About Us - Mustard Seed Furniture Bank

MISSION

The Mustard Seed Furniture Bank of Fort Wayne provides household furnishings to families and individuals as they rebuild their lives after suffering disaster, personal tragedy, or other misfortunes.

HISTORY AND IMPACT

Through recycling and a network of referring agencies, we provide gently used furnishings to people who are starting over due to a catastrophic situation. Since our establishment, we have assisted over 11,625 households as they began rebuilding their lives.

Founded in 2002 by a group of business friends, the Mustard Seed Furniture Bank took root in Fort Wayne. Our mission and process is unique and we do not sell or provide items through a “thrift store” concept. Our primary program is the Home Furnishings Distribution Program. Over 1,885 individuals, businesses and organizations donate gently used furnishings and household items every year. A cadre of volunteers assist the staff and give over 1,400 hours of time to unload trucks, sort and display donations, and help with administrative tasks.

Our Beds4Kids program has touched the lives of over 11,290 children, ages 2-17, who need beds. With our program, they can get everything they need to sleep in their own clean and comfortable beds that very night, including a new mattress, platform bed frame, pillow, and gently used or new blanket and sheets.

With a referral from one of our 130 referring agencies, clients come to the Mustard Seed to choose their items. Depending on the referral and our warehouse stock, this may include large items (sofa, bed, living room chairs, end/coffee tables, kitchen table and chairs, dresser, etc.) as well as bed and kitchen linens and kitchenware. Since the Mustard Seed’s assistance is limited to once in a lifetime, clients understand that if they move, they must move the items with them.

People are referred to the Mustard Seed for many reasons. They may have lost everything in a fire or have escaped domestic abuse or are leaving a homeless shelter. Some are veterans. Most are employed. Others cannot work due to health conditions. Some have physical or cognitive disabilities. All have established a home; they just need a little assistance to make the home more livable.

Through your support, we can continue to “Furnish Help To Rebuild Lives.”

About Our Executive Director – Colleen Connell

Colleen brings more than a decade of nonprofit leadership, community engagement experience, and fundraising expertise to our mission as we continue expanding our impact throughout Northeast Indiana.

Before joining the Mustard Seed Furniture Bank, Colleen served as the Community Marketing Representative for CareSource, where she built relationships with more than 200 health and community partners and consistently exceeded outreach goals. Throughout her career, she has focused on improving access to essential resources, supporting families in crisis, and strengthening community collaborations.

Colleen has overseen high-volume service centers, developed staff training initiatives, led communication efforts reaching thousands of families, and is fluent in Spanish—further expanding our ability to serve diverse populations.

As Executive Director, Colleen will lead our operations, fundraising, and community engagement efforts, including advancing the Beds4Kids program and increasing our capacity to furnish homes for more families rebuilding after hardship.