Furnish For Good’s signature fundraising event, Furnished, gets a mission-minded refresh this month. Instead of auctioning fabulous furniture and decor from vignettes styled by top interior designers in Charlotte, this year’s focus leans more into the nonprofit’s goal to provide furnishings that create a sense of home for Charlotte families in need.
The event’s tie to the design community is still strong. Over the last five years, Furnished worked with 45 local interior designers who donated their time, talent — and yes, furnishings — as part of a friendly design competition to support the cause. Many, like Lisa Sherry of Lisa Sherry Interieurs, volunteer regularly. This year, Natalie Papier of Home Ec. will host a “stuff the truck” to drum up donations of furniture and decor.
One of Furnished’s most passionate supporters in the design community was Traci Zeller, who passed away unexpectedly in 2024. Traci’s husband, Mike, will continue that support by honoring her memory at the event.
Development director Meredth Marks says the previous version of Furnished helped the nonprofit achieve exponential growth — it served close to 900 people last year.
“It got us to where we are,” Marks says, “Furniture is still our baseline.”
Furnishings are just the beginning for their clients, she adds. Every furniture and decor package a client chooses is a step forward in their life transition around housing, employment and stability.
It’s a story that Furnish For Good helps write for families across this city, and it’s the story they will share at Furnished.
— Sharon Smith
Want to get involved? Furnished takes place Oct. 16. Learn more about sponsorships and how to donate at furnishforgood.org. SP
