Life's still on the move for "Furniture Guy"

Most refugees don't remember his name, but they usually remember his sobriquet: "Furniture Guy."

He gave some African tribal members their first night's sleep on a mattress. He set up dining tables that allow Ukrainian families to catch up over dinners after long days at fast-food joints and janitorial jobs.

For the last eight years, Lloyd Evans, 68, of Covington has driven his pickup around Western Washington to buy or pick up discarded furniture and pass it along to more than 500 refugee families, often furnishing their entire two-bedroom apartments.

It's his volunteer work for World Relief, which helps resettle numerous refugees.

After a Feb. 8 profile on him, Evans received hundreds of calls. Strangers bought him lunch or dinner to thank him. Volunteers from churches and nonprofit organizations sought his advice on how to be the "Furniture Guy" in their communities. Hundreds of people donated their family heirlooms, antiques and other high-end furniture to his cause.

As a result, Evans said he is getting and giving away better-quality furniture.

Why does he do what he does?

"I do it because I can't imagine going to another country and not speaking the language and starting from the beginning with nothing," Evans said.

"And no, I haven't slowed down yet."

Evans, who says more and more refugees are requesting help, said he is furnishing the homes of 15 Somalis and Kurds this month.

A retired hardware-store manager, Evans says he spends 50 hours a week picking up and delivering furniture. That's twice the time he used to spend.

"I'm just overwhelmed," said Evans who still carries couches and tables up three flights of stairs. "It's time to slow down a bit."

But he says he can't get himself to stop. The calls keep coming.

Recently, some Somali refugees needed vacuum cleaners, and some Turk families needed couches. So Evans found the items and drove around South King County to drop them off where they were needed.

Evans asks that people who have furniture to donate call World Relief at 206-587-0234, ext. 110, and ask for Luke.

Tan Vinh: 206-515-5656 or tvinh@seattletimes.com