Drive past any landfill, and you’ll see tons of discarded waste from offices, businesses, and college dorms. However, one New York woman is taking matters into her own hands, rescuing appliances, televisions and chairs—often in excellent condition—and using her own money to rent a U-Haul to deliver them directly to public housing residents, at no charge.

New York Magazine recently published a feature about Regina Carter, the beloved founder of a small non-profit, Repurposed Life, who has affectionately become known as the “Furniture Queen.”

The 39-year-old, who lives in NYCHA’s Morris Houses in the South Bronx, rescues used furniture and appliances from businesses and colleges—collecting and redistributing the goods after organizations reach out to her directly.

And word travels quickly whenever she promotes a giveaway on her nonprofit’s Facebook page. Neighbors turn out at public housing developments, basketball courts, parking lots, and curbside steps across New York City, claiming free items on a first-come, first-served basis.

Carter uses her personal funds to rent a moving truck to transport the donated items. Her latest haul came from the Hilton Hotel in Rye, New York, which Carter said “had to get rid of everything, so they called me.”

With so much inventory up for grabs, she had to return for a second pick-up.

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At her recent giveaway at the Morris Houses, locals of all ages waited behind a card table as a crew of interns and volunteers moved televisions onto the sidewalk, per New York Magazine.

The TVs were all gone within one hour.

Her giveaways don’t stop at couches, tables, and bookshelves. Operating without a central warehouse, Carter told CityLimits.com she has re-homed nearly 500,000 pounds of thrifted goods, including clothing and shoes.

That community impact caught the attention of The David Prize—an annual grant that recognizes five New Yorkers who consistently invest in the potential of their neighbors—which awarded her $200,000 to use as she chooses. She says the funds will be used to pay for Repurposed Life’s weekly truck rentals, gas, and small stipends Carter likes to give to volunteers who help drive and unload. 

While the grant gives her organization financial breathing room, Carter’s relentless dedication to filling homes across New York comes from a deeply personal place.

“When I aged out of the foster care system at 21, I had a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old, and I needed resources that weren’t readily available to me,” she told City Limits in an interview. “I came to the realization that I wasn’t the only person who had those issues, but I was one of the people who was able to figure it out.”

And figure it out she did.

Starting small, she began to source furniture when her friends or neighbors mentioned what they needed. By word of mouth, “It created this trickle-down effect, and I realized everyone needs these things and the resources are there. But there’s no one connecting people to them.”

Carter says she loves that her giveaways allow her to give the goods a new life while helping people in need.

“I’d probably be a hoarder if I didn’t give the stuff away,” Carter told New York Magazine. “I used to go to thrift shops and pick things up that I knew I didn’t need, but I knew someone needed it. So now I get to do it, but it doesn’t stay in the house.”