When we were not doing well, a lady from the neighborhood we lived in used to come to my door and ask for cigarettes all the time at strange hours of the day and night. I started to become frustrated with her, even turning around and yelling at her one day. It turns out that she was retired with a mental illness.
I found this out during the summer talking to some of the other neighbors, and after working her whole entire life and having kids she was sleeping on the floor of a studio apartment. I didn't know she was sleeping on the floor until she came up to my car one day and said to me "did you hear I got a mattress?!"
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I was so shocked and after being given a second chance have made it my mission to re purpose every single thing from every apartment that my husband paints! My hope is one day to be able to start a small store where I can resell some of the better things that I find and take somebody like her to the store to buy a mattress when they need it without having to fill up 1000 forms red tape and getting in line with everybody else. I see them just coming in and saying "hey I don't have a mattress."
I've been working on it but I'm not really good with the internet yet - I see that some of these larger stores spend most of their money on administrative fees and golf outings and some of the smaller stores actually give out vouchers so people can come in and get some of the clothes and things they need - but items like mattresses and furniture even a bed frame are very rare.
We make sure to clean everything up and spray it down and debug - the only thing that we don't re purposed furniture wise is anything that has been moldy, flooded, or is full of little Critters.
I read a comment last week on one of the stories were somebody said to watch out for the homeless and be careful of them. I found it a little shocking. When you see somebody, you never know what their experience has been but we're all connected.
I found this out during the summer talking to some of the other neighbors, and after working her whole entire life and having kids she was sleeping on the floor of a studio apartment. I didn't know she was sleeping on the floor until she came up to my car one day and said to me "did you hear I got a mattress?!"
I was so shocked and after being given a second chance have made it my mission to re purpose every single thing from every apartment that my husband paints! My hope is one day to be able to start a small store where I can resell some of the better things that I find and take somebody like her to the store to buy a mattress when they need it without having to fill up 1000 forms red tape and getting in line with everybody else. I see them just coming in and saying "hey I don't have a mattress."I've been working on it but I'm not really good with the internet yet - I see that some of these larger stores spend most of their money on administrative fees and golf outings and some of the smaller stores actually give out vouchers so people can come in and get some of the clothes and things they need - but items like mattresses and furniture even a bed frame are very rare.
We make sure to clean everything up and spray it down and debug - the only thing that we don't re purposed furniture wise is anything that has been moldy, flooded, or is full of little Critters.
I read a comment last week on one of the stories were somebody said to watch out for the homeless and be careful of them. I found it a little shocking. When you see somebody, you never know what their experience has been but we're all connected.
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- Posted by Pigcat
- Feb 11, 2017
- Comments (12)
Readers Comments
pyronik wrote: I read somewhere it's the barely surviving that are the forgotten poor. Local business can be much more community orientated than big ones, their charity is part of their personality rather than a marketing ploy. Good luck with your plans for the store :-)
alisamom wrote: That is such a wonderful thing, you are giving great help! And yes I'd have to agree: I have never felt unsafe when we distribute things to the homeless! :) good luck with your store, let us know how it goes!
mindyjourney wrote: Envisioning a postive outcome for your store :)))).
Painiacs wrote: What a great dreamy our working towards!!! May you get there quickly!
Annc wrote: You are on a wonderful mission. We have a furniture bank in a nearby town where people can get mattresses, bedroom furniture, chairs, etc. Some of the local furniture stores will recycle good used furniture for customers when they buy new furniture. The furniture bank also has a donated van which they use to pick up furniture from people's homes when they are downsizing, etc. and to deliver furniture to the homes of those who need it.
kjoyw wrote: Will hope of dream for such a store will manifest.
Mish wrote: Thank you for doing this!!! Bless you.
DANCE wrote: Good plan, keep at it, maybe you can get some local support?
leoladyc728 wrote: you have a awesome dream and I know it will come true. Thank you for helping the homeless
Virginia wrote: What a heart-warming mission you have with the store. As others mentioned, check if there are agencies who might be able to help with funding or coordinating efforts. Social services, veterans groups, or community clubs (elks, rotary, etc. ) might be able to help. Get publicity through your local newspaper or radio station. Someone may offer space at a good rate and it would encourage others to donate. Good luck!
