By Rachel Richardson
MILFORD – As a single mother who works part-time as a crossing guard, Sandra Stanley didn’t have much money left over to give daughter Robyn a bed, let alone the bedroom the 6-year-old dreamed of.
A social worker referred her to New Life Furniture, a nonprofit organization based at Milford First United Methodist Church. And a week before Christmas, volunteers delivered a chest, daybed and bedding, night stand, chest, lamps and even a 7-foot decorated Christmas tree.
“She was really excited; it really made her dreams come true,” said Stanley of Robyn. “It made a very big difference to me and put the spirit of Christmas in my heart.”
Stanley is among 160 local families to receive for free nearly 1,500 pieces of gently used furniture last year from the Milford area furniture bank.
Founded in 2013 by friends Tim Nabors and Holly Young, the organization serves people recovering from acute financial problems or who are transitioning from shelters into homes.
Many families are suffering from the ravages of the recession. Virtually all are at or below the poverty level.
“Truthfully we’re just meeting the tip of the iceberg and that’s sad,” said Young, of Union Township. “Our goal is not to provide everything; it’s to provide those things that make a family cohesive: dining tables, couches and beds.”
“We always say, ‘Imagine moving into your first apartment with two kids – you need everything,'” added Nabors, a Milford resident. “We do what we can to help them get started.”
Nabors, a stay-at-home dad, and Young, a freelance artist, both dedicate 25-40 hours a week to the program. Another 10-12 volunteers assist each week in picking up and delivering items.
Pick-ups are made in a donated box truck and stored in a 4,500-square-foot Blue Ash warehouse donated by nearby Matthew 25: Ministries.
The duo hopes to raise enough funds this year to draw a full-time salary, which they say will help them increase the number of families they can serve – and allow them to dedicate more of their time to their passion.
“The furniture gets us in the door, but we don’t just drop off the furniture and leave,” said Young, who says that volunteers often help families with food, clothing and provide a compassionate shoulder to cry on. “People deserved to be loved.”
Although helping local families is the furniture bank’s most important mission, its work is good for Mother Nature, too.
“There’s so much nice furniture that people throw away,” said Young. “We’re saving landfills, too.”
The organization has a waiting list of about 30 families, who are referred by social service organizations. The most critically-needed items include twin and full-size mattresses and box springs, dressers and living room furniture.
“The kids are usually so excited to get a bed or a couch to sit on. Most families will cry,” said Nabors. “It makes you feel kind of sad sometimes, but glad too. It’s just one more burden we help them overcome a little bit.”
Source : http://news.cincinnati.com
