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To honor and recognize the 20th Anniversary of the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio and applaud its efforts at stabilizing living situations for Central Ohio families.
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WHEREAS, The Furniture Bank of Central Ohio was established in 1998 as a Material Assistance Provider (MAP) to help furnish the homes of people emerging from homelessness and providing furniture free of charge to families and individuals in need; and
WHEREAS, Furniture is accepted via donations and none of the furniture acquired is purchased - Approximately 65-70% of the furniture comes from individuals and residential donors, while the balance comes from institutional sources, such as hotels and motels, colleges and universities, furniture retailers, furnished apartment complexes and restaurants; and
WHEREAS, The Furniture Bank of Central Ohio began its first year of operation in the basement of a church located on the Westside of Columbus; providing furniture to over 400 local families - and in 2006, after a successful $1 million capital campaign, moved into its Franklinton facility; and
WHEREAS, The Furniture Bank of Central Ohio is also committed to its mission of reducing the impact of poverty by providing furniture to central Ohio families and individuals struggling with severe life challenges; and
WHEREAS, The Furniture Bank of Central Ohio is a member of the Furniture Bank Association of North America, and has risen to become one of the largest furniture banks in the country, earning numerous awards for their program, including an award from the Columbus Foundation in 2013; and
WHEREAS, The Furniture Bank of Central Ohio in its 20 years of operation has served more than 60,000 families - totaling more than 184,000 individuals in Central Ohio; moreover the organization has grown to include ongoing collaboration and help from over 7,000 furniture donors, 2,500 volunteers, and more than 75 social service partners; and
WHEREAS, The Furniture Bank of Central Ohio will be hosting the Big Hearts Celebration on Friday September 7, 2018 at the Bluestone located at 583 E. Broad Street, Columbus Ohio - this will commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the organization turning empty houses into homes for the more than 60,000 families that have been impacted by their services now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby honor and recognize the 20th Anniversary of the Furniture Bank of Central Ohio and applaud its efforts at stabilizing living situations for Central Ohio families.