When Omaha firefighter Drew Gerken responded to a routine call in 2013, he didn’t expect to find children sleeping on piles of clothing. No beds. No furniture. Just a family doing their best with what little they had.
That moment stuck with him—and sparked a movement.
Drew founded The Furniture Project, a nonprofit with one mission: to make sure no family in Omaha has to live in an empty home. What began as a personal mission to deliver donated furniture out of his truck has now become a powerful network of volunteers, donors, and organizations helping to furnish dignity, one home at a time.
From single moms transitioning out of shelters to refugees starting over, The Furniture Project has now served thousands of families, delivering everything from beds and dressers to kitchen tables—turning empty spaces into homes filled with hope.
“The truth is, we’re all in this together,” says Drew. “If we have people suffering, I think it’s our duty to help.”
And help, he does.
Want to support the mission?
Visit The Furniture Project Official Website
*photo credit: Bill Sitzmann - Omaha Magazine
