Furniture Charity Launches “Comfort and Joy” Holiday Drive

Furniture World Magazine

The National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA), the home furnishings industry’s unified charitable organization, has launched the “Comfort and Joy” sponsorship drive. The goal of the week-long drive is to obtain 25 new sponsors before the end of the year. Furniture banks are non-profit organizations which collect gently used furniture from the general public and the home furnishings industry, then donates it to children and families in need. Typical recipients are women and children escaping domestic violence, victims of natural disasters such as hurricanes, and working families living below the poverty line. The mission of the NFBA is to increase the service capacity of existing furniture banks, and to open new ones. “The NFBA grew by fifteen furniture banks in 2006,” said Mary Frye, president of Home Furnishings International Association (HFIA) and member of the NFBA Board of Directors. “The NFBA needs sponsors to continue doing their outstanding work.” According to the NFBA, there are over 200,000 children in America who do not live in a home with even basic furnishings. Don Lawrence, vice president of communications, said the industry benefits from furniture banks because they keep used furniture from being resold, thereby increasing demand for new home furnishings purchases. There are numerous services and benefits provided by the NFBA to drive customers to sponsors’ websites and retail locations. “But when a company becomes a sponsor,” Lawrence reports, “they usually say it’s because they want to help less fortunate families in America. Speaking as a father, I can’t imagine having to put my kids to sleep on the floor, especially during the holidays.” Companies wishing to become a sponsor are encouraged to visit www.Help1Up.org and click on “Corporate Sponsorship” or send an e-mail to dlawrence@help1up.org to receive information. Individuals wishing to make a tax-deductible donation can do so online by visiting https://www.help1up.org/katrina/donate.php or by mailing a check to: NFBA c/o City National Bank PO Box 7662 San Francisco, CA 94120-7662 The NFBA’s executive director, Phil Van Poetsch, said the NFBA needs twenty five sponsors by the end of 2006. “I’m confident there are least that many companies in the home furnishings industry that want to help. We’re asking for everybody to do what they can.” About the National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA) The NFBA is the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of the home furnishings industry. Supported by sponsorships, its mission is to increase the service capacity of existing furniture banks, and to open new ones. No child in America should have to sleep on the floor. Contact: Don Lawrence (800) 576 0774 dlawrence@help1up.org www.help1up.org