Furniture Mission Helps Families in Need

Furniture Mission's new building

Located in Sioux Falls, the Furniture Mission of South Dakota is helping to provide basic home furnishings to over 100 families every month. Marsha, the Executive Director, says they may have started small, but they have grown quickly.

Marsha used to work as an aftercare representative for several funeral homes in Sioux Falls. Following up with families after services, she encountered people on both sides of supply and demand - families looking for someone who could use "Mom's" stuff, and families needing basic home furnishings.

Starting out in her garage in 2002, Marsha, along with her husband and several volunteers, began collecting and distributing furniture. They eventually created a non-profit organization, and rented a small building to run the business. But as word spread, they quickly ran out of space.

The group found a larger building that fit their needs, and then started looking for help to purchase it. The City of Sioux Falls awarded Furniture Mission $100,000 in HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, and a local church made a large donation. A capital campaign and the help of some very understanding bankers made the purchase of their new building a reality in 2005. The Furniture Mission now has three trucks - all donated - and with the help of volunteers, they pick up and deliver furniture three days a week.

Marsha has continued to contact many churches and community groups as the Furniture Mission has grown. These Faith Based groups have provided much needed support by contributing money, goods and volunteers. The assisted families now have a bed and other home furnishings because of this community partnership.

The Furniture Mission donates furniture by a referral system from other service agencies. Once a referral is made, the Furniture Mission arranges to deliver the needed furniture or the family can pick it up. There is no charge to a receiving family for any of the household goods. There are usually about 60 requests for furniture pending on any given day.

To volunteer, make a financial contribution or furniture donation, contact the Furniture Mission at 605-977-6800, or stop by their office/warehouse at 209 N. Nesmith, Sioux Falls, SD.

• The Furniture Mission (http://www.furnituremission.org/)
• Sioux Falls Community Development (http://www.siouxfalls.org/comdev.aspxc)