Marvin's Home was founded by Mel McDaniel with two goals in mind - reduce waste in interior design practices and support young people in our local communities. We are a nonprofit that creates homes for young adults who have been homeless or have aged out of the foster care system by repurposing donations of gently pre-loved furnishings and one-of-a-kind items collected during our design services.

During the redecoration process, it is common for clients to discard their pre-loved furniture along with new items that may have arrived slightly damaged or in the wrong color or configuration. Mel’s philosophy has always been to “gather where there is plenty and give where there is none”. Our process is simple: clients, friends, and community members gift items to Marvin’s Home. In turn, we use these donations to help these young adults create their own first bedroom, kitchen, and workspace: their first home.

The young women and men served by Marvin's Home have had a difficult start to their life. Most have lived in multiple foster and youth homes throughout their childhood. Once they age out of the foster care system, many of these young adults must move into their own living spaces, often juggling a job and coursework while living with only a bed and some basic kitchen supplies. Marvin's Home helps them to create a space to live, work, and study comfortably while they continue to succeed. With the help of community volunteers, generous donations, and a lot of love, Marvin's Home provides and installs up-cycled furnishings and accessories to transform those often-empty spaces into warm and welcoming homes.