House 2Home Nashville is a public charity classified as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
April's Christmas Tree First, some backstory: December 1st and 2nd, H2H picks up its biggest single donation to date, six box truckloads of furniture from AvantStay short term rentals. Flush with furniture, it seemed that the following Saturday’s deliveries would be no problem. Then the bed shipment was backordered. That meant reluctantly postponing, for one week, all the deliveries needing queen beds. We did have full and twin beds, but we typically deliver queen beds to adults. And this time of year, follow-up deliveries are not efficient. Plus, on Saturday, December 7, we were to have a new (potential) truck driving volunteer which meant we wanted to make a good first impression. So, I called a new set of requests. Several phone calls into that process, I spoke with April A. The first thing she said was, “I don’t need a bed, but could I get a full or twin bed for my 18-year-old son?” Happily, I said “Yes. Would you be home tomorrow morning?” To which she replied, “I’m off on Saturdays.” Things sounded promising. Then I mentioned having just received new, artificial Christmas trees, still in the box. And would she be interested? Then she told me her story. I listened as she recounted her journey. Early on she had been trafficked, then came addiction, then came recovery. During Covid she had reached out to other folks in recovery via an Instagram account. Stuck at home, she had 100,000 followers. She felt like she was really making a difference. Then, her mother died, and she relapsed. That hole became a new two-year struggle made worse by the damage to her two kids. Her teenage son started living on his own in a van. From her dark place, she told God that she didn’t believe in Him and, if He wanted her to believe in Him, He would have to give her life back. And as she explained, He did. First came a used car and a job, then came a townhouse apartment with little more than a bed for her and her daughter. And now House2Home was bringing her son a bed and a lot more, including lots of beautiful, formerly short-term rental pieces. Before ending our phone conversation, I mentioned having been given new, artificial Christmas trees, still in the box. She gasped before explaining how just the night before she had prayed to God about not being able to afford a Christmas tree. I felt like the next day’s delivery would go well. And it did. We arrived, brought in the new pieces, and set up her son’s bed in a converted dining room space. The AvantStay dresser and nightstand looked great. As we finished, he started making that room into his own. As we were about to leave for our next stop, April told our volunteers her story. That is when her eyes glazed over, and she began to cry. She said, “I believe in God.” You see, He had given her life back. And because we didn’t have queen beds, House2Home got to be a part of her story this Christmas.
This voicemail came to my phone on August 12.Hey Michael, it’s Debbie Staples. I just wanted to thank you for the lovely things that weredelivered to us on Saturday. First of all, your delivery people were awesome. Just, justwonderful people really love them and the things they said you sent work really well in theapartment…. It’s just a little bit [of] extra things that we needed and it’s really turning into areal home for us…. We just appreciate everything so much. And I just wanted to say thank youto you and I hope they told you we actually had donated back a queen size bed frame weweren’t able to use… [paying] it forward like we talked about so I hope you can make [use] ofthat for somebody else down the road. But I just wanted to thank you. I appreciate you guys somuch. Have a wonderful day. Bye now.In both stories, God is glorified. In both stories, givers become receivers and become givers. Amazing. WE DID KEEP “DOING THIS.”
Story/Testimony Regarding work done on 3/22/2025, H2H driver Art Foster asked two teens who volunteered with him, “What do you think you did this week?” “What did it mean to you?” Luke responded: What I got out of doing H2H was I got to experience God's work by giving people a better living situation to make their lives a bit easier. Caiden responded: I think after doing the delivery it was cool to see how the family was so thankful for the furniture and it really made me think about how fortunate and blessed I am. Every time I do a day of house to home deliveries it is always so fulfilling and I am super thankful to be apart of that. It's impacted my life substantially.
This one is from yesterday’s work. One of our 4 deliveries was to a woman named Lennia. I set it up. Others of us supervised the warehouse, and Art Foster drove the truck and worked with 2 volunteers from Men of Valor. Lennia had been on the list since June. Circumstances stemming from shear volume had caused us to skip her delivery, but I went back to ask if she had gotten what she needed. She said no. But she was not upset. She was happy for my call. Yesterday H2H delivered much of her list. While we were still up in KY I was included in this text exchange: I want to thank you all again from the bottom of my heart & may the Lord continue to bless you all, your organization, & your loved ones You have truly made a huge difference in my life & I am beyond blessed to have received your assistance Thank you sincerely & continue to go in God [praying hands emoji], Lennia McGill To this Art replied to us, Lennia, thank you for the opportunity to serve you today. YOU were a blessing to me. Grateful for you and the power of our Lord’s timing and unfailing provision. [5 heart emojis]
“Yet another little, joyful thing” Last Saturday was hot and the truck crews were populated by enthusiastic but inexperienced MBA students. They were great, but we were running behind the schedule I had projected and confirmed with our people. As the students finished, one delivery worth of furniture remained on the truck parked at the warehouse. We were supposed to take those furnishings to Eboni’s family. I called to postpone the stop but learned that if I drove the loaded truck to that apartment her husband would help me unload. So, we rallied and delivered the items that Jeff and the students had helped me load. We were missing a few things, but Eboni didn’t mind. She also didn’t mind that we were 2 hours late. In fact, her family of four was wonderful. They were sweet and their hospitality made me the one who got blessed. We left with a list of items for her follow-up delivery that was scheduled for this past Thursday. One of the items she wanted was a coffee table rug, but we were out. Or so I thought. When Dean and I were loading the follow-up items we found a new rug with a green highlight color. We had no idea how it got there and later learned Jeff had dropped it off earlier in the week. I was excited to return with a handsome TV stand, one of the newly donated TVs, a student desk, fancy mirror, and the mystery rug. But again, the day had run long and we were behind schedule. Argh. When Dean and I arrived, the husband was at work, and the kids were in school. Eboni was there though. The TV credenza looked great in her spot. The desk fit in her son’s room as predicted, and the sun-shaped mirror would hang beautifully next to the TV. But it was the mystery rug with a green highlight that did the trick. Eboni loved the way it matched the cushions on her dining chairs. It was an unexpected design success. She really enjoyed that detail and complimented us. I knew we didn’t deserve the credit and said so. It had just worked out. She nodded and we quickly agreed it was a “God thing.” Somehow, after two hot days of being late but forgiven, it was a 5’ x 7’ rug with a few green swirls that took our furniture delivery and made it a church of 2 or more gathered. I continue to be overwhelmed by the God of the universe’s attention to such minutiae.