There are some days at FIND that stay with you long after they are over.

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend the day riding along with our logistics team to capture content and get a closer look at the work happening behind the scenes every day. I already knew this team worked incredibly hard: I see the schedules, the deliveries, the moving pieces and the constant problem solving that happens daily.

But seeing it in real time was something completely different.

It was one of those days that leaves you proud to be part of this work.

Find truck with the back open. 

From the moment I arrived, the energy was there. Teamwork. Patience. Leadership. Kindness. Humor. Even in stressful moments, there was laughter.

At one stop, I watched Pascal maneuver a truck into an incredibly tight space with calm precision while Tony and Joel helped guide him. It was honestly beautiful to watch.

Later, Joel and Tony somehow carried a massive table down a narrow flight of stairs, only to discover it would not fit into the participant’s apartment. For a moment, everyone paused. Then came the problem solving. The legs came off. The strategy shifted. The table made it inside the participant's unit. 

No frustration (well, maybe a little...). No complaints. Just perseverance and teamwork.

That moment stuck with me because it said so much about this team. When obstacles come up, they find a way through with care and determination.

Jordan and Jeff moving a chair into an apartment. 

There were quieter moments too.

At one point, I noticed Tony watching a group of young people struggling with a flat tire nearby. Before anyone even asked, he was ready to help. That is who this team is. They are always willing to lend a hand.

Not because they have to. Because they care!

On another delivery, Jordan, Jeff and Tony greeted a participant and their Housing Worker with such warmth and kindness that you could visibly see the stress leave the room. In just a few moments, they built trust and comfort with someone welcoming them into their home.

This makes such a difference during a move in, when participants might be feeling uneasy about what is about to happen.

For our participants, these deliveries are happening during a major life transition as they move out of homelessness. Sometimes after crisis. Sometimes after leaving unsafe situations. Home can feel uncertain in those moments.

But our logistics team shows up with patience, respect and genuine care.

And yes, there was also a lot of laughter. At one point I laughed so hard I cried while trying to capture content between deliveries. These guys know how to have a good time while they do this important work!

Joel & Tony in front of a loaded truck.

One of the most meaningful parts of the day was witnessing the participants’ reactions firsthand.

Some welcomed the team in with huge smiles. Others were quieter, taking in the moment as furniture filled spaces that had been sitting empty. But in every home, there was gratitude.

You could feel it.

One participant looked around their apartment as pieces were carried in and shared how excited they were to finally have a table. Another spoke about how meaningful it was to have furniture that made the space feel comfortable and complete.

Because these are not just items.

A bed means sleeping off the floor.
A couch means somewhere to rest after work.
A kitchen table means gathering, eating together, or simply having a place to sit.

For many participants, this is one of the first moments their housing truly starts to feel like home.

What stood out most was the way the logistics team approached every delivery with patience, kindness, and respect. They were not simply dropping furniture off and leaving. They were helping people feel welcomed, supported and comfortable during an important life transition.

That care matters just as much as the furniture itself.

Donated furniture in a participant's apartment. 

Seeing that gratitude up close was a reminder that this work reaches far beyond moving furniture from one place to another.

It is about comfort.
It is about stability.
It is about belonging.

And none of it happens without community support!

I also got to witness the less visible side of the work.

Omar, Ian and Carey had to turn down a pickup that did not meet our acceptance guidelines. Those conversations are never easy, but they handled it professionally and kindly. They listened, explained, and moved forward with care for the donor while still keeping their route on track.

At the next stop, they loaded the truck with the precision of a Tetris game. Efficient, organized, and fast, while still making the donor feel appreciated and valued.

It reminded me how much skill this work really takes.

And behind every successful route is another team making it all possible.

The dispatch team coordinates an incredible amount of moving pieces every single day. Deliveries, pickups, weather, construction, traffic, trucking routes, timing, safety, participant schedules, donor schedules, and so much more all have to align.

It is easy to underestimate how much thought goes into every route until you see it up close.

Pascal getting a table ready to unload for a participant. 

The support, flexibility, and teamwork across departments is something really special at FIND.

At the end of the day, what stayed with me most was this:

The logistics team is not just delivering furniture.

They are helping create HOME.

A couch becomes a place to rest.
A table becomes a place to gather.
A bed becomes a place to finally sleep safely.

These moments matter deeply.

The care this team brings into people’s homes every day is something our community should be proud of.

If you have ever donated to FIND, shopped in our stores or supported this work in any way, please know this:

You are part of these stories too!

Donated furniture in its new home. 

Every donated item helps create comfort, stability and belonging for someone in our community.

And if you have not supported FIND yet, this is your reminder that your gently used furniture and household items can make such a difference in the lives of those exiting homelessness.

Because HOME starts somewhere. And for many people in Edmonton, that journey starts with this team.

How You Can Help

• Donate gently used furniture and household items
• Shop secondhand at FIND
  
• Share our mission with others
• Support community-driven solutions to homelessness

Together, we can end homelessness!

Learn more at FIND Edmonton

-Janine

Marketing Supervisor

Find Edmonton