the common items that people frequently don’t know what to do with is furniture. Many charity organizations do not accept furniture that is damaged or more than just “gently worn,” but here at the Repair Bank we welcome it!

Visit the King County site for answers to your recycling questions!

When North Bend resident Alek Kelly decided it was time to part with a pair of leather chairs his cat had used as a scratching post, he visited the King County site and learned about our organization. As the chairs were high quality and still in good structural condition, he was looking for the most ethical and low-waste solution for the chairs to continue to be of use to someone.

After Alek completed the furniture donation form on our site, our director Xenia immediately reached out to make arrangements to receive the items. He was preparing to move and clear out the items he wasn’t keeping, so he was pleased to be able to pass them along as soon as possible. Since he had a truck, he was happy to drive them to our facility in SODO so he could be assured they wouldn’t end up in a landfill. He recognized that when most people are unable to find a nearby location to donate their furniture or they aren’t accepted by the organization, they are often dumped at the local transfer station.

When Alek arrived at our warehouse with the chairs, Xenia gave him the full tour of our process including the upholstery room where his chairs would be brought back to life. He was pleased to know that once restored, they will be given to community members in need instead of taking up space in a landfill.

We are so appreciative of our eco-minded and empathetic supporters like Alek who are willing to go above and beyond to reduce waste, promote the circular economy, and help others in need.

Later, the chairs were stripped, and re-upholstered by our amazing volunteers!