Benton Furniture Share

General information

Sustaining Client Services to Target Populations through Furniture Delivery and Landfill Diversion is an ongoing program with a qualified staff, board and volunteers to manage and report grant funds during this granting cycle. To complete and sustain the project, FS relies on volunteers, in-kind donors and monetary donors. FS will secure and sustain funding through building and maintaining relationships and awareness. FS collaborates and partners with many organizations to complete and sustain the project. FS collaborates with 65 local agencies who refer their clients to us to receive basic and needed household items. FS improves infrastructure by helping agencies obtain basic furniture needs to increase comfort and safety in their clients daily lives. FS builds upon the strong community partnerships we currently have and we are continuously working to establish new relationships with community members. Our Sustaining Client Services to Target Populations through Furniture Delivery and Landfill Diversion program redistributes quality used furniture and household items to those in need through three projects: BEDS for KIDS, Feeding Our Future, and Furniture for Individuals in Crises. Our goal is to provide 1,900 beds to children, 350 dining tables and chairs to families, averaging out to be 1,050 individuals, and basic furniture and household items to 3,050 individuals. Additionally, we will divert 285 tons from the landfill an in-kind furniture and household donation valued at $855,000 which is passed on to families, children and individuals in need.

"BEDS for KIDS" provides children with a bed, pillow, sheet and blanket who are in emergency or vulnerable situations who sleep on cold floors, in street clothes, and in conditions that increases sickness, deprives sleep, and contribute to poor performance in schools. "Feeding Our Future" provides a table and chairs for families to eat together, resulting in wholesome meals, improved family conversations and achievement at school or work and greater family stability. Research data supports the fact that families that eat together, live together supporting each other with improved nutrition (less obesity), improved vocabulary and grades at school, and improved family behavior resulting in less violence. This program provides dinner tables and chairs, five simple recipes with 5 items or less, benefits to family meals and conversational starter tips to encourage healthy meals, and easy mealtime steps to improve family conversations.This project is designed to improve health, education, and family stability along with performance at school, the workplace, and community.

"Furniture for Individuals in Crises" provides all other basic furniture and household items to community members with the greatest need to promote self-sufficiency including homeless, elderly/frail, and any person(s) that suffers the consequences of social or economical detriments and to help support self-sufficiency for our community’s vulnerable populations by increasing comfort and safety by quickly providing basic furniture and household goods to meet basic human needs. Our services target the elderly, mentally ill, disabled, families with children, those at-risk of homelessness, and other households in need. Clients are referred through other partner agencies such as Human Services, Parent Enhancement Program, Domestic Violence and Homeless shelters. We rely on our referring agencies to screen families for need and income qualifications. FS partners with 65 social service agencies to help them achieve their goal of helping their clients become self sufficient.