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Janesville service connects furniture with those who need it

Photo

Photo by Bill Olmsted

The children and grandchild of Angela Thompson watch tv on a recent day of from school. All the furniture in Thompson's Janesville apartment was donated to her after an apartment complex in town did away with furnished rentals.

JANESVILLE — When Becky Davis had lots of furniture to give away, she wanted it to go to a good cause.

That happened in September, when the manager of Woodsview Apartments at Park Place donated several hundred pieces of furniture to United Way’s First Call.

First Call, a free information and referral service that serves residents of Rock County, so far has connected the furniture with six recipients.

Recipients include a family that was homeless, Senior Services of Rock County, the Boys & Girls Club of Janesville, ECHO, House of Mercy and the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board.

Senior Services will use the furniture to furnish two residences for elderly frail people enrolled in its new Community Care Home program, said Sue McKillips, executive director.

“We are so grateful. It helps keep our costs down and means we can open sooner,’’ she said.

Angela Thompson and her five children, all younger than 13, also are making good use of the furniture that fills their once empty upstairs three-bedroom apartment.

“It was like a miracle,’’ said the 41-year-old woman, who said she needed furniture after returning to Janesville and being homeless for a short time.

“I was praying to God while sleeping on the floor. He answered my prayers,’’ Thompson said.

“They (United Way and Janesville School District staff) were so nice to me. It was like they were angels,’’ she said.

“I want people to know when things are down, they can get better. People in this community really do care. It’s taken a lot of worry off me,’’ Thompson said.

Davis said she wanted God to lead and guide her in a way the community would be blessed and to donate the furniture so it would go to needy families and serve as a good cause.

Although she initially contacted her church pastor, the church had no way to store so much furniture. Realizing she would run into a similar situation with other churches and organizations, she thought of United Way of Rock County.

“I attended their last annual meeting and was really moved by all the good they do for the community,’’ Davis said.

So when Park Place needed to liquidate furniture that once filled 40 furnished apartments just off East Racine Street, “they were the first ones I thought of,’’ she said.

Gail Graham, president, called the donation an “awesome windfall.” The donation almost filled three semi-trailers.

Among key players accepting the donation were these United Way staff and board members, community volunteers and local businesses:

-- Barry Badertscher, a United Way Board member who also is part of Coldwell Banker Commercial, who found a corner of a warehouse space to store donations that haven’t been distributed.

-- Barb Wien, coordinator of First Call, who made arrangements with the county to get RECAP workers to help load and unload the furniture.

-- Dave Mansur, Mark Saunders and Jeff Knopes, who found semi trucks and drivers to move the furniture.

-- West Court Street Pizza Hut, which donated lunch.

“This was such a rewarding experience,” Graham said.

Davis agreed and added she is thankful for United Way as a vehicle to help those in the community in need.

“I most definitely made the right decision,” she said, “and am overjoyed it went to a cause for the greater good.’’