Cardboard furniture might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about life-changing innovations. Trust us, it should be.
In this episode of the Arner Adventures Podcast, we sit down with someone whose work completely reframed how we think about reuse, accessibility, and intentional design.
Mike Gianakos is the Executive Director of Made4Me, a nonprofit that builds custom, adaptive furniture for people with disabilities. This is done all at no cost to families. But what caught our attention?
They do it using reused materials, especially industrial-strength cardboard. This furniture turns what many would consider trash into tools that provide more independence, access, and dignity.
Cardboard Furniture That Serves a Purpose
We first learned about Made4Me through our friend Briony. Briony is a familiar name for those who know how we adopted our pup, Betty White. She volunteered with this incredible organization. When she told us what they were doing, we knew we had to learn more.
Made4Me focuses on helping individuals with disabilities, but what stands out is how deeply their mission aligns with sustainable and intentional living.
Repurposing cardboard into functional, supportive furniture isn’t just clever—it’s revolutionary. It’s a real-life example of how waste can become a resource, and how community care can start with something as simple as a box.
Behind the Mission with Mike Gianakos
Mike brings over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience to Made4Me. He joined us to talk about how the organization started, how they’ve grown, and why cardboard furniture is essential to their story.
Made4Me has served over 200% more families since 2023, and that growth has been exciting and challenging. As demand for their custom-built adaptive pieces increases, they’ve had to find creative ways to scale without compromising their commitment to sustainability or personalized care.
Mike explained that using industrial cardboard came from a desire to create affordable, durable, and lightweight pieces that could be custom-fit to each individual’s needs.
The designs are clever, and the materials are sourced with purpose. Think high-grade cardboard that’s sturdy enough to support real use, reimagined into seating, positioning aids, and sensory tools that meet the unique requirements of each recipient.
A Community Effort That Builds More Than Furniture
A part of the conversation we enjoyed most was hearing Mike describe how the community has responded. Families feel seen and supported. Volunteers feel connected to a purpose.
Local businesses have even donated materials, space, and services. The ripple effect of Made4Me’s work extends far beyond the furniture itself.
This conversation reminded us why sustainability isn’t just about what we don’t use—how we use the resources around us. This is the best example of upcycling that we have encountered.
And in this case, cardboard furniture becomes a powerful symbol of care, creativity, and community.
Want to Support Made4Me?
Whether you want to volunteer, donate, or learn more about their work, we encourage you to check out Made4Me and find out how you can get involved.
Visit the Made4Me website
Thank you again to Mike Gianakos for sharing your story with us. We left this conversation feeling inspired and hopeful, and we think you will too.
Resources Mentioned:
- Made4Me Nonprofit: https://made4me.org
- How to Volunteer or Donate
