Riverbend Furniture provides meaningful work to individuals with mental illnesses by training them to produce high quality furniture. With funding from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, Riverbend trains its workers to produce furniture that is strong, durable and attractive. Riverbend Furniture is used in schools, shelters and residential treatment settings throughout the United States.

Riverbend Furniture provides training and meaningful work to individuals with mental illnesses, histories of trauma and abuse, and addictions. Riverbend workers receive one-on-one training and supervision from staff who have extensive professional woodworking and upholstery experience. Workers learn to use modern tools and to operate power equipment. Employment at Riverbend Furniture is a source of pride and income for its many workers.

Mastering skills and producing valued products enhance workers' self-esteem and stability. The result is decreased dependence on publicly funded support services. In addition to reducing workers' needs for support services, employment at Riverbend earns people wages that replace and supplement their publicly funded disability benefits. Wages paid to Riverbend workers results in savings of $96,000 per year in publicly funded benefits.

Since 1983, hundreds of public and private facilities have benefited from Riverbend's dual mission. As a Riverbend buyer, customers support employment for individuals with disabilities while acquiring furniture of excellent strength, style and durability.