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We’re All Different, and That’s the Beauty of Humans
John Middleton, Board Vice President, poses with Community Warehouse delivery.
In the forty years that John Middleton has called Portland home, he’s witnessed his share of change. Like many Portlanders, John is concerned about the housing crisis our city is facing. So when asked to join the Community Warehouse Board of Directors, he jumped on the opportunity. He sees Community Warehouse as an essential part of the long-term housing solution here in the Portland metro region.
“Although there are a lot of nonprofits trying to get people off the street, [Community Warehouse] is uniquely positioned to actually create homes for people,” says John, who is one of 14 dedicated board members helping guide our organization through our strategic plan as we scale up to meet the needs of our community.
John’s support extends beyond his service on the board. In addition to “yammer[ing] to anyone who will listen” about our mission, one of his favorite ways to help the Warehouse is by volunteering on the truck to deliver furniture to our clients. “Coming from a courier business and transportation background, that’s kind of my wheelhouse,” he says. “I’ve been in people’s homes where they’ve had a space to live for probably a month or more, and they just don’t go because there’s nothing in it. What are you going to do if you have a house but you literally have nothing to sleep on? You have nothing to sit on, nothing to eat on. No forks, silverware, plates, nothing.”
While delivering heavy furniture can be “exhausting,” John notes how it is “very rewarding seeing the kids’ faces when they realize they’re getting things like their own bed.” He assures the community that their furniture donations have a positive effect on our neighbors: “If you were to donate anything, I can guarantee you it’s going to be received with a smile.”
People like John–and supporters like you–are helping us turn empty houses into furnished, cozy homes. No matter the size of the contribution, everyone’s role at Community Warehouse is important!
John concludes with a piece of advice: “We’re all different, and that’s the beauty of humans. But at the core, we all eat and breathe and sleep. We all want to be loved, feel secure and safe. And we can start helping each other with that in any kind of way–it doesn’t have to be huge, grand gestures.”
Click here to make a gift to Community Warehouse or here to donate furniture.