Murdock grant aids Furniture Bank program

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust awarded $348,000 to the NW Furniture Bank’s downtown Vancouver location.

The site provides furniture to households in need in Southwest Washington and opened in May. With the grant, Vancouver’s furniture bank hired a program manager and a truck driver.

“For individuals and families facing significant trauma, from a house fire or natural disaster to escaping domestic violence, several factors can play a role in helping create a sense of stability and safety. Having access to quality furniture is a critical element in helping restore dignity and hope in exactly the same way as having access to housing, food and clothing,” Steve Moore, executive director of the charitable trust said in a news release.

This is the trust’s third grant given to the Tacoma-based NW Furniture Bank, which serves more than 190 households monthly in Pierce and Clark counties.

“A lot of agencies do a really good job of providing the housing, clothes and food. And we’re that agency that steps in and says, ‘Hey, we don’t want you sleeping on the floor,’ ” said Jeremy Simler, director of development for NW Furniture Bank.