More than 40 employees in Avison Young’s Atlanta office dedicated their afternoon to volunteering at the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta during the firm’s fourth annual Global Day of Giving. The 40 tables that employees from the full-service commercial real estate firm built and painted will be donated to people in need, as part of the Bank’s mission.  
 
Since 1988, the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta has recycled gently-used furniture and given it to individuals and families moving out of homelessness or fleeing domestic violence. They rely on volunteers to help serve their clients, raise awareness, and assist with coordination and execution of special events. One item that is often in short supply is kitchen tables, and the bank relies on groups to donate/build them for people in need. In 2016 alone, the Furniture Bank served nearly 5000 people thanks to generous donations of furniture, dollars and time.
 
“Every year we encourage employees to get together and serve the community,” said Chris Godfrey, an Avison Young associate who organized the event. “The Furniture Bank helps people get back on their feet in a time of need with essentials such as the kitchen tables that we were able to purchase and build. By coming together and giving our time, we are able to truly make a difference and improve the lives of many in our community.”
 
Avison Young’s Global Day of Giving is part of the company’s global citizenship efforts. Each of the 80 offices, spanning Canada, U.S., Mexico and Europe, chose its own community volunteer project in consultation with a local charity. Local staff activities ranged from river and trail clean-up projects at local parks to landscaping and renovation projects at women’s shelters and youth clubs to refurbishing homeless shelters.