The Dime Bank Foundation has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Furniture Bank of Southeastern Connecticut to purchase beds for people referred by social service agencies and churches.

The furniture bank, originally an outreach of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Gales Ferry, has been providing beds and other furniture to people in financial need for 32 years. Last year, the furniture bank received requests for 689 beds and was able to provide 272.

In a press release announcing the grant, furniture bank treasurer Mike Wuesthoff said the need for beds has never been more critical, in part because of bedbug infestations in multifamily apartment buildings that have forced people to discard their beds and other furniture.