Repair Bank Spring News Brief

Our busy winter rolled right into a busy spring, kicking off with Earth Month in April!

Sharing sustainability in Earth Month & after

Companies and communities alike were eager to share ideas and opportunities for being more sustainable with their staff and residents this Earth Month and beyond.

The Repair Bank was honored to be invited to host informational tables at four such events in April and June. During Earth Month, we returned to Starbucks HQ and the Expedia Group campus to share volunteer opportunities and furniture recycling resources with their employees at their Sustainability Fair and Market, respectively.

The Repair Bank has hosted volunteer teams from both companies, though quite a few more from Starbucks since we are a short walk from their HQ! We are looking forward to hosting another team from Expedia in September during their Month of Caring.

In June, we returned to the T-Mobile Bellevue campus for their Sustainability Fair, where over 350 employees came through to learn more about living sustainability. Many were curious about the Repair Bank and signed up for our newsletter to learn more!

Xenia, our founder & Executive Director, and Sara, our Comms Manager, sharing the Repair Bank mission at spring events

*Renton residents pitching in to plant trees*

Renton residents coming together

The City of Renton Neighborhood Program invited our outreach team to attend their Arbor/Earth Day Neighborhood BBQ at the end of April. It was a fantastic community-centered event where residents assisted with tree planting in the morning, then enjoyed burgers (meat & veggie!), hot dogs, and chips while they visited with neighbors and children played. We shared the community center gym with other organizations that support the community in practicing sustainable habits.

Over 350 Renton residents attended this uplifting event, and more than a few have joined the Repair Bank as volunteers since learning about us that day!

We look forward to participating in more events such as these to share our opportunities and services with local communities. If you’re hosting an event you think we should attend, please reach out to sara@repairbank.org!

Big Picture School interns from Bellevue learn the ropes

*Two interns & our team member Jasmin learning proper technique on a compound miter saw*

This spring, four high school students from Big Picture School in Bellevue, WA brought their energy, curiosity, and a great sense of humor to Furniture Repair Bank for a six-week internship. For the series of Thursdays, they joined us in the workshop for sanding, painting, and discovering that reupholstery is not as hard as it looks (on an ottoman at least!).

The Big Picture School is different from a traditional high school as it focuses on real-world learning outside of the classroom. Students spend part of their school year with mentors and organizations in the community, exploring careers, building skills, and connecting their education to real-life experiences. These internships allow students to learn by doing, whether that’s repairing a dresser, coding a website, or shadowing a professional in the field they’re curious about. It’s a unique model that helps them discover their passions and build confidence for the future.

Sol, Cole, and DjiNia display their refurbished ottomans

Learning skills & sustainability

Over the course of their internship, the students not only picked up hands-on skills in furniture restoration, but also learned about sustainability and the impact of giving old furniture a second life. Every piece they worked on now resides in the home of a local family in need, making their efforts more than just practice; it was meaningful community service with a tangible result.

At the end of their time with us, the students presented on their experience at the Internship Exhibition and Mentor Appreciation Night, sharing what they learned and how it changed their perspective on service and community. Their reflections were inspiring, thoughtful, and full of personality, just like the work they brought into our shop each week. We are so proud of what they accomplished, and grateful to have the opportunity to share these valuable skills with younger generations. Who knows? Maybe one of them will become a professional furniture restorer, or even the next great upholstery-DIY TikTok influencer!

Collection events beyond Seattle

This spring, Furniture Repair Bank continued its reach beyond Seattle by hosting a series of community furniture collection events in nearby cities. These events give residents the opportunity to donate furniture that might otherwise end up in a landfill. Thanks to the generosity of many community members, each event brought in dozens of quality pieces that will soon be repaired, restored, and rehomed.

The June collection in Renton was the third time we have partnered with the city to offer this service to its residents. Each time we work with Renton, we’re reminded of the city’s ongoing commitment to reducing waste and helping families build stable homes.

*Our mighty Issaquah volunteers & city partners!*

Younger generations reducing waste

Issaquah’s furniture collection was extra special, as it was organized as part of a Girl Scout Gold Award project by a dedicated teen named Kaela. With her leadership and creativity, the event brought in much-needed donations while also raising awareness about sustainability and the importance of giving back. We connected Kaela with Sam Tarvin from the Issaquah Solid Waste Program, who helped confirm a location for the event, and also assisted with the collection. Kaela’s hard work not only helped fill our workshop with repair-ready furniture but also inspired others her age to get involved in meaningful community service.

*Our heavy-lifting support, Roman, taking a well-deserved break on donated chairs*

Tacoma doubles up on collections

In Tacoma, we were thrilled to host not just one, but two collection events in April as part of a Sustainability Grant that aligned with the Tacoma Climate Action Plan. The response from the community was outstanding. Neighbors came together to drop off couches, dressers, and tables, each piece with plenty of life left to give. It was a beautiful reminder of the power of community action and Tacoma’s commitment to supporting families in need.

With Tacoma, Issaquah, and Renton all joining forces this year, we are proud to see how our mission resonates across the region. We are continuing to schedule collections in other neighboring cities this fall, as the need for the services we offer is certainly not limited to Seattle alone. Together, these events show what’s possible when communities come together to care for both people and the planet.

See you at Furniture Repair Bank!

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