Showroom Stories
Highlighting Flourish Families
Every Flourish Guest has a shopping appointment in the Showroom to personally select furnishings for their entire home.
But our community of donors, volunteers, and funders - both online and in person - didn’t necessarily see the transformative impact that happens during that shopping appointment.
Background & Goals
Flourish furnishes homes for people overcoming housing insecurity - an incredibly diverse community across the Kansas City metro area. My challenge was to showcase the people, stories, and furnished homes to connect donations with impact. In the past, our social media tended towards item needs, event announcements, and volunteer pictures, highlighting the need without showing the impact.
Results
I worked with the team of Flourish volunteer Showroom Hosts to take photos and gather details about Flourish guests. Through a consensual process involving verbal consent, review, and follow up, each Flourish guests became central to our brand voice.
Creating a direct connection to the families impacted by our work doubled our social media following and individual giving over the period of a year. Each story was heartfelt, individual, and deeply personal. By centering the voices of our guests and working collaboratively, I ensured our brand voice was shaped by the experiences of the people we served.
Impact
Social media following increased by 45%
Engagement increased by 30%
Individual giving increased by 75%
Ashley
Last week, we had the privilege of helping Ashley furnish her entire home.
With little ones to consider, Ashley had a big task ahead - creating a warm, inviting space for her family. Thankfully, with Jerri's help, one of our amazing Flourish showroom hosts, Ashley found just the right pieces!
Ashley took great care to pick out the perfect artwork for each child's room, making sure the pictures represented their personalities. She found a big, comfy sofa for quality family time in the living room, lots of linens to make their space cozy and warm, and a suite of cookware to make delicious home-made meals, including a beautiful set of wooden-handled cooking utensils.
Ashley, it was an honor to be part of your journey! Wishing you and your family many bright, happy memories in your new home
Anthony
When Anthony came to Flourish with Anna, his case manager from ReDiscover, he didn't know what to expect.
Anthony had just moved into his own apartment after working hard to overcome substance abuse. Things hadn't been easy since he lost his wife several years ago. Having successfully graduated from ReDiscover's treatment program, he was ready for a new start.
With Anna's support and the guidance of Shirley, a Flourish Showroom Host, Anthony found everything he needed for his new apartment and more - including this beautiful brown fuzzy couch! A huge smile filled Anthony's face as he shopped for furnishings, building a warm, comfortable space reflective of the new life he was ready to live.
Kim
Today, we were thrilled to welcome Kim to the Flourish Showroom!
With the assistance of Laurie, a dedicated Showroom Host, she selected beautiful furnishings to create the perfect home for herself and her young daughter, Imani. It was an honor to support Kim in curating a comfortable space to nourish their spirits and provide the strength to thrive at home, work, and school.
Kim, thank you for sharing your impeccable style, warm smile, and generous heart with us today! We loved having you!
Terrance
Last week, we had the absolute privilege of shopping with this incredible gentleman.
Terrance came to Flourish with a warm, kind spirit. While shopping with Kim, one of our showroom hosts, he was hesitant to take too much. But with Kim’s encouragement, he thoughtfully selected everything he needed to make his space feel like home—a big, cozy couch, tables, dressers, linens, cookware, dishes, and more.
He even found the perfect finishing touch: a beautiful glass palm tree!
Terrance, it was an honor to help furnish your home. We wish you all the best as you settle into your new space!
You can help provide free home furnishings for families like Terrance’s: https://flourishfurniturebank.org/give/
Zach
When Zach came to Flourish, he didn't know what to expect. A military veteran, he was referred by the VA to Flourish to choose furnishings for his first home.
Rita, a dedicated showroom host, welcomed Zach to the showroom. Upon seeing the many aisles of items before him, Zach was overwhelmed with excitement. A bounty of furniture, linens, cookware, and decor awaited his selection - all completely free.
Zach was the most excited to pick out artwork and decorations to cover his walls. He found the PERFECT lighting - an unusual floor lamp full of personality. In the cookware aisle, he stopped to make a call to his grandmother, asking her advice on which type of pie pan to choose. At the end of the appointment, he ran back from his truck to give Rita a big hug before taking off to move in.
Zach, we thank you for your service and the joy you brought to Flourish. It is an honor to furnish your new start!
Furnish a veteran's home by donating today! Whether you give your time, items, or a monetary gift, your support will change lives in Kansas City. https://flourishfurniturebank.org/give/
Jalisa
Jalisa shopped for furniture last week for herself and her two young boys. Jalisa loves ORANGE and found a beautiful rug, vase, and suite of decorations to match her style. From our seasonal display, she found lots of Christmas decorations to make her home cheerful this holiday. A TV will provide lots of entertainment over the break and cozy family movie nights.
A huge congratulations to Jalisa for a beautiful new start!
We are so grateful for everyone who has contributed to furnish homes for the holidays. With more than 1,300 families served this year, 3,400 people are having warm, comfortable holidays! Thank you!!
If you'd like to support a family, make a donation online! Your gift sponsors the cost of collecting, refurbishing, and rehoming items through a dignified shopping appointment.
Nadia
Nadia came to Flourish last week and furnished her home just in time for Thanksgiving!
At Flourish, Nadia chose lots of great furniture: a big queen bed, a dining room set, a desk, and a loveseat.
But it was the little things that really felt like home. Nadia found a big stock pot to make her favorite African dish. She loves the elephant finials on her lampshades and the needlepoint-patterned seat covers on her dining room chairs. A Christmas basket will warm her living room with festive decorations.
With a fully furnished home, Nadia welcomed her son home from medical school for the Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you, Nadia, for bringing joy to our space and allowing us to help furnish yours!
A special shoutout to Nadia’s brother, Emanuel, who helped move all her new items in. Tinker, our favorite canine volunteer, was also a big highlight – bringing out a huge smile while Nadia shopped.
Give the gift of home by donating in honor of Giving Tuesday and 120 families whose homes will be furnished before Christmas! Your donation will be DOUBLED with a Giving Tuesday matching gift from two anonymous donors.
$10 covers the cost of collecting, refurbishing, and giving away 2-3 donated items worth $50+. $250 will be doubled to furnish an entire home valued at $1,300.
Isaac
Last week, Isaac moved into his first apartment and wasn't sure how he'd furnish it. Fortunately, he found his way to Flourish, and we were inspired by his positivity! A HUGE Chiefs fan, Isaac was thrilled to find the perfect flag to match his collection. His love for cooking led him to pick out an air fryer, crock pot, coffee grinder, and of course, a colander for mac and cheese. Isaac lit up when he discovered lamps, an end table, and a matching sofa and chair to complete his new space. He had a blast shopping with our wonderful showroom host, Susan. Thank you, Isaac, for bringing so much joy to our showroom!
Alisha
Alisha hadn’t felt at home in over a year, but when she came to Flourish last week, her joy and resilience shone through.
As a single mom to three kids, ages 5 to 16, Alisha was determined to make their new space feel like home. She'd just found a new place to live, but she wasn’t sure how to furnish it in a way that would bring her kids comfort and stability. Then, shopping with our showroom host Shirley, Alisha found everything she needed to transform her house into a home for her family.
Now, a cozy plaid sofa and matching armchair ground their living room, a big dining table invites family dinners, and Marvel-themed blankets bring warmth to movie nights. Plus, a little blue cooler is ready for family picnics by the lake nearby!
With her children and family helping move everything in, Alisha’s home is filled with warmth and togetherness, just in time for holiday gatherings and sunny lake outings next summer.
Thank you, Alisha, for sharing your story and inspiring us all!
Give the gift of safe, comfortable homes for the holidays to more families:
Charles
Meet Charles (left), a US military veteran and certified charmer who shopped at Flourish this month!
Charles grew up on a farm in Northwest Missouri. As a young man, he went into the army as a records clerk, and worked for years in intelligence. Charles would go on to experience challenges paired with great success during his service and the time after, but several things stayed the same his entire life.
Charles loves coffee. A coffee pot was his first priority and the most important thing for his home.
Charles loves to read, preferably history but anything that keeps his mind working. Charles lost part of his collection of books several years back, but got the perfect bookshelf at Flourish to rebuild it - plus a big comfy recliner to read in.
Charles loves nature. Growing up on his family's farm, the natural wilderness of the Missouri countryside instilled a deep love of the environment. Charles found several paintings of countryside landscapes to bring some of his old home to his new one.
A special thank you to Charles' mover Joe, and Showroom Host Judith! Judith did a terrific job assisting Charles with his item selections while Joe made the process of getting them moved back home a breeze.
Mary
Last week, Mary had an appointment to shop at Flourish. She was assisted by Ruth, a volunteer showroom host, who helped guide their hour long appointment.
As they were walking down the baking aisle, Mary's eyes lit up when she saw this dainty floral apron. Perfect for baking treats for her grandkids!
After shopping for a bed, upholstered furniture, wooden items, lots of cookware and baking items, linens, decorations, and electronics, it was time to load everything up. A large group of family and friends was there to help move her furniture.
Thank you, Mary, for the love you give to your friends, family, and community. Your kindness is appreciated and returned! It was an honor to support you on your journey home.