A Brief History

The Mission of Rebuilding Lives: One Bed at a Time

Imagine a family or individual transitioning from a temporary shelter to their new permanent home. Now, imagine the harsh reality confronting them—no beds, kitchen table, chairs, or sofa—none of the items that make a house a home.

The Furniture Bank began as a vision turned reality after Jim Piscopo, an Air Force Veteran and licensed contractor at the time, recognized an essential need while doing volunteer work with two Phoenix-area domestic violence shelters. In 2003 Jim realized families transitioning out of a shelter and into a home of their own had little or no resources available to help with basic furniture for their new found home.  Most of the individuals and families have become economically disadvantaged some from life-transition trauma, possibly as a result of domestic violence, substance abuse, learning disabilities, loss of a spouse, job training or just hard times.

After seeing the need first hand Jim and his wife Donna (above) felt a ministry call and took it further than most people would have imagined. In 2004, they gave up their jobs and downsized their home to provide initial funding to start Bridging AZ Furniture Bank.

Their ministry and community outreach, now a  501(c)(3) nonprofit collects gently used and new furniture and distributes it to qualified, agency-sponsored families and individuals in need. In their hearts Bridging is still a faith-based ministry designed to help create healthy families and home environments where each family member may flourish—mind, body and spirit read more

Bridging receives No Government funding, through generious donations from the community, in the past eight years Bridging AZ has distributed over 200,000 items valued at over $5,000,000 of donated items to families in need.

Today; volunteers help as Bridging AZ Furniture Bank remains Arizona’s only Furniture Bank providing furniture and household items to over 100 social service agencies for their clients.