Fidel Ferrer’s journey from an empty apartment to a thriving community leader shows how support, resilience, and donated furnishings can help turn a space into a place of belonging.
When Fidel Ferrer and his family left Cuba for Portland ten years ago, they arrived with “barely 30 cents” in their pocket. They had to leave their furniture and belongings behind, carrying only the hope for a new beginning. Despite the challenges of navigating a new culture, language barriers, and limited resources, they embraced this journey with determination and resilience. “It’s a rebirth,” Fidel shares, reflecting on those early days, “How do you build a life after that?”
Finding Community Warehouse was a turning point. With support from SOAR Immigration Legal Services, Fidel and his family visited Community Warehouse and discovered an unexpected lifeline. “You walk into an apartment with nothing there, and you’re like, ‘Where am I gonna sit? Where am I gonna eat?’” Fidel recalls. At Community Warehouse, they were able to furnish their home with essential items that brought a profound sense of stability and relief. “When we got our furniture, it was a relief. A big, big relief,” he explains.
“When we got our furniture, it was a relief. A big, big relief.”
Those items became cherished symbols of their journey and resilience, carrying emotional weight that went beyond functionality. One such moment of joy was when Fidel finally felt ready to invite his girlfriend over to meet his mother and sister—a gesture that had seemed impossible before their visit to the furniture bank. With a set of chairs, plates, and a dining table, he could welcome her into a home that felt whole and dignified, one that reflected his family’s pride.
Fidel’s mother still uses a handful of items they picked out at Community Warehouse a decade ago, including her stainless steel pitcher, mug, and white toaster. These items are “a remembrance of the challenges and a reminder of where we were and where we are now,” Fidel says.
Fidel’s mom still uses cherished kitchen items that she picked out at Community Warehouse ten years ago.
Fidel is grateful for the ways his network of support shaped him. “It would be a disservice if I didn’t give back to the community that supported me,” he says. Today, Fidel carries the torch of community support forward as the founder and Executive Director of Project LEDO, an organization that creates culturally responsive STEM programs for youth facing systemic barriers to achievement. “We bring robotics and technology programs and help make them feel represented,” Fidel said. His work reflects the same mission-driven spirit he first experienced through Community Warehouse. “It’s like the Warehouse. It doesn’t matter what your circumstances are right now; we’re giving you the tools and resources to launch into a bigger future.”
Fidel’s story is just one of the many transformations made possible each year by Community Warehouse. Thousands of families leave our furniture bank with items that do more than meet basic needs—they provide comfort, dignity, and a sense of belonging. As Fidel put it, “Who would have thought that a kid from Cuba with limited resources could come to the States, aspiring to better himself, and find organizations like Community Warehouse that play a pivotal role in launching him into a bigger future?”
Financial gifts from supporters like you help us provide a sense of comfort and belonging to thousands of families each year. Home starts here–with your support.