November 6, 2007 — High Point NC and Decatur GA — The National Home Furnishings Association (NHFA) has declared Help1Up as the leading home furnishings retailer association's "charity of choice."
Help1Up is the free, socially responsible, and environmentally service made available by the National Furniture Bank Association (NFBA), representing over three dozen furniture banks across America. Furniture banks collect gently used and new furniture from the general public and businesses, then provide it to families in need. Typical recipients of the furniture are women and children escaping domestic violence, victims of natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes, and families living below the poverty line.
Steve DeHaan, NHFA's executive vice president, explained the reasons for the unprecedented declaration by the NHFA's Executive Committee and Board of Directors. "This is the first time we've recommended a charitable cause to our members. It's a win-win for everybody involved," said DeHaan.
With the recent attention paid by consumers to environmental causes, the NFBA has seen an upswing in national attention.
"I can think of no better way for consumers to dispose of their unwanted used home furnishings products than to give them to families in need," said Wogan Badcock, NHFA's president. "A much better idea, I believe, than for the products to end up in our land fills."
Through a network of over three dozen furniture banks, the NFBA annually collects and distributes over 1.5 million home furnishings items. Each night in America and estimated 250,000 children will sleep on the floor. The mission of the NFBA is to expand the service capacity of existing furniture banks and to open new ones in areas without one.
"Retailers and manufacturers are more aware than ever about Americans' concern about how businesses impact the environment," said Don Lawrence, executive director of the NFBA. "We provide not only a positive environmental statement for our supporters, but we're also providing beds for children without one. Who could turn their back on an effort like that?"
