Metro Detroiters with sofas sitting in the garage, dressers collecting dust in the basement or kitchenware packed in the attic can finally give it all away: Gorman’s Home Furnishings and Interior Design is offering free pickups starting Tuesday.
For the second year, Gorman’s is collecting gently used furniture and unused household items across metro Detroit for three area nonprofits helping families in need furnish their homes. Gorman’s is taking donations, including sofas, dressers, bed frames and kitchen tables, each Tuesday through Feb. 25 for free.
For people transitioning from homelessness and into permanent housing, having furniture improves mental, physical and social health, a 2022 metro Detroit-focused study found. Parents said their kids were less likely to spend time at home if it was unfurnished or an under-furnished home.
“People need the basic necessities to live comfortably and to be able to function in their home. They need bedrooms. They need dressers. They need a dining table to sit down and eat meals at,” said Duane Petroskey, president of Farmington Hills-based Gorman’s.
People may not know how, or where, to give away their usable furniture, Petroskey said. Last year, Gorman’s collected 400 pieces of furniture through its donation drive. The response was “overwhelming,” Petroskey said, prompting the store to make the effort an annual event. For the next few Tuesdays, Gorman’s will deploy all of its trucks to picking up furniture.
“Just because someone’s coming out of homelessness doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve to have, or shouldn’t have, a furnished home that they can be comfortable in,” he said.
Here is what to know:
What can you donate?
The Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit, Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County ReStore and Humble Design Detroit have requested the following items, according to a news release. The donations should not have any tears, rips or stains.
- Sofas
- Loveseats
- Living room chairs
- Coffee and end tables
- Artwork
- Lamps
- Small dining and kitchen tables
- Dining or kitchen chairs
- Small household appliances: blenders, coffee makers, toasters
- Kitchen items: pots, pans, flatware, dishes, glassware, bakeware and cookware
- Queen, full and twin bed frames
- Bedding
- Dressers
Gorman’s is also collecting new and unused household items, including dish and bath towels, small kitchen appliances and tools, oven mitts and measuring cups.
Here’s a list of items that are not accepted:
- Mattresses, box springs, sleeper sofas, daybeds, and trundle beds
- Armoires, baby furniture, china cabinets, cabinets with missing parts, wall unit, large desks, glass furniture and hutch desks
- Entertainment centers, TV armoires, game tables and unframed mirrors or art
The Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit and Humble Design Detroit help formerly homeless families furnish their homes and Habitat Oakland ReStores sells gently used furniture below retail price. The Furniture Bank of Metro Detroit offers free furniture and works with agencies to sell furniture packages, starting at $125. Humble Design also works with partnering agencies for referrals.
How to donate
To donate, call Gorman’s stores to schedule pickups across metro Detroit. To set up an appointment, call a Gorman’s location or visit the store. For more information, go to Gormans.com. Small household items may also be dropped off at stores by calling ahead first.
- Novi: 27800 Novi Road; 248-344-0880
- Troy: 1465 W. Big Beaver Road; 248-649-2070
- Southfield: 29145 Telegraph Road; 248-353-9880
Contact Nushrat Rahman: nrahman@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @NushratR.