TAMPA, Fla. — They say a house is not a home without people who care, and for the Davis-Johnson family, the compassion is bursting through the walls.

The family is enjoying the holidays in a newly furnished home — all because of the generosity of strangers.

What You Need To Know

  • New Life Warehouse is a volunteer-led Christian organization that delivers donated furniture and household goods to those who need it.

  • Founder Stephanie Haile started the nonprofit with a focus on foster families, but has expanded to help trafficking victims, the recently homeless, refugees, and hurricane victims.

  • New Life Warehouse is in need of volunteers to meet the growing demand since the hurricanes.

  • The nonprofit has helped furnish more than 1200 homes and has served more than 2,400 families. 

"Everything we got, everything in the house, everything on my back, we got through donations," said mother Christina Johnson.

Before the hurricanes, Johnson and her family lived in a motel. All of their belongings were put in storage while they worked towards a more permanent home. Then, the hurricanes flooded their storage space.

"Almost everything we owned go ruined, got wet," Johnson said.

That's when Oldsmar-based New Life Warehouse stepped in.

Stephanie Haile, the founder, first started collecting household items for foster families during COVID.

"A lot of families taking in children cannot afford to just go out and buy a bed and dresser," Haile said.

Later, she expanded her cause to help abuse victims and the homeless. Then, after hurricanes Helene and Milton, the need quadrupled.

"We're really unsure of what's to come," Haile said. "We were already very inundated with referrals to begin with."

One of those referrals is making the Davis-Johnson's holidays a whole lot brighter. They provided all the furniture and even items for the children.

"They lost all their toys, they lost everything," Johnson said. "New Life ... when she sent us stuff, she sent us toys, she sent little things for the kids and it meant so much to them. We are truly blessed."